And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just promise desolation; it promises a desolation so extreme that it will make even a notoriously harsh wilderness, like the desert near Diblath, seem mild by comparison. This comparison emphasizes not just the devastation, but that the land itself, once blessed, will become a stark, unforgettable testament to God's judgment.
And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is detailing the severe judgment that will fall upon Israel and Judah for their widespread idolatry. Following the prophecy of scattering the people and leaving their idols desolate, this verse emphasizes God's direct, powerful action in making the land itself a ruin, extending from the southern wilderness all the way to Riblah in the north. This ultimate devastation serves as proof that Yahweh, not their false gods, is the true Lord.
When God "stretches out His hand," it's not a gentle touch. It signifies an intentional, powerful, and decisive act of judgment.
The phrase "stretch out my hand" in Scripture often depicts God's active intervention in history. It's a powerful visual of His sovereignty and His readiness to bring His plans to fruition, especially in judgment.
God's Active Intervention
In Ezekiel 6:14, this isn't passive observation; it's God actively bringing desolation. This imagery emphasizes the thoroughness and severity of the judgment He is enacting upon their dwelling places. It’s God Himself bringing the blow, demonstrating the full weight of His power against sin and rebellion.
The devastation God promises isn't just ordinary ruin; it's a desolation so extreme it becomes a benchmark.
Ezekiel describes the coming desolation as "more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath." This comparison is crucial for understanding the scale of God's judgment.
A Proverbial Wilderness
The "wilderness toward Diblath" (or Diblathaim) was known for its harshness and emptiness, possibly even associated with dangers like fiery serpents and drought. By stating the land will be more desolate than this known desolate place, God emphasizes that the coming judgment will be unprecedented. It’s a state of utter emptiness and ruin that will surpass even the most barren landscapes known to them. This highlights the seriousness with which God views their rebellion and the completeness of His disciplinary action.
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The ultimate purpose behind such severe judgment? That 'they will know that I am the LORD.'
The repeated refrain in Ezekiel, "they will know that I am the LORD," is central to this prophecy. God’s judgment, while destructive, has a redemptive purpose: to bring about true knowledge of Himself.
The Purpose of Revelation
For a people who have turned away from God, worshiped idols, and ignored His commands, the desolation serves as a stark revelation. It strips away their false securities and demonstrates the inescapable power and holiness of the one true God. This knowledge isn't just intellectual assent; it's a deep, experiential understanding of God's character and His authority over all nations and lands. Even in judgment, God is revealing Himself and calling His people back to Himself.
Understand the original words
shemamah · Hebrew Noun
To be left empty, devastated, or ruined; it is the state of a land or place after it has been judged by God, often resulting from the abandonment of His presence and protection.
The prophecy of desolation in Ezekiel 6:14 is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile, a period when the devastation of Judah was not a future threat but a stark reality, underscoring God's judgment on His people's unfaithfulness.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants and repopulating the area with foreigners, leading to significant cultural and religious disruption.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Death
King Josiah implements religious reforms in Judah, centralizing worship in Jerusalem, but is killed in battle against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, destabilizing the kingdom.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and carries away notable citizens, including the prophet Daniel, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's elite, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, establishing a Babylonian presence and increasing the people's despair.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar's forces finally destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population and leaving the land largely uninhabited and desolate.
c. 571 BC
Ezekiel's Prophecies Conclude
Ezekiel's prophecies, delivered during the exile, end around this time, offering both judgment for the past and hope for future restoration.
This passage parallels Ezekiel's prophecy by detailing God's scattering of His people and the resulting desolation of their land as a consequence of their disobedience, echoing the severe judgment described in Ezekiel 6:14.
Jeremiah 4:23-27Jeremiah's vision of a devastated earth, where the land is without inhabitants and the mountains cry out, provides a powerful poetic parallel to the utter desolation God promises through Ezekiel, emphasizing the totality of the destruction.
Deuteronomy 8:15This verse describes the wilderness as a place of 'fiery serpents and scorpions,' highlighting its extreme danger and desolation, which serves as the benchmark for the even greater devastation God will bring upon the land in Ezekiel 6:14.
2 Kings 25:6-7This passage recounts the brutal execution of Zedekiah's sons and the blinding of Zedekiah himself at Riblah by Nebuchadnezzar, directly illustrating the kind of devastating judgment and suffering that the 'stretching out of God's hand' signifies.
Isaiah 6:11-13Isaiah asks how long the devastation will last, and God's response implies that the land will be utterly emptied and forsaken, with only a remnant remaining, reflecting the profound desolation and subsequent knowledge of the LORD that Ezekiel also proclaims.
pooleEzekiel 6:14: "So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD."
Stretch out my hand: this noteth the greatness of the blow, God striketh hard when he stretcheth out his hand, and therefore you find a mighty hand joined with outstretched arm. Desolate; a desolation, (a Hebraism,) for most desolate. Yea, more desolate; and a desolation greater or above the…
clarkeEzekiel 6:14: "So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD."
And make the land - more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath - Diblath or Diblathayim is situated in the land of Moab. It is mentioned Numbers 33:46 , Almon-Diblathaim; and in Jeremiah 48:22 , Beth-Diblathaim. It was a part of that horrible wilderness mentioned by Moses, Deuteronomy 8…
The verse doesn't just promise desolation; it promises a desolation so extreme that it will make even a notoriously harsh wilderness, like the desert near Diblath, seem mild by comparison. This comparison emphasizes not just the devastation, but that the land itself, once blessed, will become a stark, unforgettable testament to God's judgment.
God is detailing the severe judgment that will fall upon Israel and Judah for their widespread idolatry. Following the prophecy of scattering the people and leaving their idols desolate, this verse emphasizes God's direct, powerful action in making the land itself a ruin, extending from the southern wilderness all the way to Riblah in the north. This ultimate devastation serves as proof that Yahweh, not their false gods, is the true Lord.
God is detailing the severe judgment that will fall upon Israel and Judah for their widespread idolatry. Following the prophecy of scattering the people and leaving their idols desolate, this verse emphasizes God's direct, powerful action in making the land itself a ruin, extending from the southern wilderness all the way to Riblah in the north. This ultimate devastation serves as proof that Yahweh, not their false gods, is the true Lord.
"And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land desolate and waste, in all their dwelling places, from the wilderness to Riblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”" — The verse doesn't just promise desolation; it promises a desolation so extreme that it will make even a notoriously harsh wilderness, like the desert near Diblath, seem mild by comparison. This compa…
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Last reviewed October 2026