Ezekiel 35:3

3 and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Se'ir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste.

Ezekiel 35:3 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 35:3

And say unto it, thus saith the Lord God
The prophet was not upon the spot, and could not direct his speech immediately to the Edomites; but he might send this prophecy to their ambassadors at Babylon; or in a letter to them in their own land, in the name of the Lord: behold, O Mount Seir, I am against thee:
not the face of the prophet only, but the face of God himself was against them; and a terrible thing it is for any to have God to be against them, whether a nation, or a particular person. The Targum is,

``behold, I send my fury upon thee:''
and I will stretch out mine hand against thee;
which was able to reach them wherever they were: and which, being stretched out, cannot be turned back; and, where it lights, falls heavy indeed; namely, his mighty hand of power and wrath. The Targum is,
``and I will lift up the stroke of my power upon thee;''
that is, lift up his hand and strike powerfully; the consequence of which must be as follows: and I will make thee most desolate;
their land, cities, towns, and villages, all should be utterly laid waste; see ( Revelation 17:16 ) ( 18:8 ) , so it follows:

Ezekiel 35:3 In-Context

1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 "Son of man, set your face against Mount Se'ir, and prophesy against it,
3 and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Se'ir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste.
4 I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
5 Because you cherished perpetual enmity, and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment;
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.