The big picture
Ezekiel 35 opens in verse 1 with “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 8 with “And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and…”, and closes in verse 15 with “As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, desolate, blood, know, mount. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Ezekiel · King James Version · 15Ezekiel 35:1-8
1–8: Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 35:1–8 opens with “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” and reaches “And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by blood, LORD, desolate.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand…” Naming Seir keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Ezekiel 35:1-8
King James Version1Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,
3And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.
4I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD .
5Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:
6Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD , I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.
7Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.
8And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.
Ezekiel 35:9-15
9–15: I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return…
Ezekiel 35:9–15 opens with “I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that…” and reaches “As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, desolate, know.
Context that brings the passage to life
“I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD .” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD , I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Ezekiel 35:9-15
King James Version9I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD .
10Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there:
11Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD , I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.
12And thou shalt know that I am the LORD , and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.
13Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.
14Thus saith the Lord GOD ; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.
15As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Ezekiel 35:1 begins with “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Ezekiel 35:6 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD , I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall…”
The final note
Ezekiel 35:15 leaves the reader with “As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, desolate, blood, know, mount, Seir help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the return to Bethel require beyond travel?
The removal of foreign gods and a renewed orientation toward the God who answered Jacob.
Which relationships are remembered at Isaac's burial?
Both sons participate, despite their long history of rivalry.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.