And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.

EZEKIEL 23:25KJV
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Ezekiel 23:25 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 23:25 mean?

Ezekiel 23:25 describes God declaring that He will turn His jealousy against Jerusalem, allowing her enemies to act with violent anger: they will mutilate her (taking away nose and ears), kill many by the sword, capture her children, and destroy what remains with fire. This verse uses graphic language to warn of severe judgment for unfaithfulness.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem, using the image of a woman facing harsh punishment from her lovers-turned-enemies. The verse is part of a larger allegory where Jerusalem and Samaria are compared to two sisters who have been unfaithful to God. The vivid threats reflect the real violence and destruction that would come from invading armies as a consequence of the people's actions.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 23:25

  • "jealousy" (קִנְאָה, qin'ah): This word means intense zeal or jealousy, often used for God's passionate commitment to His relationship with His people. Here, it highlights that God's response is not cold anger but a deeply personal reaction to betrayal.
  • "furiously" (חֵמָה, chemah): This word means heat, rage, or fury. The verse emphasizes that the coming punishment will be carried out with intense anger, not just routine violence.
  • "nose" (אַף, aph) and "ears" (אָזֶן, ozen): These body parts, when mentioned as being taken away, symbolize public shame and loss of identity in ancient Near Eastern culture. The threat is not just physical harm but total humiliation.

Why Ezekiel 23:25 matters

  • This verse clears up that the punishment described is not random cruelty but a direct response to the people's unfaithfulness, showing the seriousness with which God views broken covenant relationships.
  • The graphic details connect to the historical reality of siege and conquest, helping readers understand the real consequences faced by Jerusalem.
  • The verse fits into Ezekiel's larger message that judgment is not just about destruction, but about the breaking of a relationship that was meant to be exclusive and faithful.

Where else these words appear

“jealousy” Hebrew H7068 · used in 41 verses

  • Numbers 5:14 And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:
  • Psalms 119:139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
  • Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

“remnant” Hebrew H319 · used in 60 verses

  • Genesis 49:1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
  • Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
  • Jeremiah 23:20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

“furiously” Hebrew H2534 · used in 117 verses

  • Genesis 27:44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
  • Psalms 106:23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
  • Lamentations 2:4 He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.