For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;

EZEKIEL 25:6KJV
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Ezekiel 25:6 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 25:6 mean?

Ezekiel 25:6 says that God is speaking against a group who showed joy and contempt when Israel suffered, expressing this through actions like clapping hands and stamping feet. The verse highlights that these outward signs of celebration and inward spite toward Israel have drawn God’s attention and judgment.

In this verse, the prophet Ezekiel is delivering a message from God to the people of Ammon, neighbors of Israel. God accuses the Ammonites of mocking and rejoicing over Israel’s troubles, not just in their hearts but with visible gestures. The verse sets up God’s response to their attitude, showing that He notices both the actions and the motives behind them.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 25:6

  • "clapped" (נָפַף, nāphaph): This word means to strike or clap, often used for clapping hands in scorn or celebration. Here, it points to a mocking gesture, not just casual applause.
  • "despite" (שָׁאט, shāṭ): This word means contempt or scorn. The verse emphasizes that the Ammonites’ joy was not innocent but filled with spiteful intent against Israel.
  • "rejoiced" (שָׂמַח, śāmaḥ): This word means to be glad or joyful. The context here shows it is a malicious kind of joy, taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune.

Why Ezekiel 25:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God is concerned not only with actions but also with attitudes and motives, especially when they involve celebrating another’s hardship.
  • It shows that God holds neighboring nations accountable for how they treat Israel, even when their hostility is expressed through gestures and emotions rather than direct violence.
  • The verse sets the stage for the following verses, where God announces consequences for the Ammonites’ attitude, connecting their inner feelings and outward actions to real accountability.

Where else these words appear

“clapped” Hebrew H4222 · used in 3 verses

  • Psalms 98:8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
  • Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

“despite” Hebrew H7589 · used in 3 verses

  • Ezekiel 25:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
  • Ezekiel 36:5 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.

“stamped” Hebrew H7554 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 39:3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
  • Job 37:18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
  • Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

“rejoiced” Hebrew H8055 · used in 145 verses

  • Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
  • Psalms 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
  • Proverbs 15:30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.