Ezekiel 35:13 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 35:13 mean?

Ezekiel 35:13 says that the people addressed have spoken arrogantly against God, using many words to boast against Him, and that God has heard everything they have said. The verse highlights that their proud and hostile speech toward God has not gone unnoticed.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Edom, a nation neighboring Israel. The Edomites are being rebuked for their prideful words and attitudes against God and His people during a time of Israel’s hardship. The verse emphasizes that God is fully aware of their hostile talk and will hold them accountable for it.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 35:13

• "boasted" (גָּדַל, gadal): This word often means "to make great" or "to magnify." Here, it carries the sense of speaking in a way that exalts oneself over God, showing arrogance or pride.
• "multiplied" (עָצַם, atsam): This word means "to make numerous" or "to increase." It suggests that the Edomites did not just speak against God once, but repeatedly and excessively.
• "words" (דָּבָר, davar): This is a general term for "words" or "things spoken," but in this context, it points to the content of their speech being especially significant—words of hostility or challenge.
• "heard" (שָׁמַע, shama): This word means "to hear" or "to listen." It stresses that God is attentive and nothing they have said has escaped His notice.

Why Ezekiel 35:13 matters

• Ezekiel 35:13 clarifies that God is not distant or unaware when people speak against Him; He hears and remembers every word, even those spoken in pride or anger.
• The verse underscores the seriousness of arrogant speech against God, showing that words can be just as significant as actions in God’s eyes.
• This verse connects to the larger message in Ezekiel 35, where Edom is judged for its hostility toward Israel, making clear that both attitudes and words toward God and His people matter greatly.