I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

EZEKIEL 35:4KJV
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Ezekiel 35:4 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 35:4 mean?

Ezekiel 35:4 says that God will destroy the cities of Edom, leaving them empty and ruined, so that the people will recognize His power and authority. The verse emphasizes that this devastation will make it clear to everyone that the LORD is truly God.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Edom, a nation neighboring Israel that had been hostile toward them. The warning is part of a prophecy against Edom, describing the consequences of their actions. The verse highlights both the total destruction ("lay thy cities waste") and the purpose behind it: so that Edom will "know that I am the LORD."

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 35:4

  • "Waste" (חָרְבָּה, ḥorbāh) means a place that is ruined or laid in ruins. This word stresses that the destruction will be thorough, not just damaged but completely devastated.
  • "Desolate" (שָׁמֵם, shāmēm) carries the sense of being deserted or uninhabited. It adds to the picture of total emptiness, not just physical ruin but also the absence of people.
  • "Know" (יָדַע, yādaʿ) often means more than just intellectual knowledge; it suggests a deep recognition or acknowledgment, especially of God's identity and authority.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that this act is not just fate or chance, but the deliberate action of Israel’s God.

Why Ezekiel 35:4 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the destruction of Edom is not random or unjustified, but a direct response to their actions and attitudes toward Israel.
  • The emphasis on knowing the LORD shows that the goal is not just punishment, but a revelation of who God is—even to those who opposed Him.
  • Understanding the original words for "waste" and "desolate" helps readers see the severity of what is being described: a complete and lasting devastation, not just temporary hardship.

Where else these words appear

“waste” Hebrew H2723 · used in 42 verses

  • Leviticus 26:31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.
  • Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
  • Ezekiel 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

“desolate” Hebrew H8077 · used in 54 verses

  • Exodus 23:29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
  • Jeremiah 44:6 Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.
  • Ezekiel 33:29 Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.