I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

EZEKIEL 35:9KJV
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Ezekiel 35:9 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 35:9 mean?

Ezekiel 35:9 says that God will make the land of Edom a place of lasting ruin, where its cities will never be rebuilt, so that the people will recognize His authority as the LORD. The verse is a declaration of permanent judgment against Edom, emphasizing that this devastation will serve as proof of who God is.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to announce judgment on Edom, a nation hostile to Israel. The context is a prophecy where God promises that Edom's cities will become "perpetual desolations," meaning their destruction will not be reversed. The purpose of this judgment is so that Edom—and anyone who hears—will know that the LORD (יהוה, Yahweh) is the true God.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 35:9

  • "Perpetual" (עוֹלָם, ʿolam): This word often means "forever" or "everlasting." Here, it stresses that the desolation of Edom is not temporary but intended to last indefinitely.
  • "Desolations" (שְׁמָמָה, shemamah): This word describes a state of utter ruin or barrenness, highlighting the total devastation that will come upon Edom's land and cities.
  • "Return" (שׁוּב, shuv; יָשַׁב, yashav): The idea is that Edom's cities will not come back to life or be inhabited again, underlining the finality of the judgment.
  • "Know" (יָדַע, yadaʿ): This word means more than just intellectual knowledge; it often carries the sense of recognizing or acknowledging something deeply, in this case, recognizing the LORD's power and identity.

Why Ezekiel 35:9 matters

  • Ezekiel 35:9 clarifies that the judgment against Edom is not just a temporary setback but a lasting consequence, countering any hope that Edom might recover its former status.
  • The verse highlights that God's actions in history are meant to reveal His identity and authority, not just to Israel but to other nations as well.
  • This verse connects to the broader theme in Ezekiel where God's judgments are meant to teach people about who He is, reinforcing the idea that historical events have a deeper spiritual purpose.