Ezekiel – Chapter 35

Old Testament • 15 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" — so begins Ezekiel 35. Across its 15 verses, two threads run through the text: God's covenant promises and sin and divine judgment. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy concerning it, and say to it:

3Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, mount Seir, and I will stretch forth my hand upon thee, and I will make thee desolate and waste.

4I will destroy thy cities, and thou shalt be desolate: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.

5Because thou hast been an everlasting enemy, and hast shut up the children of Israel in the hands of the sword in the time of their affliction, in the time of their last iniquity.

6Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God, I will deliver thee up to blood, and blood shall pursue thee: and whereas thou hast hated blood, blood shall pursue thee.

7And I will make mount Seir waste and desolate: and I will take away from it him that goeth and him that returneth.

8And I will fill his mountains with his men that are slain: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in thy torrents they shall fall that are slain with the sword.

9I will make thee everlasting desolations, and thy cities shall not be inhabited: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord God.

10Because thou hast said: The two nations, and the two lands shall be mine, and I will possess them by inheritance: whereas the Lord was there.

11Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God, I will do according to thy wrath, and according to thy envy, which thou hast exercised in hatred to them: and I will be made known by them, when I shall have judged thee.

12And thou shalt know that I the Lord have heard all thy reproaches, that thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying. They are desolate, they are given to us to consume.

13And you rose up against me with your mouth, and have derogated from me by your words: I have heard them.

14Thus saith the Lord God: When the whole earth shall rejoice, I will make thee a wilderness.

15As thou hast rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was laid waste, so will I do to thee: thou shalt be laid waste, O mount Seir, and all Idumea: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 35

“Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, mount Seir, and I will stretch forth my hand upon thee, and I will make thee desolate and waste.”

Ezekiel 35:3

“Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God, I will deliver thee up to blood, and blood shall pursue thee: and whereas thou hast hated blood, blood shall pursue thee.”

Ezekiel 35:6

“I will make thee everlasting desolations, and thy cities shall not be inhabited: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord God.”

Ezekiel 35:9

“Thus saith the Lord God: When the whole earth shall rejoice, I will make thee a wilderness.”

Ezekiel 35:14

Historical Context

Ezekiel belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the exiles in Babylon, moved from despair to hope of restoration. Chapter 35 of 48 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 15 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The passage starts with these words: "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" It concludes: "As thou hast rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was laid waste, so will I do to thee:…" The wider setting of Ezekiel is this: Ezekiel was deported to Babylon in 597 BC and prophesied among the exiles through astonishing visions: God's throne-chariot, the departure of His glory from the Temple, the valley of dry bones brought to life, and a new… The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile

When It Was Written

About 593-571 BC, in Babylon

Catholic Commentary

The prophet addresses Israel with a message rooted in covenant fidelity and the hope of restoration. A pivotal line is verse 3: "Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, mount Seir, and I will stretch forth my hand upon thee, and I will make thee desolate and waste." The passage repeatedly touches on God's covenant promises.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of judgment, restoration, and God's glory. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 436).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • ✓God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.
  • ✓Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.

Reflection for Today

As Catholics read Ezekiel Chapter 35, we do so within the living Tradition that has guarded this text for two millennia.

The saints did not treat Scripture as antiquarian literature. St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, and countless others used passages such as this to fuel daily conversion. the sanctity of marriage and family remains a practical lesson for modern disciples.

If this passage raises questions, seek the Church's teaching through the Catechism, a faithful priest, or sound Catholic commentaries. Private interpretation must remain in harmony with the Magisterium (CIC 2466).

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ezekiel Chapter 35 about?

Ezekiel 35 contains 15 verses. It opens with "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" and closes with "As thou hast rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was laid waste, so will I do to thee:…". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 35?

One of the most significant verses is verse 3: "Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, mount Seir, and I will stretch forth my hand upon thee, and I will make thee desolate and waste." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Ezekiel and when?

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile. About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

Related Chapters

Numbers 1Shares people and themes with this chapterDeuteronomy 1Shares people and themes with this chapterJoshua 7Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏The Magnificat🙏The Nicene Creed🙏Act of Contrition🙏Kyrie Eleison

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