Ezekiel 23:25
And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.
Original Language Analysis
וְנָתַתִּ֨י
And I will set
H5414
וְנָתַתִּ֨י
And I will set
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 19
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
וְעָשׂ֤וּ
against thee and they shall deal
H6213
וְעָשׂ֤וּ
against thee and they shall deal
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
4 of 19
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אוֹתָךְ֙
H854
אוֹתָךְ֙
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
5 of 19
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
בְּחֵמָ֔ה
furiously
H2534
בְּחֵמָ֔ה
furiously
Strong's:
H2534
Word #:
6 of 19
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
אַפֵּ֤ךְ
thy nose
H639
אַפֵּ֤ךְ
thy nose
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
וְאָזְנַ֙יִךְ֙
and thine ears
H241
וְאָזְנַ֙יִךְ֙
and thine ears
Strong's:
H241
Word #:
8 of 19
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
יָסִ֔ירוּ
with thee they shall take away
H5493
יָסִ֔ירוּ
with thee they shall take away
Strong's:
H5493
Word #:
9 of 19
to turn off (literally or figuratively)
וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ
and thy remnant
H319
וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ
and thy remnant
Strong's:
H319
Word #:
10 of 19
the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity
בַּחֶ֣רֶב
by the sword
H2719
בַּחֶ֣רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
11 of 19
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
תִּפּ֑וֹל
shall fall
H5307
תִּפּ֑וֹל
shall fall
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
12 of 19
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
בָּנַ֤יִךְ
thy sons
H1121
בָּנַ֤יִךְ
thy sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
14 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּבְנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙
and thy daughters
H1323
וּבְנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙
and thy daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
15 of 19
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
יִקָּ֔חוּ
they shall take
H3947
יִקָּ֔חוּ
they shall take
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
16 of 19
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ
and thy remnant
H319
וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ
and thy remnant
Strong's:
H319
Word #:
17 of 19
the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity
Cross References
Ezekiel 23:47And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.Exodus 34:14For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:Ezekiel 5:13Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.Zephaniah 1:18Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Historical Context
Babylonian practice included mutilation of rebels and defeated enemies as both punishment and deterrent. The siege of Jerusalem resulted in massive casualties, burning of temple and city, execution of Judah's leaders at Riblah (2 Kings 25:18-21), and deportation of survivors to Babylon—exactly as prophesied decades earlier.
Questions for Reflection
- How should we understand divine jealousy as righteous rather than petty?
- What does prophetic fulfillment demonstrate about God's nature?
- How do specific historical details fulfill divine warnings?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee reveals divine emotion driving historical events. God's jealousy is righteous zeal for exclusive covenant relationship—not petty envy but holy passion for His glory and His people's exclusive devotion. They shall take away thy nose and thine ears describes literal Babylonian practice—mutilation of captives. Thy remnant shall fall by the sword pronounces comprehensive destruction. They shall take thy sons and thy daughters indicates exile and enslavement. Thy residue shall be devoured by the fire refers to Jerusalem's burning (2 Kings 25:9). Every detail fulfilled precisely in 586 BC. Prophetic specificity demonstrates divine foreknowledge and control. Nothing happens randomly; judgment's details were planned and announced beforehand.