Ezekiel 25:15
New International Version
“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah,

New Living Translation
“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The people of Philistia have acted against Judah out of bitter revenge and long-standing contempt.

English Standard Version
“Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity,

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility,

King James Bible
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;

New King James Version
‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,”

New American Standard Bible
‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge, and have taken vengeance with malice in their souls to destroy with everlasting hostility,”

NASB 1995
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge and have taken vengeance with scorn of soul to destroy with everlasting enmity,”

NASB 1977
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge and have taken vengeance with scorn of soul to destroy with everlasting enmity,”

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge and have taken vengeance with scorn of soul to bring ruin with everlasting enmity,”

Amplified Bible
‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because the Philistines have acted revengefully and have taken vengeance [contemptuously] with malice in their hearts to destroy with everlasting hostility and hatred,”

Christian Standard Bible
“ ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with deep contempt, destroying because of their perpetual hatred,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: “Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with deep contempt, destroying because of their ancient hatred,

American Standard Version
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with despite of soul to destroy with perpetual enmity;

Contemporary English Version
The LORD God said, "The cruel Philistines have taken revenge on their enemies over and over and have tried to destroy them.

English Revised Version
Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with despite of soul to destroy it with perpetual enmity;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: The Philistines have taken revenge with spiteful hearts. They have tried to destroy their long-time enemies.

Good News Translation
The Sovereign LORD said, "The Philistines have taken cruel revenge on their agelong enemies and destroyed them in their hate.

International Standard Version
"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because Philistia has made it their practice to carry out retribution, accompanied by extraordinary malice in their personal vendettas—vendettas that spring from their everlasting hostility—

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility,

NET Bible
"This is what the sovereign LORD says: 'The Philistines have exacted merciless revenge, showing intense scorn in their effort to destroy Judah with unrelenting hostility.

New Heart English Bible
"Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with despite of soul to destroy with perpetual enmity;

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;

World English Bible
“‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because the Philistines have taken revenge, and have taken vengeance with contempt of soul to destroy with perpetual hostility,”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said Lord YHWH: Because of the doings of the Philistines in vengeance, "" And they take vengeance with despite in soul, "" Destruction [with] continuous enmity,

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Because of the doings of the Philistines in vengeance, And they take vengeance with despite in soul, To destroy -- the enmity age-during!

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Because the rovers did in vengeance, and they will avenge vengeance with contempt of heart to destroy, a perpetual enmity;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord God: Because the Philistines have taken vengeance, and have revenged themselves with all their mind, destroying and satisfying old enmities :

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord God: Because the Philistines have taken vengeance, and have revenged themselves with all their soul, destroying, and fulfilling ancient hostilities,

New American Bible
Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted vengefully and exacted vengeance with intentional malice, destroying with undying hostility,

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: Because with unending hostilities the Philistines acted in vengeance, and with malice of heart took revenge in destruction;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD God: Because the Philistines have taken vengeance, and have revenged themselves with satisfaction of their heart, thus destroying the friendship of old;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: “Because the Philistines have exacted vengeance and are avenged in the desire of their souls, that they would destroy an age old friendship”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with disdain of soul to destroy, for the old hatred;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore thus saith the Lord, Because the Philistines have wrought revengefully, and raised up vengeance rejoicing from their heart to destroy the Israelites to a man;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prophecy Against the Philistines
15This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility, 16therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant along the coast.…

Cross References
Amos 1:6-8
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom. / So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza, to consume its citadels. / I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod and the one who wields the scepter in Ashkelon. I will turn My hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD.

Zephaniah 2:5-7
Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.” / So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep. / The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will attend to them and restore their captives.

Isaiah 14:29-31
Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg. / Then the firstborn of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety, but I will kill your root by famine, and your remnant will be slain. / Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.

Jeremiah 47:1-7
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh struck down Gaza. / This is what the LORD says: “See how the waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and its fullness, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail / at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions, the rumbling of chariots, and the clatter of their wheels. The fathers will not turn back for their sons; their hands will hang limp. ...

Joel 3:4-8
Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads. / For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples. / You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland. ...

Obadiah 1:10-14
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever. / On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them. / But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress. ...

Psalm 137:7
Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”

Isaiah 11:14
They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the east. They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.

Zechariah 9:5-7
Ashkelon will see and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, as will Ekron, for her hope will wither. There will cease to be a king in Gaza, and Ashkelon will be uninhabited. / A mixed race will occupy Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. / I will remove the blood from their mouths and the abominations from between their teeth. Then they too will become a remnant for our God; they will become like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

Jeremiah 25:20
all the mixed tribes; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;

Isaiah 34:5-17
When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom. / And the wild oxen will fall with them, the young bulls with the strong ones. Their land will be drenched with blood, and their soil will be soaked with fat. ...

1 Samuel 15:2-3
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt. / Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

2 Chronicles 28:18
The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages.

Isaiah 9:12
Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Matthew 11:21-22
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;

Because

Ezekiel 25:6,12
For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; …

Isaiah 14:29-31
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent…

Jeremiah 25:20
And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,

dealt

2 Chronicles 28:18
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

Psalm 83:7
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Isaiah 9:12
The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

to destroy

Judges 14:1-16:31
And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines…

1 Samuel 4:1-6:21
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek…

1 Samuel 13:1-14:52
Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, …

for the old hatred.

Jump to Previous
Acted Ancient Causing Dealt Despite Despiteful Destroy Destruction Disdain Enmity Everlasting Hate Hatred Heart Hearts Hostility Judah Malice Never-Ending Payment Perpetual Philistines Purpose Revenge Revengefully Scorn Shame Sought Soul Sovereign Unending Vengeance
Jump to Next
Acted Ancient Causing Dealt Despite Despiteful Destroy Destruction Disdain Enmity Everlasting Hate Hatred Heart Hearts Hostility Judah Malice Never-Ending Payment Perpetual Philistines Purpose Revenge Revengefully Scorn Shame Sought Soul Sovereign Unending Vengeance
Ezekiel 25
1. God's vengeance, for their insolence against the Jews, upon the Ammonites
8. upon Moab and Seir
12. upon Edom
15. and upon the Philistines














This is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew term for "Lord GOD" is "Adonai Yahweh," underscoring God's supreme power and covenantal relationship with Israel. It is a reminder that the message comes directly from the Creator, who is both just and merciful.

Because the Philistines acted in vengeance
The Philistines were a longstanding enemy of Israel, often at odds with God's people. The Hebrew word for "vengeance" is "naqam," which implies a retaliatory action driven by a desire for retribution. This highlights the Philistines' deliberate and hostile actions against Judah, which were not sanctioned by God. Historically, the Philistines occupied the coastal regions of Canaan and were known for their military prowess and conflicts with Israel.

taking vengeance with malice in their hearts
The phrase "malice in their hearts" suggests a deep-seated animosity and ill will. The Hebrew word for "malice" is "she'it," indicating a premeditated and spiteful intent. This reveals the Philistines' internal motivations, which were not just about justice or defense but were rooted in a profound hatred. This malice is condemned by God, who sees the heart and judges the intentions behind actions.

and seeking to destroy Judah
The Philistines' objective was not merely to retaliate but to annihilate Judah. The Hebrew verb "shamad" means to destroy or exterminate, indicating a total and complete obliteration. This reflects the severity of their hostility and the existential threat they posed to God's chosen people. Historically, Judah was the southern kingdom of Israel, and its preservation was crucial for the fulfillment of God's promises.

with ancient hostility
The term "ancient hostility" refers to a long-standing enmity. The Hebrew word "olam" means everlasting or perpetual, suggesting that this hostility was not a recent development but had deep historical roots. This enmity can be traced back to the early interactions between the Philistines and Israelites, as seen in the narratives of Samson, Saul, and David. It serves as a reminder of the enduring nature of some conflicts and the need for divine intervention to bring about true peace and reconciliation.

(15) The Philistines.--The historical books of the Old Testament are almost a continuous record of the hostility of the Philistines. At times they held the greater part of the land of Israel in subjection, and at times were subdued in their turn. Although belonging to another branch of the Hamitic family, their land was included with that of the Canaanites in the territory to be given to the Israelites (Joshua 13:2-3). It was never, however, occupied by them, although the cities were fortified and garrisoned by some of the kings. The land lay along the coast of the Mediterranean, on the highway between Egypt and Assyria and Chaldaea, and consequently, in the struggles of those nations with each other the Philistines were gradually more and more reduced, until they disappeared entirely. Among the many prophecies against them, the following may be especially referred to: Isaiah 14:29-32; Jeremiah 47; Amos 1:6-8; Zephaniah 2:4-7.

Verse 15. - The sin of the Philistines is virtually the same as that of the Edomites. They also had a perpetual hatred. Century after century they had been, with various fortunes, the enemies of Israel - defeated (to confine ourselves to more recent history) by Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:11) and Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6), formidable under Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:16) and Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:18), repressed by Hezekiah (Isaiah 14:31), combining with Amalek, and Ammon, and Tyre, and Assyria against Jerusalem (Psalm 83:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is what
כֹּ֤ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

says:
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Because
יַ֛עַן (ya·‘an)
Adverb
Strong's 3282: Heed, purpose, to indicate the reason, cause

the Philistines
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

acted
עֲשׂ֥וֹת (‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

in vengeance
בִּנְקָמָ֑ה (bin·qā·māh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5360: Avengement

and took revenge
וַיִּנָּקְמ֤וּ (way·yin·nā·qə·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5358: To grudge, avenge, punish

with contempt
בִּשְׁאָ֣ט (biš·’āṭ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7589: Despite, contempt

of heart,
בְּנֶ֔פֶשׁ (bə·ne·p̄eš)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

to destroy [Judah]
לְמַשְׁחִ֖ית (lə·maš·ḥîṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4889: Destructive, destruction

with ancient
עוֹלָֽם׃ (‘ō·w·lām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

hostility,
אֵיבַ֥ת (’ê·ḇaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 342: Hostility


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 25:15 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 25:14
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