Ezekiel 35:6

therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Yahweh speaks through Ezekiel to Edom (Mount Seir) following its historical betrayal of Israel during their calamity. The declaration occurs as God pronounces judgment for harboring ancient hatred and delivering Israelites to the sword.

The words — The phrase חַי־אָ֗נִי (chai-ani) literally renders "by my life," functioning as a divine oath formula. The term לְ/דָ֥ם (le./Dam) means "to blood" or "to bloodshed," anchoring the coming retribution.

The thread — This theme of measured retribution appears in Obadiah 1:15, where the Day of the Lord brings reciprocal judgment on the nations. The imagery of divine pursuit through bloodshed echoes the winepress motif in Isaiah 63:2 and the final reckoning in Revelation 18:24.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that unrepentant violence inevitably triggers divine counter-action. It requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s oath guarantees historical consequences for those who refuse to hate bloodshed.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

לָכֵ֣ןla./Khen<to>/ therefore חַי־chai-[by] [the] life אָ֗נִי'A.niof me נְאֻם֙ne.'Um[the] utterance of אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהוִ֔הYah.wehYahweh כִּֽי־ki-that לְדָ֥םle./Damto/ blood אֶעֶשְׂךָ֖'e.'es./KhaI will appoint/ you וְדָ֣םve./Damand/ blood יִרְדֲּפֶ֑ךָyir.da.Fe./khait will pursue/ you אִם־'im-if לֹ֥אlo'not דָ֛םdamblood שָׂנֵ֖אתָsa.Ne.tayou have hated וְדָ֥םve./Damand/ blood יִרְדֲּפֶֽךָ׃yir.da.Fe./khait will pursue/ you

King James Version

Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.

Cross-references

Isaiah 63:2 Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress?
Obadiah 1:15 For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your recompense will return upon your own head.
Revelation 18:24 And there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth.
Psalms 109:16 For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death.
Matthew 7:2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Revelation 16:5 And I heard the angel of the waters say: “Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and was, because You have brought these judgments.
Revelation 18:6 Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.
Revelation 19:2 For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.”