Reference

Ezekiel 25:16

Destruction / Perishing LanguageAnnihilation / DestructionLiteral FulfillmentProphetic Methods of Communication
“Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.”
14

And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God.

15

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;

16

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.

17

And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Destruction / Perishing Language
Keyword Match
100% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Annihilation / Destruction
Keyword Match
100% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Literal Fulfillment
Keyword Match
90% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Prophetic Methods of Communication
Keyword Match
70% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Destruction / Perishing Language

There is no argument that this verse does not support the theme, as it explicitly uses the phrase "cut off" and "destroy" in reference to the fate of the Philistines and the remnant of the sea coast.

Annihilation / Destruction

There is no argument to be made that this verse does not support the theme of "Annihilation / Destruction," as it explicitly states God will "cut off" and "destroy" the Philistines and the remnant of the sea coast.

Literal Fulfillment

While the language is concrete, the specific identity of "Cherethims" and the precise extent of the "destruction of the remnant of the sea coast" could be interpreted metaphorically or hyperbolically to represent a complete subjugation rather than a literal extermination of every individual.

Prophetic Methods of Communication

The verse describes a divine declaration of future action against the Philistines, but it does not describe *how* this declaration was communicated to the prophet Ezekiel. The phrase "thus saith the Lord God" indicates the *source* of the message, not the *method* of its reception by the prophet.

Destruction / Perishing Language
Destruction / Perishing Language

Cross-References

Zephaniah 2:4Thematic

“For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.”

Amos 1:8Thematic

“And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.”

1 Samuel 30:14Thematic

“We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

Zephaniah 2:5Thematic

“Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.”

Jeremiah 47:7Thematic

“How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.”

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Thematic Connections

Destruction / Perishing LanguageAnnihilation / DestructionLiteral FulfillmentProphetic Methods of Communication

Private Study Note