What is the context?
Edom has taken vengeance against Judah and incurred grievous guilt. The Lord’s response addresses the active hostility of a neighbor taking its own revenge.
The announced devastation reaches people and animals, with Teman and Dedan marking the breadth of the threat. The Lord says that His vengeance will be carried out through His people Israel.
The repeated language turns Edom’s conduct back upon it: the people who sought revenge will come to know the Lord’s vengeance. Obadiah 1:10–15 gives a related accusation, describing violence against brother Jacob, gloating, looting and the betrayal of fugitives.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Henry emphasizes the justice of wrongdoing being answered through those who had suffered it. He also distinguishes trusting God to judge from taking revenge oneself. Wesley identifies Seir with Edom and reads the geographical names as the extent of the threatened devastation.
The passage names the Lord as judge and Israel as the instrument He appoints in this announcement. It does not authorize anyone with an old grievance to claim divine approval for retaliation.
Where does this fit in God's plan?
Romans 12:14–21 tells believers how to live while trusting God’s judgment: bless persecutors, refuse repayment of evil with evil, and provide food and drink to an enemy in need. Paul grounds the refusal of personal revenge in the Lord’s right to repay.
Paul does not explicitly quote Ezekiel 25. The wider connection clarifies the response of people who belong to God: confidence that He judges evil frees them from making vengeance their own task. They are called to overcome evil with good.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.