Ezekiel 25:15

Thus saith the Lord God, Because the Philistines haue dealt by reuenge, and haue taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred: Ezekiel 25:15 (KJV)

Ezekiel was a prophet who ministered to the exiled Israelites in Babylon during the sixth century BC. In this passage God speaks through Ezekiel about the judgment that will come upon several nations, including the Philistines. The Philistines were an ancient people who lived along the coastal region of Canaan, in the area of modern‑day Israel and Palestine, and they were known for their continual conflicts with Israel throughout the Old Testament.

The verse condemns the Philistines for “dealing by revenge” and for “taking vengeance with a despiteful (or proud) heart” against the house of Israel. Their hostility was rooted in an “old hatred,” and they sought to destroy Israel by despicable ways. The text alludes to the long history of enmity, recalling earlier confrontations such as the battles between Samson and the Philistines recorded in Judges 13‑16.

God’s response, as declared through Ezekiel, is one of judgment. The prophet records that the Lord will bring judgment upon the Philistines for their vengeful and spiteful actions. This judgment is part of a broader pattern in Ezekiel, where God pronounces judgment on other nations—Ammon, Moab, Edom, and others—for their wickedness and mistreatment of Israel. The passage therefore underscores the certainty of divine retribution against those who act out of hatred and revenge, reminding the reader that God’s justice will ultimately prevail over human malice.