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.
Parallel translations
- WEB therefore, as I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you: since you have not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue you.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV therefore, as I live,” says the Lord God, “I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; since you have not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue you.
- NASB therefore as I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will certainly doom you to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you; since you have not hated bloodshed, therefore bloodshed will pursue you.
- NLT As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, since you show no distaste for blood, I will give you a bloodbath of your own. Your turn has come!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Because Edom did not shrink from bloodshed, blood will pursue them in just retribution. Those who love violence will be overtaken by it.
Overview
In a play on words, since Edom 'has not hated blood,' God 'will prepare you for blood,' and 'blood shall pursue you.' The punishment fits the crime—measure for measure—a hallmark of divine justice. Those who shed blood will have blood require it of them (Gen. 9:6). The verse warns that persistent love of violence ends in self-destruction under God's hand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Isa 63:2–6Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
- Obad 1:15For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
- Rev 18:24And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
- Matt 7:2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
- Rev 18:6Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
- Ps 109:16–17Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
- Rev 19:2–3For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
- Rev 16:5–7And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
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Original language
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