Ezekiel 21 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Ezekiel 21 meaning explained in AI Summary

Ezekiel 21 is a chilling chapter filled with vivid imagery and pronouncements of judgment against Jerusalem and the surrounding nations. Here's a summary:

The Sword of the Lord

God's Unsheathed Sword (vv. 1-7): God addresses Ezekiel, commanding him to prophesy against the land of Israel. He describes a sharp sword, polished and sharpened for slaughter, representing God's coming judgment.
Reason for Judgment (vv. 8-17): The people's rebellion, idolatry, and violence have angered God. He will judge them without pity or remorse. The sound of the sword being sharpened is a warning, a call for the people to repent, but they will not listen.
Testing the Options (vv. 18-22): God uses divination (although He condemns it elsewhere) to illustrate the certainty of Jerusalem's destruction. No matter which path is chosen, the sword will find its target.

Judgment on Jerusalem

The Fall of the Prince (vv. 23-27): God directly addresses the prince of Israel (likely Zedekiah), declaring that his reign will end. His turban and crown, symbols of his authority, will be removed. The throne will remain vacant until the rightful heir, the Messiah, comes.
Judgment on Ammon (vv. 28-32): God's judgment extends beyond Jerusalem to the Ammonites, who have rejoiced in Israel's downfall. They too will face destruction.

Themes:

God's Sovereignty: God is in control, even using methods He condemns to demonstrate His point. The sword represents His unstoppable judgment.
The Consequences of Sin: The chapter emphasizes the direct link between the people's sin and the coming destruction. Their rebellion has consequences.
A Glimmer of Hope: Even amidst the pronouncements of judgment, there's a hint of hope. The mention of the rightful heir to the throne points towards a future restoration under the Messiah.

Overall: Ezekiel 21 is a sobering reminder of God's justice and the devastating consequences of sin. It also foreshadows the Babylonian exile, a period of immense suffering for the Israelites. However, within the judgment, there's a seed of hope for a future restoration.

Ezekiel 21 bible study ai commentary

Ezekiel 21 proclaims the unstoppable and imminent arrival of God’s judgment, personified as the "Sword of the LORD." This divine weapon, sharpened and polished, is wielded by the King of Babylon against a rebellious Judah, its profane prince, and the gloating nation of Ammon. The prophecy moves from a broad, fiery metaphor against the land to a specific, terrifying song of the sword, detailing its fated path through pagan divination. Amid the climactic declaration of total ruin for the Davidic monarchy, a single, powerful ray of hope shines through: the promise of a future ruler to whom the right to govern truly belongs—the Messiah.

Ezekiel 21 Context

This chapter is set around 588-587 B.C., just before the final Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Ezekiel, already in exile in Babylon, delivers this message to his fellow exiles who still harbored false hope that Jerusalem would be spared. King Zedekiah of Judah had rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, breaking a sworn vassal treaty. This prophecy serves as a divine confirmation that Nebuchadnezzar's punitive campaign is not merely a political act but is the ordained will of Yahweh, who is using the pagan king as His instrument of judgment against covenant-breaking and idolatry.

Ezekiel 21:1-7

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. And all flesh shall know that I am the Lord. I have drawn my sword from its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.” “As for you, son of man, sigh with a broken heart and with bitter grief sigh before their eyes. And when they say to you, ‘Why do you sigh?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, and all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming, and it will be brought about, declares the Lord God.’”

In-depth-analysis

Literary Shift: God commands Ezekiel to shift his prophetic gaze (set your face) from the general "south" (20:46) to the specific "Jerusalem," "sanctuaries," and "land of Israel," removing all ambiguity.
"My Sword": The sword is explicitly identified as belonging to the LORD. Nebuchadnezzar is the wielder, but God is the owner and commander. This establishes divine sovereignty over the actions of Babylon.
"Righteous and Wicked": This phrase signifies the indiscriminate nature of a national catastrophe. When a nation is judged, all inhabitants suffer the consequences of war, famine, and siege, regardless of their personal piety. This is not about individual eternal salvation but corporate, temporal judgment.
From South to North: This describes the all-encompassing sweep of the invasion throughout the entire land of Judah.
Sighing: Ezekiel performs a sign-act. His audible, physical grief (broken heart, bitter grief) is a prophetic enactment of the terror and despair that will seize the people when judgment arrives. It makes the coming disaster tangible to his audience.
"Shall not be sheathed again": Emphasizes the finality and irreversibility of this judgment. There will be no last-minute reprieve.

Bible references

Lam 2:4-5: "He has bent his bow like an enemy... he has become like an enemy." (God Himself portrayed as the agent of destruction against His people).
Jer 25:29: "For behold, I begin to work disaster at the city that is called by my name, and shall you go unpunished?..." (God's judgment beginning with His own house).
Mat 5:45: "...he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (The principle of common experiences, both good and bad, in this life).

Cross references

Jer 12:12 (the sword of the LORD devours), Isa 22:4 (weeping bitterly over destruction), Jer 4:9 (king and officials will despair), Ecc 9:2 (the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked).

Ezekiel 21:8-17

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: “‘A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished, sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! ... It is given to be polished, to be grasped in the hand; it is sharpened and polished, the sword, to be given into the hand of the slayer.’ Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people; it is against all the princes of Israel... Therefore strike your thigh. For it is a test, and what if the scepter despised by the sword should be no more?, declares the Lord God... Prophesy therefore, and strike your hands together. Let the sword be doubled and tripled, the sword for those to be slain...

In-depth-analysis

Song of the Sword: This section is a poetic, taunting song. The repetition (‘A sword, a sword’) creates a menacing, rhythmic cadence, mimicking the dread of an approaching army.
Sharpened and Polished: These two actions prepare the sword for maximum effectiveness: sharpening for lethal force and polishing to create terror as it flashes in the sun (flash like lightning).
"Scepter despised by the sword": A pivotal line. The sword (Babylon) holds the royal scepter of Judah (the Davidic dynasty) in contempt. God's judgment is so severe that it will not spare the divinely promised royal line itself.
Strike Your Thigh: A common ancient gesture expressing extreme anguish, horror, and grief (Jer 31:19). Ezekiel embodies the nation's coming reaction.
"Let the sword be doubled and tripled": A poetic expression for the intensity and relentlessness of the attack. It will be an overwhelming and complete slaughter.

Bible references

Deu 32:41: "...if I whet my glittering sword, and my hand takes hold on judgment..." (A "Song of Moses" passage that also describes the LORD's sword of judgment).
Isa 34:5-6: "For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens... The LORD has a sword; it is sated with blood..." (Similar imagery of God's sword bringing wrath upon the nations).
Heb 4:12: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." (The "sword" metaphor used spiritually for the piercing truth of God's Word).

Cross references

Nah 3:3 (flashing sword, glittering spear), Jud 5:1-2 (song of victory for Deborah), Jer 31:19 (striking the thigh in repentance).

Ezekiel 21:18-23

“As for you, son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come... at the head of the way to the city... For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he shakes the arrows, he consults the teraphim, he looks at the liver. Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set up battering rams... But to them it will seem a false divination. They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be taken.”

In-depth-analysis

Sign-Act: Ezekiel is to draw a map illustrating Nebuchadnezzar's strategic dilemma: march against Rabbah (the Ammonite capital) or Jerusalem.
Divination Methods: Three common Mesopotamian divination practices are named:
1. Shakes the arrows (Belomancy): Placing arrows marked with potential targets into a quiver and drawing one.
2. Consults the teraphim: Questioning household idols or images.
3. Looks at the liver (Hepatoscopy): Examining the liver of a sacrificed animal for omens.
Sovereign Irony: Nebuchadnezzar believes he is discerning the will of his gods, but Yahweh is the one who places the answer (Jerusalem) into his hand. God directs the pagan rituals to accomplish His own determined purpose.
"False divination": The people of Jerusalem will dismiss the news of Nebuchadnezzar's choice as a fluke or mistake. Their confidence rests on "solemn oaths"—likely their treaty with Egypt and perhaps even their broken vassal treaty with Babylon, which they foolishly believe still offers some protection.
"Brings their guilt to remembrance": Nebuchadnezzar’s attack is God’s mechanism for calling to account the broken oath (covenant) that Zedekiah swore in Yahweh's name (Eze 17:18-19).

Bible references

Pro 16:33: "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." (Explicitly states God's sovereignty over acts of chance/divination).
Num 23:23: "For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel..." (God's people are beyond the reach of foreign magic, but here God uses their enemy's "magic" to enact his own judgment upon them).
Pro 21:1: "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." (God's sovereign control over the intentions of earthly rulers).

Cross references

Hos 3:4 (teraphim use in Israel), Lev 19:31 (prohibition of divination), Eze 17:15-19 (the guilt of breaking the oath to Nebuchadnezzar).

Polemics

This passage is a powerful polemic against the gods of Babylon (like Marduk). It asserts that they have no real power. Yahweh is so completely in control that He can commandeer the religious systems of the world's greatest empire to serve His plans. It demotes Babylonian divination from a source of supernatural insight to a mere stage prop in Yahweh's divine drama.

Ezekiel 21:24-27

“Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered... you shall be taken in hand. And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment, thus says the Lord God: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is high. A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be, until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.”

In-depth-analysis

"Profane and Wicked Prince": A direct address to King Zedekiah. He is "profane" (ḥālāl) because he defiled the name of God by breaking his oath (Eze 17:19).
"Remove the Turban and... Crown": The turban symbolizes the priesthood (Ex 28:4) and the crown symbolizes the monarchy. This command signifies the complete dismantling of Judah’s two primary leadership institutions.
"Exalt... low, and bring low... high": A divine reversal of fortune. The exalted Davidic line will be brought low, making way for something new.
"Ruin, ruin, ruin" (‘Ivva, ‘Ivva, ‘Ivva): The threefold repetition in Hebrew serves as the ultimate superlative, signifying absolute, total, and complete destruction. The monarchy of Judah is over.
"Until he comes...": The verse ends on a stunning note of Messianic prophecy. The desolation is not permanent. It will last until the arrival of the one who has the true right (mishpat - right, judgment, authority) to the throne. This is a clear promise of the Messiah.

Bible references

Gen 49:10: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah... until tribute comes to him [Shiloh]; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." (The foundational prophecy of a future ruler from Judah, whom Ezekiel now declares is coming after this period of ruin).
Luke 1:32-33: "...the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever..." (The angel Gabriel's promise to Mary, directly fulfilling the restoration of the Davidic throne in Jesus).
Heb 1:8: "But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.'" (Identifies the Son, Jesus, as the ultimate King with the scepter of mishpat or righteousness).

Cross references

1 Sa 2:7-8 (The LORD raises the poor and brings low the mighty), Isa 2:11-12 (the proud will be humbled), Dan 4:17 (the Most High gives kingdoms to whom he will), Mat 23:12 (whoever exalts himself will be humbled), Rev 19:11,16 (The rider whose name is Faithful and True, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS).

Ezekiel 21:28-32

“And you, son of man, prophesy, and say... concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach... In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. And I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath... you shall be fuel for the fire... you shall be no more remembered, for I the Lord have spoken.”

In-depth-analysis

Against the Ammonites: The sword of judgment turns from Jerusalem to the Ammonites. They were not innocent bystanders but had taunted (reproach) Judah in its downfall (Eze 25:3, 6).
False Visions: Their own prophets and diviners gave them a false sense of security, which is now exposed as worthless.
"Land of your origin, I will judge you": Unlike Judah, whose remnant would be scattered and later restored, the Ammonites will be judged and destroyed in their own homeland, with no hope of return.
"Fuel for the fire... no more remembered": This signifies a judgment of total annihilation. Their national identity would be erased from history, a prophecy that has been historically fulfilled.

Bible references

Eze 25:1-7: "Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites... because you said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned..." (The parallel prophecy giving the specific reason for Ammon's judgment).
Oba 1:12-14: "But you should not have gloated over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune..." (A similar charge leveled against Edom for its actions during Jerusalem's fall).
Zeph 2:9: "Therefore, as I live... Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah... for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the LORD of hosts." (Connecting pride and taunting to the Ammonites' destruction).

Cross references

Jer 49:1-6 (prophecy against Ammon), Amo 1:13-15 (judgment on Ammon for its cruelty).

Ezekiel chapter 21 analysis

The Personified Sword: The sword is the central character of the chapter. It is portrayed as an intelligent, active agent that is sharpened, polished, given into the slayer's hand, despises scepters, and chooses a path. This powerful personification elevates the instrument of judgment to be a direct extension of God's personal will.
Sovereignty Over All: The chapter brilliantly demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty. He uses the righteous prophet Ezekiel for His word, the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar for His action, pagan divination for His direction, and a political rebellion for His timing. Every actor, willing or unwilling, serves the LORD's ultimate purpose.
From Corporate Ruin to Messianic Hope: Ezekiel 21:27 is one of the most significant Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, functioning as a crucial pivot. It declares the Davidic monarchy finished in its current form (ruin, ruin, ruin) but simultaneously promises its ultimate fulfillment in a future King. The throne is not being permanently destroyed, but held vacant until the one with the legitimate right (mishpat)—Jesus Christ—arrives.
Prophetic Completion of Gen 49:10: The promise to Judah in Genesis 49:10 says the scepter would not depart "until Shiloh comes." Many interpreters struggled with this after the Babylonian exile ended the line of ruling kings. Ezekiel clarifies this "gap." He announces the scepter is being removed, and the nation will become a ruin until the rightful heir ("Shiloh") appears. He doesn't contradict Genesis but explains how it will be fulfilled through a period of desolation followed by Messianic restoration.

Ezekiel 21 summary

The LORD commands his "sword"—the Babylonian army—to bring unavoidable and all-consuming judgment upon Judah for its covenant rebellion. In a dramatic poem, the sword is pictured as sharpened and polished for a terrifying slaughter that will topple even the royal scepter. God sovereignly directs the path of the sword toward Jerusalem, overriding pagan divination to accomplish His will. After pronouncing total ruin on the "profane prince" and the monarchy, the prophecy climaxes with a promise that this ruin will last only until the Messiah comes, the one to whom the throne rightfully belongs. The sword then turns to destroy the taunting Ammonites, finalizing their judgment.

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Ezekiel chapter 21 kjv

¹ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
² Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
³ And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
⁴ Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
⁵ That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.
⁶ Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
⁷ And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.
⁸ Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
⁹ Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
¹⁰ It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.
¹¹ And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
¹² Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
¹³ Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.
¹⁴ Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together. and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
¹⁵ I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
¹⁶ Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
¹⁷ I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.
¹⁸ The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
¹⁹ Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
²⁰ Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.
²¹ For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.
²² At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
²³ And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
²⁴ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
²⁵ And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
²⁶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
²⁷ I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
²⁸ And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
²⁹ Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
³⁰ Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
³¹ And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
³² Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.

Ezekiel chapter 21 nkjv

¹ And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
² "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;
³ and say to the land of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you.
⁴ Because I will cut off both righteous and wicked from you, therefore My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north,
⁵ that all flesh may know that I, the LORD, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore." '
⁶ Sigh therefore, son of man, with a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes.
⁷ And it shall be when they say to you, 'Why are you sighing?' that you shall answer, 'Because of the news; when it comes, every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming and shall be brought to pass,' says the Lord GOD."
⁸ Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
⁹ "Son of man, prophesy and say, 'Thus says the LORD!' Say: 'A sword, a sword is sharpened And also polished!
¹⁰ Sharpened to make a dreadful slaughter, Polished to flash like lightning! Should we then make mirth? It despises the scepter of My son, As it does all wood.
¹¹ And He has given it to be polished, That it may be handled; This sword is sharpened, and it is polished To be given into the hand of the slayer.'
¹² "Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh.
¹³ "Because it is a testing, And what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter shall be no more," says the Lord GOD.
¹⁴ "You therefore, son of man, prophesy, And strike your hands together. The third time let the sword do double damage. It is the sword that slays, The sword that slays the great men, That enters their private chambers.
¹⁵ I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, That the heart may melt and many may stumble. Ah! It is made bright; It is grasped for slaughter:
¹⁶ "Swords at the ready! Thrust right! Set your blade! Thrust left? Wherever your edge is ordered!
¹⁷ "I also will beat My fists together, And I will cause My fury to rest; I, the LORD, have spoken."
¹⁸ The word of the LORD came to me again, saying:
¹⁹ "And son of man, appoint for yourself two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to go; both of them shall go from the same land. Make a sign; put it at the head of the road to the city.
²⁰ Appoint a road for the sword to go to Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to Judah, into fortified Jerusalem.
²¹ For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the road, at the fork of the two roads, to use divination: he shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks at the liver.
²² In his right hand is the divination for Jerusalem: to set up battering rams, to call for a slaughter, to lift the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to heap up a siege mound, and to build a wall.
²³ And it will be to them like a false divination in the eyes of those who have sworn oaths with them; but he will bring their iniquity to remembrance, that they may be taken.
²⁴ "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins appear?because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.
²⁵ 'Now to you, O profane, wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose iniquity shall end,
²⁶ thus says the Lord GOD: "Remove the turban, and take off the crown; Nothing shall remain the same. Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted.
²⁷ Overthrown, overthrown, I will make it overthrown! It shall be no longer, Until He comes whose right it is, And I will give it to Him." '
²⁸ "And you, son of man, prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach,' and say: 'A sword, a sword is drawn, Polished for slaughter, For consuming, for flashing?
²⁹ While they see false visions for you, While they divine a lie to you, To bring you on the necks of the wicked, the slain Whose day has come, Whose iniquity shall end.
³⁰ 'Return it to its sheath. I will judge you In the place where you were created, In the land of your nativity.
³¹ I will pour out My indignation on you; I will blow against you with the fire of My wrath, And deliver you into the hands of brutal men who are skillful to destroy.
³² You shall be fuel for the fire; Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall not be remembered, For I the LORD have spoken.' "

Ezekiel chapter 21 niv

¹ The word of the LORD came to me:
² "Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel
³ and say to her: 'This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.
⁴ Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.
⁵ Then all people will know that I the LORD have drawn my sword from its sheath; it will not return again.'
⁶ "Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.
⁷ And when they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' you shall say, 'Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will become faint and every leg will be wet with urine.' It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD."
⁸ The word of the LORD came to me:
⁹ "Son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Lord says: "?'A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished?
¹⁰ sharpened for the slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! "?'Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.
¹¹ "?'The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped with the hand; it is sharpened and polished, made ready for the hand of the slayer.
¹² Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They are thrown to the sword along with my people. Therefore beat your breast.
¹³ "?'Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign LORD.'
¹⁴ "So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times. It is a sword for slaughter? a sword for great slaughter, closing in on them from every side.
¹⁵ So that hearts may melt with fear and the fallen be many, I have stationed the sword for slaughter at all their gates. Look! It is forged to strike like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.
¹⁶ Slash to the right, you sword, then to the left, wherever your blade is turned.
¹⁷ I too will strike my hands together, and my wrath will subside. I the LORD have spoken."
¹⁸ The word of the LORD came to me:
¹⁹ "Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city.
²⁰ Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem.
²¹ For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots with arrows, he will consult his idols, he will examine the liver.
²² Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp and to erect siege works.
²³ It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind them of their guilt and take them captive.
²⁴ "Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do?because you have done this, you will be taken captive.
²⁵ "?'You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax,
²⁶ this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.
²⁷ A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come; to him I will give it.'
²⁸ "And you, son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says about the Ammonites and their insults: "?'A sword, a sword, drawn for the slaughter, polished to consume and to flash like lightning!
²⁹ Despite false visions concerning you and lying divinations about you, it will be laid on the necks of the wicked who are to be slain, whose day has come, whose time of punishment has reached its climax.
³⁰ "?'Let the sword return to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your ancestry, I will judge you.
³¹ I will pour out my wrath on you and breathe out my fiery anger against you; I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men, men skilled in destruction.
³² You will be fuel for the fire, your blood will be shed in your land, you will be remembered no more; for I the LORD have spoken.'?"

Ezekiel chapter 21 esv

¹ The word of the LORD came to me:
² "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel
³ and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.
⁴ Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north.
⁵ And all flesh shall know that I am the LORD. I have drawn my sword from its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.
⁶ "As for you, son of man, groan; with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan before their eyes.
⁷ And when they say to you, 'Why do you groan?' you shall say, 'Because of the news that it is coming. Every heart will melt, and all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming, and it will be fulfilled,'" declares the Lord GOD.
⁸ And the word of the LORD came to me:
⁹ "Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: "A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,
¹⁰ sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! (Or shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood.)
¹¹ So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.
¹² Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Strike therefore upon your thigh.
¹³ For it will not be a testing ? what could it do if you despise the rod?" declares the Lord GOD.
¹⁴ "As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them,
¹⁵ that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter.
¹⁶ Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed.
¹⁷ I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the LORD have spoken."
¹⁸ The word of the LORD came to me again:
¹⁹ "As for you, son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come from the same land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to a city.
²⁰ Mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, into Jerusalem the fortified.
²¹ For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults the teraphim; he looks at the liver.
²² Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build siege towers.
²³ But to them it will seem like a false divination. They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be taken.
²⁴ "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear ? because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.
²⁵ And you, O profane wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment,
²⁶ thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted.
²⁷ A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be, until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.
²⁸ "And you, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach; say, A sword, a sword is drawn for the slaughter. It is polished to consume and to flash like lightning ?
²⁹ while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for you ? to place you on the necks of the profane wicked, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment.
³⁰ Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
³¹ And I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and I will deliver you into the hands of brutish men, skillful to destroy.
³² You shall be fuel for the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall be no more remembered, for I the LORD have spoken."

Ezekiel chapter 21 nlt

¹ Then this message came to me from the LORD:
² "Son of man, turn and face Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel and her sanctuaries.
³ Tell her, 'This is what the LORD says: I am your enemy, O Israel, and I am about to unsheath my sword to destroy your people ? the righteous and the wicked alike.
⁴ Yes, I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked! I will draw my sword against everyone in the land from south to north.
⁵ Everyone in the world will know that I am the LORD. My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.'
⁶ "Son of man, groan before the people! Groan before them with bitter anguish and a broken heart.
⁷ When they ask why you are groaning, tell them, 'I groan because of the terrifying news I have heard. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will become as weak as water. And the Sovereign LORD says: It is coming! It's on its way!'"
⁸ Then the LORD said to me,
⁹ "Son of man, give the people this message from the Lord: "A sword, a sword
is being sharpened and polished.
¹⁰ It is sharpened for terrible slaughter
and polished to flash like lightning!
Now will you laugh?
Those far stronger than you have fallen beneath its power!
¹¹ Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished;
it is being prepared for the executioner.
¹² "Son of man, cry out and wail;
pound your thighs in anguish,
for that sword will slaughter my people and their leaders ?
everyone will die!
¹³ It will put them all to the test.
What chance do they have?
says the Sovereign LORD.
¹⁴ "Son of man, prophesy to them
and clap your hands.
Then take the sword and brandish it twice,
even three times,
to symbolize the great massacre,
the great massacre facing them on every side.
¹⁵ Let their hearts melt with terror,
for the sword glitters at every gate.
It flashes like lightning
and is polished for slaughter!
¹⁶ O sword, slash to the right,
then slash to the left,
wherever you will,
wherever you want.
¹⁷ I, too, will clap my hands,
and I will satisfy my fury.
I, the LORD, have spoken!"
¹⁸ Then this message came to me from the LORD:
¹⁹ "Son of man, make a map and trace two routes on it for the sword of Babylon's king to follow. Put a signpost on the road that comes out of Babylon where the road forks into two ?
²⁰ one road going to Ammon and its capital, Rabbah, and the other to Judah and fortified Jerusalem.
²¹ The king of Babylon now stands at the fork, uncertain whether to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah. He calls his magicians to look for omens. They cast lots by shaking arrows from the quiver. They inspect the livers of animal sacrifices.
²² The omen in his right hand says, 'Jerusalem!' With battering rams his soldiers will go against the gates, shouting for the kill. They will put up siege towers and build ramps against the walls.
²³ The people of Jerusalem will think it is a false omen, because of their treaty with the Babylonians. But the king of Babylon will remind the people of their rebellion. Then he will attack and capture them.
²⁴ "Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Again and again you remind me of your sin and your guilt. You don't even try to hide it! In everything you do, your sins are obvious for all to see. So now the time of your punishment has come!
²⁵ "O you corrupt and wicked prince of Israel, your final day of reckoning is here!
²⁶ This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Take off your jeweled crown,
for the old order changes.
Now the lowly will be exalted,
and the mighty will be brought down.
²⁷ Destruction! Destruction!
I will surely destroy the kingdom.
And it will not be restored until the one appears
who has the right to judge it.
Then I will hand it over to him.
²⁸ "And now, son of man, prophesy concerning the Ammonites and their mockery. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: "A sword, a sword
is drawn for your slaughter.
It is polished to destroy,
flashing like lightning!
²⁹ Your prophets have given false visions,
and your fortune-tellers have told lies.
The sword will fall on the necks of the wicked
for whom the day of final reckoning has come.
³⁰ "Now return the sword to its sheath,
for in your own country,
the land of your birth,
I will pass judgment upon you.
³¹ I will pour out my fury on you
and blow on you with the fire of my anger.
I will hand you over to cruel men
who are skilled in destruction.
³² You will be fuel for the fire,
and your blood will be spilled in your own land.
You will be utterly wiped out,
your memory lost to history,
for I, the LORD, have spoken!"