Ezekiel 11 8

Ezekiel 11:8 kjv

Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 11:8 nkjv

You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you," says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 11:8 niv

You fear the sword, and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 11:8 esv

You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 11:8 nlt

I will bring on you the sword of war you so greatly fear, says the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 11 verses

Ezekiel 11 8 Meaning

Ezekiel 11:8 declares God's imminent judgment upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Because they lived in terror of the enemy's destructive military power, symbolized by "the sword," God affirms that He, as the sovereign Lord, will actively orchestrate the very destruction they feared. This is a divine declaration that their dread will be actualized through His direct action, turning their deepest anxieties into a tangible reality as a consequence of their sin and lack of true fear for Him.

Ezekiel 11 8 Context

Ezekiel chapter 11 opens with the prophet, in a visionary state, observing the leading men of Jerusalem engaging in idolatry and offering wicked counsel. They are portrayed as defiant, feeling secure within the city walls (like "meat in a pot," Eze 11:3) and ignoring the signs of impending Babylonian invasion. The chapter is primarily a message of severe judgment against these corrupt leaders and the unrepentant city, reinforcing the idea that Jerusalem's fall is imminent and deserved. This particular verse, Ezekiel 11:8, follows God's condemnation of the city's inhabitants for their idolatry and violence, and a stark prophetic word about the death of one of these leaders, Pelatiah. It forms part of the immediate prophetic warning to those who still resided in Jerusalem, believing themselves safe. Historically, the kingdom of Judah was already subject to Babylonian control, with a significant portion of its population (including Ezekiel) already exiled. The final destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC) by Nebuchadnezzar was approaching, yet many in the city clung to false hope.

Ezekiel 11 8 Word analysis

• You: (Hebrew: ’attem - plural masculine pronoun). Refers specifically to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and, by extension, its leaders who were previously described as defiant and full of wickedness (Eze 11:2-7).

• have feared: (Hebrew: yar'tem - from yare’, meaning to fear, be afraid, be terrified). This highlights a specific kind of fear – dread or terror – related to physical danger and warfare, not the reverential fear of God which leads to repentance. This misplaced fear is presented as a spiritual deficiency.

• the sword: (Hebrew: ḥereḇ). A potent symbol of violent death, military invasion, and divine judgment. In this context, it unequivocally represents the impending Babylonian military might and its devastating effect. It emphasizes the ultimate instrument of destruction.

• and I will bring: (Hebrew: wĕheḇē’ṯî - a strong perfect tense with waw consecutive, stressing completed future action and divine certainty, from bo’, to bring or come). The emphatic "I" (God) asserts divine agency. It signifies that the sword's arrival is not merely an earthly event but a direct, sovereign act of God, underscoring His control over history and nations.

• the sword upon you: Repetition of "the sword" underscores the direct and inescapable nature of the impending judgment. The very object of their dread is precisely what God will employ against them, demonstrating a "measure-for-measure" divine retribution.

• declares: (Hebrew: nĕ’um). A solemn formula consistently used by biblical prophets to authenticate an oracle as directly from God. It introduces a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the absolute truth, authority, and certainty of the message, leaving no room for doubt or evasion.

• the Lord GOD: (Hebrew: ’ăḏōnāy YHWH). This profound divine title combines ’ăḏōnāy (my Lord, master, emphasizing authority and sovereignty) with YHWH (the personal, covenant name of God, revealing His self-existence, faithfulness, and relationship with His people). Together, it signifies the absolute, sovereign God who holds ultimate authority over creation, humanity, and their destiny, capable of both covenant faithfulness and righteous judgment.

• You have feared the sword: This phrase highlights the people's anxiety and preoccupation with a visible, worldly threat. Their fear was directed horizontally at their enemies rather than vertically at their Creator, revealing a spiritual malady. It exposes their reliance on human means of security (or lack thereof) instead of trusting God's protection.

• and I will bring the sword upon you: This is a direct statement of divine judgment. God asserts His ultimate control, taking the very fear of the people and making it His instrument of punishment. It removes any doubt that the Babylonian invasion is merely a random historical event; rather, it is part of God's sovereign plan for discipline and justice. This demonstrates that their unrighteous fear of man becomes the means by which God reveals His wrath.

Ezekiel 11 8 Bonus section

• Polemics Against False Security: This verse serves as a potent polemic against Jerusalem's false security, which likely stemmed from beliefs in their invincibility due to the Temple's presence (cf. Jer 7:4) or misplaced reliance on alliances. God directly refutes such arrogance, asserting His ultimate authority over their fate.
• Irony of Retribution: There's a profound divine irony at play: the exact threat that filled them with terror (the sword) is precisely what God decrees to bring upon them. This illustrates a "measure-for-measure" justice, where their unholy fear becomes their just recompense.
• The Instrument of Judgment: By declaring, "I will bring the sword," God identifies Himself as the true power behind the impending calamity. The Babylonian army is merely His instrument (or "axe," cf. Isa 10:15). This repositions the primary cause of suffering from the human level to the divine, emphasizing God's sovereignty over nations and their actions.
• Reaffirmation of Prophetic Truth: For Ezekiel's audience, both in Jerusalem and among the exiles, this message dismantled any lingering illusions of hope apart from repentance. It justified God's impending severe judgment by revealing His direct agency and righteous purpose.

Ezekiel 11 8 Commentary

Ezekiel 11:8 succinctly articulates a core principle of divine judgment: God’s justice often entails bringing about the very consequences or fears that unrepentant humanity seeks to avoid, especially when those fears displace the rightful fear of God. The inhabitants of Jerusalem, through their defiance and idolatry, justly incurred God’s wrath. Their terror of a human enemy's "sword" revealed a misplaced fear; their focus was on the instrument of potential destruction rather than on the God who permits or orchestrates it. This verse serves as a powerful declaration that the Sovereign Lord, "the Lord GOD," is not a distant observer but the active agent who will ensure that the destruction they dreaded is fully executed, thereby stripping away their false sense of security and fulfilling His righteous judgment.