Ezekiel 21 12

Ezekiel 21:12 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 21:12 nkjv

"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.

Ezekiel 21:12 niv

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.

Ezekiel 21:12 esv

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.

Ezekiel 21:12 nlt

"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!

Ezekiel 21 verses

Ezekiel 21 12 Meaning

Ezekiel 21:12 is a prophetic command for the prophet to demonstrate intense lamentation and despair, reflecting God's profound grief and resolute determination to bring devastating judgment upon His covenant people, Israel, particularly its leadership. The verse underscores that the coming destruction and terror are not mere worldly misfortunes, but divinely decreed consequences for their sins, causing anguish even in God Himself.

Ezekiel 21 12 Context

Ezekiel 21:12 is embedded within a significant prophetic oracle known as the "Prophecy Against Jerusalem" or "The Song of the Sword." Chapters 20-24 of Ezekiel detail God's judgment against Jerusalem and Judah. Specifically, chapter 21 announces that God is drawing His "sword" against Israel, indicating an imminent and decisive judgment through a foreign invader (Babylon). This specific verse serves as a command to Ezekiel, "Son of man," to vocally and physically demonstrate profound lamentation and despair. It amplifies the gravity of the divine decree, emphasizing that the judgment is targeting not only the general populace ("my people") but also specifically "all the princes of Israel," who bore significant responsibility for the nation's spiritual corruption. The historical context is the period during the Babylonian exile (circa 592-570 BC), when many Judahites were already in captivity but Jerusalem still stood, facing its ultimate destruction. The prophet's urgent, sorrowful act served as a stark counter-narrative to false prophets who were still proclaiming peace and deliverance.

Ezekiel 21 12 Word analysis

• Cry out (צְעַק, tza'aq): This Hebrew verb denotes a strong, often urgent vocal expression. It can be a cry for help (Ps 18:6), a cry of alarm, or, in this context, a loud lament of distress. It highlights the severity of the coming judgment, requiring an immediate, visceral response from the prophet.
• and wail (וְהֵילִיל, vehêlil): This word signifies a deeper, more mournful lament, often associated with a public display of grief over tragedy or death (Isa 13:6; Jer 48:36). Its pairing with "cry out" intensifies the commanded sorrow, suggesting overwhelming anguish.
• son of man (בֶן אָדָם, ben 'adam): This recurring address for Ezekiel emphasizes his human fragility and limitations, positioning him as a representative of humanity tasked with delivering weighty divine messages. It underscores the contrast between the mighty God giving the message and the mortal tasked with enacting its despair.
• for it is against (כִּי הִיא הָיְתָה אֶל, ki hi hayetah 'el): The phrase confirms the divine agency and certainty behind the impending catastrophe. The "it" refers back to the "sword" of judgment God is wielding, emphasizing that this is a direct, deliberate action by God.
• My people (עַמִּי, ammi): God's use of the possessive "My" highlights the covenant relationship and personal grief involved. This judgment is not against a foreign nation, but against His own, underscoring the pain of a righteous God compelled to judge those He loves due to their persistent unfaithfulness.
• it is against (אֶל, 'el): A repetition that further stresses the target and the unwavering direction of God's wrath.
• all the princes (כָּל נְשִׂיאֵי, kol nesī'ēi): נָשִׂיא (nasi) denotes a leader, chieftain, or prince. Targeting "all" the princes singles out the corrupt leadership (kings, officials, priests) of Israel as particularly culpable and destined for judgment. This shows judgment beginning with God's household.
• of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisrā'ēl): Refers to the nation of Judah, often broadly called "Israel" in Ezekiel, signifying the spiritual descendants of the covenant nation, who have collectively failed.
• Terrors (מְגוּרֹת, megūrōt): This strong term denotes deep fear, horror, or overwhelming dread. It signifies that the judgment will induce profound psychological and emotional shock, beyond mere physical destruction, emphasizing the complete unraveling of their sense of security.
• have come upon (אֶל עַמִּי הָיְתָה, 'el 'ammi hayetah): Literally, "to My people, it has come/happened." Again, stresses the certainty and direct consequence affecting the covenant community.
• therefore (לָכֵן, lākhēn): This conjunction indicates that what follows is a logical consequence or a divinely commanded action because of the severity of the announced judgment.
• strike (הֵיפַח, hēypaḥ): This verb can mean "to clap" or "to strike." In this specific context of intense grief and despair, especially combined with "thigh," it is interpreted as a violent physical expression of shock, anguish, or self-reproach, as seen in ancient mourning practices.
• your thigh (עַל יָרֵךְ, 'al yārēkh): Striking one's thigh was a recognized act of extreme distress, sorrow, shame, or deep repentance in ancient Near Eastern culture (Jer 31:19). For Ezekiel to perform this visibly demonstrates the crushing burden and finality of the coming disaster upon his people.

Words-group analysis:

• Cry out and wail, son of man: This imperative establishes Ezekiel's role not just as a mouthpiece, but as an embodied messenger who must viscerally experience and convey the emotional weight of God's message. It is a divine call to public, prophetic lamentation that authenticates the message's severity.
• For it is against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel: This repetition directly identifies the targets of God's wrath: His own covenant community, and specifically the responsible leaders whose corruption precipitated the crisis. This shows the judgment is personal and directed at culpability.
• Terrors will come upon My people: The nature of the impending judgment is specified not merely as destruction, but as an experience of overwhelming dread and horror. This highlights the psychological and spiritual devastation beyond physical ruin, ensuring a total breakdown of their established order.
• Therefore strike your thigh: This final command underscores the inevitability and profound impact of the judgment. Ezekiel's symbolic act is to externalize the collective grief, shame, and despair that Israel will soon feel, serving as a powerful, undeniable sign.

Ezekiel 21 12 Bonus section

The performative nature of Ezekiel's prophecy, seen in the command to "strike your thigh," is a hallmark of his ministry. These symbolic actions served as vivid, unforgettable sermons, cutting through the spiritual apathy of his audience more effectively than mere words alone. In this case, the action was intended to visually depict the nation's future sorrow, grief, and consternation at their complete devastation, prefiguring the very terror (מְגוּרֹת) they would experience. It also subtly conveys the internal anguish of God himself who is forced to execute such a severe judgment upon a people He cherishes, lamenting alongside His prophet for their spiritual demise and the coming destruction. The judgment announced is absolute; it is "against all the princes," signifying a complete overturning of the established order and a decisive end to the corrupt leadership that led the nation astray.

Ezekiel 21 12 Commentary

Ezekiel 21:12 commands the prophet to perform a deeply sorrowful act: to cry out, wail, and strike his thigh, symbolizing extreme lamentation. This physical expression embodies God's own grief and stern resolve in bringing severe judgment upon His chosen people, Israel, particularly its corrupt leaders. The judgment is not an accident but a deliberate divine act that will cause overwhelming terror. Ezekiel's public demonstration serves to impress upon the complacent audience the absolute certainty and horrifying nature of Jerusalem's impending downfall, emphasizing that God's justice is sorrowful, yet unavoidable, for those who persistently defy His covenant. The divine "sword" (referenced in context) brings a terror that is total—physical, emotional, and spiritual—all from the hand of the covenant God.