Ezekiel 21:13 kjv
Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 21:13 nkjv
"Because it is a testing, And what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter shall be no more," says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 21:13 niv
"?'Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign LORD.'
Ezekiel 21:13 esv
For it will not be a testing ? what could it do if you despise the rod?" declares the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 21:13 nlt
It will put them all to the test.
What chance do they have?
says the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 21 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 21:3 | "...I am against you, and will draw My sword out of its sheath..." | Direct context of judgment |
| Jeremiah 46:14 | "Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol; and publish in Noph..." | Prophecy of invasion, sword imagery |
| Jeremiah 50:25 | "The LORD hath opened His armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of His indignation..." | God’s instruments of judgment |
| Isaiah 10:5 | "O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger..." | God using nations as instruments |
| Isaiah 13:3 | "I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones..." | God’s called out armies for judgment |
| Luke 21:24 | "...Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." | Prophecy of Jerusalem's downfall |
| Revelation 6:4 | "And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth..." | Horseman of the sword, symbolizing war |
| Revelation 6:8 | "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed him." | Further depiction of judgment |
| Jeremiah 52:20 | "The pillars also of brass that were in the house of the LORD..." | Desolation and plundering of the temple |
| Lamentations 2:3 | "He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from the enemy..." | God withdrawing protection |
| Deuteronomy 32:41 | "If I whet my glittering sword, and my hand take hold on judgment..." | God’s readiness for judgment |
| Psalm 7:12-13 | "If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors." | God preparing judgment against the wicked |
| Hebrews 12:29 | "For our God is a consuming fire." | God’s powerful and destructive judgment |
| Amos 7:17 | "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword..." | Divine judgment falling upon individuals/families |
| Isaiah 34:5-6 | "For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea..." | Judgment extending to other nations |
| Jeremiah 47:6 | "O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still." | Plea to a divine sword of judgment |
| Lamentations 1:14 | "The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath weakened my strength..." | Burden of sin leading to judgment |
| Joel 1:4 | "That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten." | Devastating sequential judgment |
| Hosea 11:6 | "The sword shall abide in his cities, and shall consume his boughs, and devour them, because of their counsels." | Sword of judgment resting upon cities |
| 2 Samuel 24:16 | "And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand." | Divine intervention in judgment |
| Zephaniah 2:5 | "Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, that I will even destroy thee, so that there shall be no inhabitant." | Judgment against coastal nations |
Ezekiel 21 verses
Ezekiel 21 13 Meaning
This verse proclaims a divinely decreed, unavoidable decision. The sword has been brought forth and sharpened for execution, signifying a coming judgment. The text emphasizes the decisiveness and thoroughness of this divine action, which is specifically aimed at the unrighteous in Judah.
Ezekiel 21 13 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel’s prophecy of judgment against Jerusalem and Judah. At this point, the Babylonian invasion under Nebuchadnezzar is imminent or has already begun. Ezekiel is given visions to communicate God’s wrath against the persistent sinfulness of his people, who have broken the covenant. This particular chapter uses vivid imagery of a drawn sword to convey the severity and inevitability of the coming destruction and exile. The prophecy addresses both foreign nations and the unfaithful within Judah, emphasizing God’s ultimate sovereignty and His justice.
Ezekiel 21 13 Word Analysis
- “Draw forth” (Hebrew: “shalef”): From the root “shalaph,” meaning to draw out, to unsheathe. It implies a deliberate and powerful act of removing something that was contained.
- “Sword” (Hebrew: “cherev”): This is a common term for a sword or dagger, representing war, violence, and divine judgment.
- “From its sheath” (Hebrew: “miba’ethah”): From “bath” (sheath, vagina) with the prefix “mi” (from). Literally, "from her sheath," personifying the sword as something housed and prepared for deployment.
- “To make it cut” (Hebrew: “lehapkhith”): This word comes from a root signifying to make effeminate or weak, but in the Piel conjugation (as here), it means to make something sharp, to whet, or to polish. Thus, it means to prepare the sword for decisive cutting.
- “Sharpened” (Hebrew: “metzudeh”): Derived from the root “tsud,” meaning to hunt or ensnare, but here it indicates the process of whetting or making sharp, implying a polished, ready edge.
- “To slaughter” (Hebrew: “li/sloakh”): From the root “slach,” which can mean to forgive or pardon. However, in certain contexts, especially in relation to judgment, it can imply striking or smiting. Another potential reading relates to an intensive form meaning to prepare for slaughter or to carry out slaughter. The context strongly supports the idea of preparing for a destructive act, making the sense of cutting or slaughtering paramount.
Word Group Analysis:
- “Draw forth the sword from its sheath”: This is a strong metaphor for God initiating decisive military action or judgment. It's not a casual draw; it's a deliberate unveiling of punitive power.
- “To make it cut, sharpened to slaughter”: This phrase vividly portrays the sword as being prepared to its maximum effectiveness for a devastating purpose. The imagery is not merely of a weapon, but of an instrument perfectly honed for execution and destruction. The emphasis is on readiness and destructive capacity.
Ezekiel 21 13 Bonus Section
The imagery of God’s sword is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often symbolizing His judgment against sin and rebellion. This verse echoes earlier prophetic pronouncements where God declares His intention to use His “sword” against His people, often specifying that this sword is directed at specific transgressions. The thoroughness described in the sharpening of the sword signifies God's commitment to seeing His justice fully executed. The personification of the sword as being in a “sheath” and then being drawn out and sharpened emphasizes a methodical, deliberate, and unstoppable process. This also highlights that judgment, though painful, serves God’s ultimate purpose of purification and restoration, though this specific verse focuses intensely on the act of judgment itself. The “drawing forth” is a visible manifestation of God's sovereign power over earthly kingdoms and conflicts.
Ezekiel 21 13 Commentary
Ezekiel 21:13 underscores the divine mandate behind the impending destruction of Jerusalem and Judah. God’s “sword” is not merely an instrument of human warfare but a divine agent of justice, painstakingly prepared and deliberately unleashed upon the unrighteous. The "drawing forth" signifies the commencement of a judgment that has been long overdue due to Israel's persistent covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry. The sharpening "to slaughter" leaves no room for ambiguity; this is not a minor reprimand but an absolute decree of eradication for those who have opposed God's will. The sword’s readiness speaks to God's absolute control over the events, ensuring the judgment will be thorough and final in its immediate impact, leading to the exile. This imagery powerfully conveys that God is not passively observing; He is actively involved in the execution of His justice against sin.