Ezekiel 21 14

Ezekiel 21:14 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 21:14 nkjv

"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.

Ezekiel 21:14 niv

"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.

Ezekiel 21:14 esv

"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,

Ezekiel 21:14 nlt

"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.

Ezekiel 21 verses

Ezekiel 21 14 Meaning

This verse commands the prophet Ezekiel to perform a symbolic act of clapping his hands, which functions as both a lament and a signal for the intensified, repeated, and utterly devastating judgment that God is bringing upon Judah. The "sword" refers metaphorically to the invading Babylonian army, described as a weapon specifically designed for comprehensive slaughter, encompassing and striking down all those within its reach.

Ezekiel 21 14 Context

Ezekiel 21 is often referred to as "The Prophecy of the Sword," marking a shift towards definitive judgment pronouncements. In the preceding verses (1-13), God declares His imminent judgment upon Israel, explicitly stating He will draw His "sword" – representing the Babylonian army – from its sheath and unleash it without pity. This entire chapter serves to dismantle any false hope remaining in Judah regarding their security or divine protection. Verse 14 is a direct command to Ezekiel, positioned within this grim divine oracle, intensifying the message of impending destruction through a symbolic act and detailed description of the instrument of judgment. It is part of the unfolding narrative of Judah's inexorable journey toward destruction for its unrepentant idolatry and sin, emphasizing that Jerusalem, once inviolable in the minds of its inhabitants, would not escape God's justice.

Ezekiel 21 14 Word analysis

• You therefore, son of man (אַתָּה בֶן-אָדָם - ʾattah ben-ʾādām): This is God's characteristic address to Ezekiel, used over 90 times in the book. It highlights Ezekiel's humanity and his role as a representative of humanity before God, a stark contrast to the divine message he delivers.
• prophesy (הִנָּבֵא - hinnābēʾ): A direct imperative, meaning "speak forth God's word." It emphasizes Ezekiel's active role as a messenger, not merely an observer.
• and clap your hands together (וְהַךְ-כָּף אֶל-כָּף - wəhak-kap ʾel-kap): This physical gesture is profoundly significant. Depending on the context, clapping can signify joy, dismay, mocking, or summons. Here, in proximity to "the sword" and its severity, it can represent:
  • Horror/Lament: Ezekiel's own grief and shock at the coming judgment.
  • Divine Summons: A signal to invoke or hasten the devastating judgment, an "applauding" of God's righteous decree.
  • Proclamation of Doom: An emphatic exclamation of the certain and terrifying reality of the judgment.
• and let the sword come down (וּתְשֻׁכַּף-חֶרֶב - utəšukk̄af-ḥereb): The verb shukkaf relates to being emptied or brought down with force. It suggests a decisive, downward motion, a torrent, or an act of severe descent, emphasizing the overwhelming and direct nature of the attack.
• twice, yes, thrice (פַּעֲמַיִם וְתֶלֶת - paʿamayiim wəšalōš): This is an idiomatic expression in Hebrew, not necessarily denoting literal count, but signifying intensification, severity, and completion. It implies an extreme, multiple, and unavoidable series of blows or an overwhelming, decisive judgment without reservation. It means the judgment will be utterly thorough and relentless.
• It is the sword of those to be slain (חֶרֶב חֲלָלִים הִיא - ḥereb ḥalālîm hîʾ): Chalalîm refers to those who are pierced, mortally wounded, or slain. This phrase defines the very purpose and nature of the sword – it is specifically designed for the massive killing of its victims, emphasizing its destructive intent.
• the great sword for slaughter (חֶרֶב חֶלֶל גָּדוֹל - ḥereb ḥelel gādōl): A reinforcing, emphatic phrase. Helel here functions like an intensifier to ḥereb (sword), signifying the sword's magnitude in producing slaughter. "Great" underscores the enormous scale and horrific extent of the impending mass death.
• which surrounds them (הַחֹדֶרֶת אוֹתָם - haḥōderet ʾōtām): From the root chadar, meaning "to penetrate" or "go into chambers." This word suggests the sword's inescapable and pervasive reach, indicating that the judgment will thoroughly penetrate all defenses, invade every place, and leave no one untouched, searching out and destroying.

Words-group analysis

• "prophesy, and clap your hands together": This coupling emphasizes Ezekiel's double role: vocal messenger and bodily sign. The physical action lends dramatic weight and immediacy to the spoken word, ensuring the message's impact.
• "let the sword come down twice, yes, thrice": The imperative verb "let it come down" combined with the intensifying repetition stresses the divine command and the unstoppable nature of the judgment. It's a decree, not a prediction, with amplified severity.
• "the sword of those to be slain, the great sword for slaughter, which surrounds them": This powerful descriptive sequence functions as a poetic, yet brutal, elaboration of the sword's character. It highlights its dedicated purpose for mass killing, its immense destructive capacity, and its inescapable pervasiveness. This vivid imagery is meant to instill dread and the understanding of total devastation.

Ezekiel 21 14 Bonus section

• The prophetic command to Ezekiel to perform a physical act alongside a verbal message is a hallmark of his ministry, transforming him into a "living parable." This physical enactment often preceded, accompanied, or followed the verbal oracle, imprinting the message powerfully on the minds of the exiles.
• While clapping in other biblical contexts might indicate joy or praise, its usage here, embedded within an oracle of destruction, signifies a profound lament, sorrow, or a horrifying exclamation over the impending doom, possibly even acting as a signal or a drumbeat calling forth the judgment.
• The repetition "twice, yes, thrice" is a known biblical rhetorical device to emphasize a statement or to signify completeness and certainty. It implies that the judgment will be executed not sparingly, but with full and overwhelming force, leaving nothing unfinished.

Ezekiel 21 14 Commentary

Ezekiel 21:14 stands as a chilling divine command, encapsulating the raw horror of God's impending judgment upon Judah through the instrument of Babylon. The prophet's act of clapping, far from an expression of joy, serves as a visceral signal, likely a lament or a terrible summons, underscoring the severity of the coming catastrophe. The repeated "twice, yes, thrice" communicates an emphatic certainty and relentless totality to the destruction. It signifies not just one strike, but an overwhelming and exhaustive sequence of blows, ensuring no escape. The description of the sword is profoundly specific: it is not a casual weapon, but an instrument designed explicitly for widespread "slaughter" – its purpose is mass execution. Its final characteristic, "which surrounds them," paints a picture of inescapable reach; the judgment will permeate every sanctuary and find every soul, leaving no hiding place. This verse is a stark message that God's justice, once fully unleashed, is unsparing, pervasive, and irrevocably decisive.