Ezekiel 21:17 kjv
I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.
Ezekiel 21:17 nkjv
"I also will beat My fists together, And I will cause My fury to rest; I, the LORD, have spoken."
Ezekiel 21:17 niv
I too will strike my hands together, and my wrath will subside. I the LORD have spoken."
Ezekiel 21:17 esv
I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the LORD have spoken."
Ezekiel 21:17 nlt
I, too, will clap my hands,
and I will satisfy my fury.
I, the LORD, have spoken!"
Ezekiel 21 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 21:9 | I will rouse up the sword against you | Judgment |
| Isaiah 10:5 | against the land of my wrath; and I will raise it up | Assyria as God's tool |
| Jeremiah 47:6-7 | O sword of the LORD, how long will you not be satisfied? | Sword of judgment |
| Lamentations 2:3 | and cut off all the strength of Israel | Divine action |
| Deuteronomy 32:41 | if I whet my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, | God's readiness for judgment |
| Psalm 7:12-13 | his sword he has sharpened; he has bent and strung his bow | God's preparation |
| Psalm 17:13 | From wicked men who oppress them, from my deadly enemies who surround me. | Enemies as tools |
| Proverbs 3:15 | all that you can desire cannot compare with her. | Value of wisdom |
| Isaiah 54:16 | Behold, I have created the smith who blows the coals in the fire | God as creator of tools |
| Isaiah 45:9 | Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a potter among pots | God's sovereignty |
| Jeremiah 1:14 | from the north it shall burst forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. | Direction of judgment |
| Jeremiah 6:22 | a great nation is coming from the north country | source of invasion |
| Jeremiah 25:9 | I will summon all the peoples of the north,’ declares the LORD. | Nations for judgment |
| Jeremiah 50:3 | For nations from the north have come up against her | Invasion force |
| Zechariah 11:16 | For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land | Leaders' role |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | Sword of God's word |
| Revelation 1:16 | out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword | Christ's authority |
| Revelation 19:15 | From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike the nations | Christ's judgment |
| Revelation 6:4 | And out came another horse, fiery red, and its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. | War and destruction |
| Joshua 23:14 | not one word failed of all the good things that the LORD your God had promised you. | God's faithfulness |
| 2 Samuel 17:8 | Now Absalom and all the men of Israel who were with him have strengthened themselves by their arms. | Strength of enemies |
| 2 Chronicles 20:22 | as they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who came to attack Judah, so that they were struck down. | God's intervention |
Ezekiel 21 verses
Ezekiel 21 17 Meaning
This verse signifies divine judgment upon Babylon, orchestrated by the hand of God. The "sharpened sword" represents the instrument of execution, wielded with deadly efficiency. It is polished for a decisive strike, indicating thorough preparation and the inevitability of its purpose.
Ezekiel 21 17 Context
This verse is part of a larger oracle of judgment against the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah, particularly King Zedekiah, who is identified in preceding verses. The imagery of the sword is used to describe the coming invasion and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet Ezekiel is delivering this message in exile in Babylon, vividly portraying the impending doom that is about to fall upon his people and the city. The oracle employs the vivid metaphor of a divinely wielded sword, sharpened and prepared for execution, to underscore the certainty and totality of the judgment.
Ezekiel 21 17 Word Analysis
- He (Hebrew: הוּא - huʼ): Pronoun referring to the LORD God, emphasizing His active agency.
- has (Hebrew: הָיָה - hāyâ): Implies past action leading to the present state.
- been (Hebrew: הָיָה - hāyâ): (repeated from "has") Reinforces the state of preparation.
- sharpened (Hebrew: חַדֵּד - ḥaddēd): Imperative or qatal form suggesting God has made something sharp. Denotes readiness for use, making keen.
- it (Hebrew: לָהּ - lah, but referring to the sword mentioned previously): Pronoun for the sword.
- that (Hebrew: מִן - min): Can indicate source or from.
- it (Hebrew: יַלְטִישׁ - yallîṭû, verb meaning "to make sharp" or "to polish"): From root for polish, gleam, make sharp. Suggests honing to perfection.
- may (Hebrew: לְמַעַן - ləmaʻan): Infinitive of purpose.
- be (Hebrew: הָיָה - hāyâ): to be.
- handled (Hebrew: תֶּהֶר — teḥez): Likely from root related to seize, grasp, or be caught. Implies being ready to be wielded or to catch its target. Some translations interpret this more as "may be grasped" or "may shine." The sense is being made ready for effective action.
- Increase (Hebrew: מִסְחַר - misḥar): Usually means merchandise, trade. Here, it’s an outlier. Scholars debate its meaning, with suggestions including "gleaming" or "polished." Another interpretation connects it to the idea of a mighty onslaught, suggesting the sword will be effective like trade is everywhere. The Masoretic text could represent a very particular, less common use of a root. The lex talionis interpretation for this word is not directly evident.
- is (Hebrew: יֶגַּע — yiggəa‘): To touch, reach, afflict, strike.
- turned (Hebrew: שׁוּב - shûḇ): To turn back, return. Here, implies a focus or direction.
- turned (Hebrew: שׁוּב - shûḇ): (repeated) Emphasizes a turning or directing of purpose.
- aside (Hebrew: אֶל - ’el): Toward, unto. The Hebrew suggests an application of force or a redirection.
Groups of words:
- "sharpened... to be handled": Conveys meticulous preparation for destruction, ensuring efficacy.
- "that it may be polished": Adds a layer of gleam, signifying its readiness and awe-inspiring, terrifying nature as an instrument of divine power.
- "that it may gleam": Amplifies the polish, making the instrument of judgment fearsome and certain.
- "is turned aside / turned to be held": Indicates a definitive application and directed use against a specific target. The turning of the sword suggests it is not merely existing but being aimed.
Ezekiel 21 17 Bonus Section
The concept of a "polished sword" appears in several ancient Near Eastern contexts, often associated with the destructive power of deities or royal authority. Here, however, it is distinctly attributed to Yahweh, reinforcing His ultimate control over nations and military actions. The precision of the preparation implies that human efforts to avert this judgment are futile. The polish can also symbolize the shining armor of the attacking army, as a visible manifestation of God's power at work. The unusual Hebrew word rendered as "increase" or "gleam" highlights the difficulty in precisely translating nuanced ancient concepts and the interpretive richness they carry.
Ezekiel 21 17 Commentary
The sword is not just an instrument of war but an emblem of divine execution. God, in His sovereignty, prepares this instrument with precision and intent. The polishing and sharpening indicate thoroughness; there is no defect or hesitation in God’s plan for judgment. This speaks to the absolute certainty of the consequences for unfaithfulness. The imagery emphasizes that this judgment is not accidental but is God’s deliberate action. The sword will "gleam," meaning it will be clearly visible and impactful in its operation, leaving no doubt as to its origin or purpose. It is turned "aside," implying a diversion from normal circumstances and a specific direction towards the condemned. This sharp, gleaming sword, prepared and directed by God, foreshadows the thorough and complete destruction that awaits those who oppose His will. It reminds believers that God's justice is absolute and His instruments are perfectly calibrated for their divine task.