Ezekiel 21 2

Ezekiel 21:2 kjv

Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

Ezekiel 21:2 nkjv

"Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;

Ezekiel 21:2 niv

"Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel

Ezekiel 21:2 esv

"Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel

Ezekiel 21:2 nlt

"Son of man, turn and face Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel and her sanctuaries.

Ezekiel 21 verses

Ezekiel 21 2 Meaning

Ezekiel 21:2 is a divine command to the prophet Ezekiel, instructing him to direct his prophetic message with resolute determination against Jerusalem's holy places and the entire land of Israel. It marks the commencement of a prophecy announcing devastating divine judgment, often symbolized as God's "sword," upon a people who have defiled His sanctuary and turned away from Him. The verse underscores God's commitment to righteousness, even against His own chosen city and people, revealing that no amount of religious devotion or sacred space can circumvent the consequences of unfaithfulness and sin.

Ezekiel 21 2 Context

Ezekiel chapter 21 unfolds with a powerful sequence of prophecies primarily focused on the impending divine judgment, specifically referred to as the "sword of the Lord," against Jerusalem and the land of Israel. This chapter closely follows chapter 20, where God recounts Israel's persistent rebellion throughout its history, solidifying the justification for the judgment to come. Historically, Ezekiel delivered these messages during the Babylonian exile, a time when many of the remaining Judeans in Jerusalem still held a false hope that God would protect His city and Temple from Babylonian destruction. They believed the Temple acted as an impenetrable safeguard. Verse 2 specifically marks the commencement of this intense pronouncement of judgment, instructing Ezekiel to symbolically target the heart of this false security—Jerusalem's sacred sites and the entire covenant land.

Ezekiel 21 2 Word analysis

• "Son of man" (בֶּן־אָדָם, ben-adam): This is Ezekiel's consistent designation, used over ninety times in the book. It highlights his human nature and mortality, underscoring that he is but a human instrument conveying a divine message. It also links him, perhaps, to the eschatological "Son of Man" figure of Daniel 7, anticipating a later divine human representative. Its use here reminds Ezekiel of his subservient role despite the immense power of his message.
• "set your face" (שִׂים פָּנֶיךָ, sim paneikha): An idiomatic Hebrew expression conveying intense determination, firm resolve, and fixed purpose. It signifies an unwavering posture, not merely a physical direction but a mental and spiritual concentration on the target of the message. This reflects God's own unyielding determination to execute justice. The same idiom is used to describe Jesus' resolve to go to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51), anticipating suffering.
• "toward Jerusalem" (דֶּרֶךְ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, derekh Yerushalayim): Jerusalem, the capital city, the political and religious center, where the Temple of God stood. It was believed to be impregnable, a city under God's protection. Directing the prophecy here indicates that the very heart of the nation's faith and security is now the object of God's judgment due to their apostasy and sin.
• "and preach against" (וְהַטֵּף אֶל־, v'haṭeph 'el-): The Hebrew verb nāṭaf (from which haṭeph comes) means "to drop" or "to drip," like rain or dew. In prophetic contexts (Mic 2:6, 11; Ezek 20:46), it means "to utter" or "to prophesy," implying a continuous, forceful, and sometimes unwelcome outflow of words. Here, combined with "against" (אֶל, el, implying hostile direction), it signifies an inescapable message of impending doom "dropping" on the people.
• "the sanctuaries" (מִקְדָּשִׁים, miqdashim): The plural form is significant. While Jerusalem primarily had one Temple (the first Temple), "sanctuaries" could refer to the multiple courts, sacred chambers, or precincts within the Temple complex, all of which had been defiled. Alternatively, it could encompass any unlawful high places or cultic sites where Israelites worshipped falsely within Judah, though the focus typically remains on Jerusalem's Temple. It indicates the pervasiveness of sin within even the holiest spaces dedicated to God.
• "and prophesy against" (וְהִנָּבֵא אֶל־, v'hinnaḇe 'el-): A direct command using the Hithpael form of nāḇa', "to prophesy," emphasizing the act of speaking under divine inspiration. Coupled with "against," it reiterates the confrontational nature of the message. This dual command with "preach against" signifies a comprehensive and unambiguous declaration of God's word.
• "the land of Israel" (אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, 'aḏmath Yisra'el): This broadens the scope beyond Jerusalem and its Temple to include the entire territory, encompassing all the people and their institutions. It indicates that the judgment is national, touching every corner and inhabitant of the covenant land that had been polluted by sin and rebellion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem": This initial grouping immediately establishes the prophet's personal and determined involvement in delivering a message centered on Jerusalem. Ezekiel, though human, must embody divine resolve, positioning himself against the very symbol of God's past presence and protection, now targeted for judgment. It underscores the severity of Jerusalem's actions.
• "and preach against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel": This phrase details the twofold object of the prophecy. "Preach against the sanctuaries" focuses on the spiritual defilement and perversion within religious institutions, even the holy Temple itself. "Prophesy against the land of Israel" extends the judgment to the broader societal and national level, highlighting that the nation's actions and not just its specific religious sites are held accountable by God. This indicates a total, pervasive corruption requiring total, pervasive judgment.

Ezekiel 21 2 Bonus section

The phrase "preach against" (וְהַטֵּף אֶל־, v'haṭeph 'el-) contains a fascinating semantic range. While it clearly means "prophesy" in hostile terms here, the root nāṭaf often describes the gentle "dripping" of dew, honey, or prophetic words (as in Songs 4:11, Judg 5:4). The dual meaning, from gentle sustenance to forceful outpouring, highlights the prophetic word's transformative power: it can be life-giving to the repentant, or an unstoppable torrent of judgment for the defiant. In this context, it's definitively the latter, a persistent and unyielding declaration of doom. The direction toward the physical sanctuaries reveals God's deep pain and anger over the profanation of His dwelling, which had become a symbol of their false piety and national pride rather than true worship. God Himself dismantles their cherished religious facade to reveal the spiritual sickness within.

Ezekiel 21 2 Commentary

Ezekiel 21:2 delivers a stark and direct prophetic commission. It instructs Ezekiel to assume an unyielding stance, physically facing Jerusalem, to declare God's imminent and severe judgment. The targeting of "the sanctuaries" underscores the shocking reality that God's own dwelling place had been so utterly profaned by His people's idolatry and sin that it became an object of His wrath, dispelling any illusion that ritual or sacred location provided automatic protection. Extending this prophecy to "the land of Israel" indicates that the moral corruption was pervasive, demanding a nationwide reckoning. This verse initiates the "sword" prophecy, symbolizing Babylon as God's instrument to exact punishment. It's a profound declaration that God's justice is unwavering; sin within His own covenant people will not go unpunished, and His holiness demands action, even if it means judging the very structures meant for His worship. It powerfully communicates that true security lies not in religious symbols or geographic location, but in genuine obedience and faithfulness to God.