Ezekiel 21:3 kjv
And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
Ezekiel 21:3 nkjv
and say to the land of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you.
Ezekiel 21:3 niv
and say to her: 'This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.
Ezekiel 21:3 esv
and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.
Ezekiel 21:3 nlt
Tell her, 'This is what the LORD says: I am your enemy, O Israel, and I am about to unsheath my sword to destroy your people ? the righteous and the wicked alike.
Ezekiel 21 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 21:4 | To cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. | Judgment encompasses all. |
| Ezek 21:5 | That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn my sword. | Divine assertion of power. |
| Isa 10:5 | Against a nation under my anger, and my fury I will give him charge. | Instrument of God's wrath. |
| Jer 47:6 | O sword of the LORD, how long will you not be satisfied? | Personification of judgment. |
| Jer 50:35 | A sword is against the Chaldeans, says the LORD, and against Babylon... | Specificity of judgment. |
| Rev 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... | Symbol of war and bloodshed. |
| Luke 21:24 | And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles... | Jerusalem's future subjugation. |
| Matt 26:52 | Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. | Principle of reciprocating violence. |
| Deut 32:41 | If I whet my glittering sword, and my hand take hold on judgment... | God's own judgment execution. |
| Jer 19:7 | And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says the LORD... | Violent destruction of families. |
| Isa 54:16 | Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work... | God as creator of means of destruction. |
| Lam 2:12 | They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they fainted as the wounded in the streets of the city... | Suffering during siege. |
| Zeph 2:15 | This is the rejoicing city that dwelled carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me... | Arrogance leading to downfall. |
| Hos 11:6 | The sword shall abide in his cities, and shall consume his branches... | Pervasive destruction. |
| Zech 11:17 | Woe unto the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye... | Judgment on leaders. |
| Nah 3:15 | There shall the sword devour thee; it shall cut thee off as the cankerworm... | Enemy as a devouring force. |
| Ezek 25:13 | Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; I will stretch out mine hand against Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it... | Divine judgment on nations. |
| 2 Chron 36:16 | But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people... | Cause of God's wrath. |
| Ezek 14:21 | For thus says the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four grievous judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence... | God's judgments described. |
| Ezek 15:7 | And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from fire into fire; and the devouring fire shall consume them... | Consuming judgment. |
| Ezek 18:30 | Therefore will I judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. | Call to repentance. |
Ezekiel 21 verses
Ezekiel 21 3 Meaning
The Lord's judgment is coming upon Jerusalem, symbolized by a sword being drawn and sharpened for slaughter. This divine action signifies an imminent and decisive execution of punishment.
Ezekiel 21 3 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the impending Babylonian invasion. Chapter 21 begins with God directing Ezekiel to prophesy against the land of Israel, specifically focusing on Jerusalem's sinfulness and the judgment that will befall it. The imagery of the drawn and sharpened sword is introduced as a powerful symbol of this judgment. The immediate context sets a tone of divine anger and unwavering resolve to bring about destruction due to the people's persistent iniquity and rebellion against God, particularly their idolatry and social injustice. This prophetic message was delivered to the exiles in Babylon, reminding them of God's justice and the consequences of disobedience.
Ezekiel 21 3 Word analysis
- H5783: עוּר (
ur): "arouse," "awaken." Used here in a causative sense, meaning to provoke or stir up. - H8591: לֶחִי (
lechi): "jawbone," but here translated as "edge" or "face." The imagery evokes a weapon laid upon the jaw or cheek, a close and severe action. - H2719: חֶרֶב (
cher…): "sword." A common weapon of war, symbolizing execution and bloodshed. - H5597: סָמַךְ (
samakh): "support," "lean upon." Here, it indicates the sword being laid or held ready, positioned to strike. - H4578: מְלוּטְשָׁה (
meluṭšah): "sharpened," "polished." Emphasizes the readiness and effectiveness of the instrument of judgment. - H1506: גָּלְחָה (
galhah): "shaved," "sharpened" (often in the sense of a razor's edge). This implies a clean, decisive cut, a complete execution of judgment.
Words group analysis:
- "My sword is drawn out of its sheath": This phrase paints a vivid picture of God actively deploying His judgment. It is no longer sheathed or at rest; it is made ready for action. The active voice emphasizes God's direct involvement in bringing about this destruction.
- "It is sharpened to the full": This indicates the completeness of the preparation. The sword is not just drawn, but honed to its utmost sharpness, signifying that the judgment is severe, decisive, and inescapable.
- "It is polished to gleam": The polishing suggests that the judgment is made ready for its purpose, its effectiveness is ensured. It also adds a visual element, perhaps hinting at the terrifying brightness of the approaching destruction or the clarity of God's intent.
- "It is made ready to be grasped": This emphasizes the imminence of the action. The sword is not merely prepared but is available to be wielded. The possessive "its" referring back to the sword emphasizes that it is God's sword, under His control.
Ezekiel 21 3 Bonus section
The sharpening of the sword can be understood not just as physical preparation, but also as the process by which God brings His divine decree to fruition. It represents the culmination of a period of patience, during which repentance was offered but rejected. The repeated use of "sword" throughout Ezekiel underscores its significance as the primary instrument of God's wrath against the unrighteous and rebellious nation. The effectiveness implied by "polished" and "made ready" also points to the precision and inevitability of God's judgment, leaving no room for evasion.
Ezekiel 21 3 Commentary
The verse powerfully conveys the imminent and severe judgment of God upon Jerusalem. The personification of God's sword as being actively drawn, sharpened, and made ready underscores the certainty and thoroughness of the impending destruction. This is not a casual or delayed punishment, but a deliberate and decisive act of divine justice. The imagery conveys God's absolute authority and control over the instruments of judgment. The nation's sins have reached a point where God, as the ultimate judge, has decreed and prepared the means for their execution. The verse serves as a stark warning to all who defy God's commands, illustrating that His patience has limits, and His justice, when enacted, is thorough and absolute. It's a call to recognize God's sovereignty even in the midst of calamitous events.