Ezekiel 21 31

Ezekiel 21:31 kjv

And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

Ezekiel 21:31 nkjv

I will pour out My indignation on you; I will blow against you with the fire of My wrath, And deliver you into the hands of brutal men who are skillful to destroy.

Ezekiel 21:31 niv

I will pour out my wrath on you and breathe out my fiery anger against you; I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men, men skilled in destruction.

Ezekiel 21:31 esv

And I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and I will deliver you into the hands of brutish men, skillful to destroy.

Ezekiel 21:31 nlt

I will pour out my fury on you
and blow on you with the fire of my anger.
I will hand you over to cruel men
who are skilled in destruction.

Ezekiel 21 verses

Ezekiel 21 31 Meaning

Ezekiel 21:31 pronounces a solemn declaration of God's fierce judgment upon Jerusalem and the land of Israel. It portrays God's direct and active role in unleashing overwhelming divine indignation and wrath upon them, metaphorically described as an intense, consuming fire. This divine fury culminates in Him purposefully delivering His people into the hands of the Babylonians, who are characterized as cruel and exceptionally proficient agents of devastation, thereby fulfilling God's righteous decree against their rebellion.

Ezekiel 21 31 Context

Ezekiel 21 is a powerful and unsettling oracle of God's judgment specifically directed at Jerusalem and the land of Israel, emphasizing the coming destruction by the "sword of the Lord." This "sword" represents the Babylonian army, divinely ordained as an instrument of punishment. The chapter opens with an abrupt and dire pronouncement that God will draw His sword, showing no mercy, making it shine as an instrument of slaughter. Various prophetic actions, like sighing bitterly (Ezek 21:6-7) and speaking a parable of the sharpening and polishing of the sword (Ezek 21:9-17), amplify the message of inevitable doom. A detailed oracle concerning King Zedekiah's fate, symbolized by Babylon's king Nebuchadnezzar deciding the path through divination, is also central to the chapter.

Verse 31 concludes a specific segment (Ezek 21:28-32) that addresses the Ammonites, but the preceding verses and the language used firmly root this judgment in the broader context of Israel's impending desolation, sometimes seen as a universal principle of judgment against rebellious nations. More accurately, given the flow of Ezekiel 21 (which includes specific prophecies against Jerusalem and its king), verse 31 applies the principle of divine wrath and destruction previously outlined for Jerusalem directly or indirectly to the broader region, ensuring no one feels exempt from God's reach. However, within the Masoretic Text (the Hebrew text), verse 31 refers to a judgment upon God's own people and the land mentioned earlier in the chapter, serving as a climactic statement of the severity of their impending judgment through foreign invaders. Historically, this prophecy took place while Jerusalem was still standing but facing imminent siege from Babylon (586 BC), as God's covenant people had repeatedly broken their covenant vows through idolatry and social injustice, ignoring prophetic warnings. The verse's polemic directly challenges the false sense of security among the Judeans who believed God would never allow His Temple or chosen city to be destroyed, even amidst their widespread sin.

Ezekiel 21 31 Word analysis

• I will pour out:
  • Hebrew: שָׁפַךְ (shaphakh).
  • Meaning: To pour out, shed (blood), spill.
  • Significance: Implies an abundant, unrestrained, and forceful outpouring, leaving no remnant. It indicates an unavoidable and comprehensive release of God's full displeasure, leaving nothing held back. It's an active, deliberate, and intense divine action, not merely a passive allowance.
• My indignation:
  • Hebrew: זַעַם (za'am).
  • Meaning: Strong displeasure, rage, fury, indignation.
  • Significance: This term describes a righteous and fierce divine anger, distinguished from casual irritation. It is a powerful, profound expression of God's wrath specifically directed at sin and rebellion.
• upon you;
  • Significance: Refers to the intended recipients of the judgment, specifically Jerusalem/Israel, given the wider context of Ezekiel 21. It personalizes the divine action, indicating a direct target.
• I will blow upon you:
  • Hebrew: וְנָפַחְתִּי (wǝnaphǎḥtî) from נָפַח (naphach).
  • Meaning: To blow, breathe, kindle, cause to burn.
  • Significance: This anthropomorphic image conveys God's active, personal, and forceful agency. It's not a gentle breath but an intensely powerful gust that ignites and fuels the "fire of My wrath," similar to fanning flames. It speaks to a direct and immediate divine act.
• with the fire:
  • Hebrew: בְּאֵשׁ (bǝ'esh).
  • Meaning: With fire.
  • Significance: Fire in biblical symbolism often represents consuming judgment, purification, testing, and divine presence. Here, it explicitly symbolizes God's destructive judgment, intensely hot and all-consuming, against sin and rebellion.
• of My wrath:
  • Hebrew: עֶבְרָתִי ('evratî) from עֶבְרָה (evrah).
  • Meaning: Overflowing rage, fury, overflowing anger, passion.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the intensity and unbridled nature of God's anger. It's a passionate, tempestuous fury, like a rushing torrent that sweeps away everything in its path, suggesting an unstoppable and overwhelming force.
• and deliver you:
  • Hebrew: וּנְתַתִּיךָ (unǝtattîkhā) from נָתַן (nathan).
  • Meaning: To give, place, deliver.
  • Significance: Highlights God's absolute sovereignty and control over the events. He is not merely allowing it; He is actively, intentionally surrendering His people into the hands of their enemies as an act of judgment, demonstrating His active participation in the ensuing destruction.
• into the hand:
  • Hebrew: בְּיַד (bǝyad).
  • Meaning: In the hand, power of.
  • Significance: This phrase denotes being put completely under the power and control of another. The nation will become completely vulnerable and subject to the enemies' will, acting as God's instrument.
• of brutal men:
  • Hebrew: אַנְשֵׁי בָעַר (anshey va'ar).
  • Meaning: Men of brutality/brutishness, uncivilized men, ignorant/foolish men.
  • Significance: "Ba'ar" often connotes animal-like, brutish, or lacking in spiritual discernment. In this context, it starkly describes the Babylonian invaders as merciless, cruel, and without compassion, driven by base instincts. These men are seen as instruments, not partners, reflecting God's sovereign use of even ungodly forces.
• skilled in destruction:
  • Hebrew: חָרָשׁ מַשְׁחִית (charash mashḥit).
  • Meaning: Artisan/craftsman of destruction, destroying craftsman, expert in destruction.
  • Significance: This is a chilling oxymoron, painting the destroyers not as chaotic, but as methodical, professional, and highly effective. They are not merely destroyers but masters of their craft, executing devastation with precision and efficiency. It underscores the complete and thorough nature of the impending desolation. This is also a polemical point as it signifies that the destruction is not haphazard but planned and effective.

Ezekiel 21 31 Bonus section

• The phrasing "I will blow upon you with the fire of My wrath" echoes earlier prophetic imagery where the breath of God can either create (Gen 2:7, Job 33:4) or destroy (Isa 30:27-33). Here, the life-giving breath transforms into a devastating force, revealing God's absolute power over life and death, blessing and curse.
• The concept of God raising up and using foreign nations, even wicked ones, as instruments of His judgment on His own people or other nations is a recurring theme in prophetic literature (e.g., Assyria in Isaiah, Babylon in Jeremiah, Chaldeans in Habakkuk). This underscores divine sovereignty over world history and nation-states, shaping geopolitical events to accomplish His righteous purposes.
• The term "skilled in destruction" (חָרָשׁ מַשְׁחִית) can be seen as an ironic or even sarcastic statement. Usually, a "craftsman" (חָרָשׁ) is associated with creation or constructive work. Here, the expertise is turned to the precise opposite, highlighting the thoroughness and intentionality of the destructive act—it will not be haphazard but methodically executed.
• This verse contributes to the "Day of the Lord" motif, a significant theme across the prophets, describing a day of intense divine judgment, often depicted with cosmic signs and overwhelming destruction, although in this context, it is manifested through a specific historical event.

Ezekiel 21 31 Commentary

Ezekiel 21:31 powerfully articulates the culmination of divine judgment, employing striking metaphors to emphasize God's active agency and the severity of the coming wrath. God is depicted as the primary orchestrator, not merely permitting events but actively "pouring out" His indignation, indicating an unreserved and inescapable deluge of fury. The image of God "blowing upon" them with "the fire of My wrath" presents a vivid picture of His personal, consuming presence in the destruction, fueling it with His own passionate anger against the deep-seated sins of His people. This divine wrath is both intense and comprehensive, consuming all resistance.

The subsequent delivery into the "hand of brutal men, skilled in destruction" clarifies the instrument of this divine judgment. The Babylonians are not independent aggressors but are used by God as His tools. Describing them as "brutal" highlights their merciless and unfeeling nature, stripping any hope of compassion, while calling them "skilled in destruction" elevates their efficacy. They are depicted as artisans of devastation, executing judgment with chilling precision and expertise, ensuring that the divine sentence is carried out completely and efficiently. This verse unequivocally attributes the impending catastrophe not to the random acts of war but to the righteous and sovereign will of Yahweh, demonstrating that no sin of His covenant people will go unpunished. It underscores a central theme of biblical prophecy: divine justice demands accountability, and God will use whatever means necessary to uphold His covenant and moral order, even through foreign, brutish powers.