Ezekiel 21 32

Ezekiel 21:32 kjv

Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.

Ezekiel 21:32 nkjv

You shall be fuel for the fire; Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall not be remembered, For I the LORD have spoken.' "

Ezekiel 21:32 niv

You will be fuel for the fire, your blood will be shed in your land, you will be remembered no more; for I the LORD have spoken.'?"

Ezekiel 21:32 esv

You shall be fuel for the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall be no more remembered, for I the LORD have spoken."

Ezekiel 21:32 nlt

You will be fuel for the fire,
and your blood will be spilled in your own land.
You will be utterly wiped out,
your memory lost to history,
for I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Ezekiel 21 verses

Ezekiel 21 32 Meaning

This verse pronounces a severe and total divine judgment. It metaphorically describes the 대상 of judgment as being entirely consumed by fire and flames, signifying utter destruction and annihilation. The statement "your blood will be shed in your own land" indicates violent death occurring without refuge or escape, right where one might have expected safety. Finally, "You will be remembered no more" emphasizes the complete eradication of their existence, identity, and legacy, both from human memory and divine consideration. The concluding phrase, "for I the LORD have spoken," asserts the divine authority, irrevocability, and certainty of this decree, indicating that God's word is faithful and powerful to bring about this judgment.

Ezekiel 21 32 Context

The prophecies in Ezekiel often deal with God's impending judgment on Judah, Jerusalem, its leaders, and surrounding nations due to their idolatry, unfaithfulness, violence, and rejection of His covenant. Chapters 20-24 specifically contain oracles of judgment and condemnation. The imagery of fire is prevalent in Ezekiel, symbolizing God's purifying wrath against sin. The shedding of blood points to divine retribution for the pervasive violence and bloodshed committed by the targets of these prophecies. The overall historical context is one leading up to and encompassing the Babylonian exile, where God uses foreign powers (like Babylon, referred to as the "sword of the Lord" in this chapter) as instruments of His judgment. While this specific wording ("You will be fuel...") is often found against Jerusalem (e.g., Ezek 15), if understood within Ezek 21:32 as found in modern translations, the oracle's original context is directly addressing the Ammonites who gloated over Jerusalem's destruction (Ezek 21:28). Therefore, it serves as a warning against nations who defy God and oppose His people, affirming that their seemingly triumphant wickedness will eventually be consumed by divine justice, resulting in complete destruction and loss of remembrance.

Ezekiel 21 32 Word analysis

• You (אַתְּ 'at, fem. sing.): Though not explicit in the provided English, the "you" in Ezekiel's judgment oracles can refer to a collective entity, often personified. Depending on the chapter context (e.g., Ammon in standard Ezek 21:32), it is the specific target of God's wrath, indicating a direct and personal condemnation from God.
• will be fuel (מַאֲכָל ma'akhal): Literally "food," or "what is eaten." In this context, it is a potent metaphor for something destined to be consumed entirely. It denotes vulnerability and passive submission to an overwhelming, destructive force, emphasizing total helplessness before God's judgment.
• for the fire (לָאֵשׁ la'esh): The destructive element. Fire in biblical literature is both refining and consuming. Here, it is unequivocally consuming, signifying absolute destruction and judgment, leaving nothing behind.
• food (מַאֲכָל ma'akhal): Reinforces "fuel." This repetition through synonymous parallelism amplifies the intensity of consumption and finality.
• for the flames (לַלֶּהָבָה la'lehavah): Another synonymous parallelism, emphasizing the destructive nature of fire, highlighting its consuming heat and brilliance in consuming the object. "Flames" intensify the imagery beyond mere "fire," suggesting a fierce, blazing destruction.
• your blood (דָּמֵךְ damekh): Represents life itself. Shedding blood signifies violent death and often, in biblical context, atonement or the defilement of land. Here, it indicates execution of a deadly judgment.
• will be shed (יִשָׁפֵךְ yishafekh): "To pour out." A powerful and vivid verb implying violent, uncontrolled spillage of life, indicative of a slaughter or violent end.
• in your own land (בְּאַרְצֵךְ b'artsekh): This phrase is crucial. It suggests no escape, no refuge, no exile, but rather a finality right where they had existence. For Israel, this often refers to judgment within their promised land. For a nation like Ammon, it means judgment right in their homeland, removing their territorial claim and presence.
• You will be remembered no more (וְלֹא־תִהְיִי עוֹד זִכָּרוֹן v'lo-tiheyi od zikkaron): A severe curse in ancient cultures, signifying the complete obliteration of identity, name, legacy, and lineage. It's a worse fate than mere death, representing erasure from existence and history, the absence of any future memory or memorial. It challenges the ANE preoccupation with an enduring name.
• for I the LORD (כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה ki ani YHWH): The solemn, authoritative signature of God. "YHWH" is God's covenant name, signifying His unchangeable, sovereign nature. It stresses that this judgment originates from the one true, living God.
• have spoken (דִּבַּרְתִּי dibbarti): The divine verb of utterance, denoting an immutable decree. It confirms that the prophecy is not human conjecture but God's unalterable declaration, assuring its certain fulfillment.

Ezekiel 21 32 Bonus section

• The phrasing "fuel for the fire, food for the flames" uses poetic parallelism common in Hebrew poetry and prophecy to enhance the intensity and convey absolute destruction. The dual terms serve to amplify the severity and the complete consumption intended by God's wrath.
• The concept of being "remembered no more" directly challenges the deep cultural importance placed on a lasting name and lineage in the Ancient Near East. Kings and nobles would erect steles and commission histories to ensure their remembrance; for God to declare a complete erasure of memory was to strip away every aspect of human pride and legacy. This speaks to the absolute finality of God's judgment against those who oppose Him, showing His dominion even over memory itself.
• While these judgments appear dire, in the broader sweep of prophetic literature, such extreme punishments are often part of a redemptive history, either to purify a remnant, establish God's righteousness to surrounding nations, or pave the way for a new covenant where only the truly unrepentant are ultimately forgotten.
• The phrase "I the LORD have spoken" is a powerful identifier of Yahweh's unique position as the sovereign God who not only commands but ensures the fulfillment of His words, often appearing at the culmination of severe prophetic warnings to underline their gravity and certainty.

Ezekiel 21 32 Commentary

This verse, characteristic of Ezekiel's forceful oracles, vividly communicates the certainty and totality of God's judgment. The repeated imagery of fire emphasizes complete consumption, leaving nothing. The focus on "blood shed in your own land" underscores a particularly brutal end, with the targeted entity facing destruction without the possibility of flight or mercy in their perceived place of security. Perhaps the most profound curse is the declaration, "You will be remembered no more." In ancient thought, to be forgotten was to cease truly existing—an obliteration of one's legacy and line. This speaks to God's ultimate justice, where the wicked's memory will vanish entirely, contrasting sharply with the enduring memory of the righteous. The divine ratification "for I the LORD have spoken" serves as an emphatic conclusion, guaranteeing the infallible execution of this severe word, reminding the audience that God's prophecies are not empty threats but certain pronouncements of His will and justice, establishing His unwavering sovereignty over history and fate. This judgment is often a response to extreme sin—idolatry, violence, and unrepentant defiance against God and His purposes.