Ezekiel 21:6 kjv
Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
Ezekiel 21:6 nkjv
Sigh therefore, son of man, with a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes.
Ezekiel 21:6 niv
"Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.
Ezekiel 21:6 esv
"As for you, son of man, groan; with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan before their eyes.
Ezekiel 21:6 nlt
"Son of man, groan before the people! Groan before them with bitter anguish and a broken heart.
Ezekiel 21 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 20:47 | "...and the fire shall devour all the green trees in your midst and the dry trees." | Fire's destructive nature |
| Isaiah 42:25 | "Therefore he hath poured upon him the indignation of his anger, and with the strength of battle he hath cast him down: and it hath burned him up round about; yet he knew not: and it hath consumed him, yet he laid it not to heart." | Divine wrath overwhelming |
| Jeremiah 4:4 | "Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings." | Judgment like unquenchable fire |
| Jeremiah 21:14 | "...for I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all things round about her." | Judgment according to deeds |
| Joel 2:3 | "A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them." | Overwhelming destruction |
| Zephaniah 1:18 | "Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S fury; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell therein." | God's jealousy fueling wrath |
| Malachi 4:1 | "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." | Final judgment consuming |
| Luke 3:16 | "...he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" | Baptism with fire |
| Hebrews 12:29 | "For our God is a consuming fire." | God's nature |
| Revelation 9:17 | "And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, and of hyacinth blue, and of brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone." | Symbolic imagery of judgment |
| Revelation 20:14 | "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." | Lake of fire as judgment |
| 2 Peter 3:10 | "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." | Final burning of creation |
| Psalm 37:20 | "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume into smoke; into smoke shall they consume away." | Wickedness consumed |
| Nahum 1:6 | "What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time." | Complete destruction |
| Habakkuk 2:7 | "Shall they not rise up that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?" | Enemy's oppression |
| Isaiah 3:8 | "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings have provoked the LORD to anger against the words of his pride." | Tongue and doings provoking God |
Ezekiel 21 verses
Ezekiel 21 6 Meaning
The verse describes the Lord's prophetic announcement of judgment upon Jerusalem. The sighing is a sound of deep distress, signifying imminent and inescapable doom for the city and its inhabitants. This judgment is portrayed as an intense, all-consuming fire that will devoureven to the very foundation, leaving nothing but devastation.
Ezekiel 21 6 Context
Ezekiel 21 prophesies the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian invasion. The prophet uses vivid imagery of a sword being sharpened, made bright, and ready for slaughter. This chapter describes God's directed wrath against the wickedness of His people, specifically their unfaithfulness and rebellion. The sighs and groans mentioned are outward expressions of the deep spiritual and national crisis they faced, which ultimately led to their downfall as prophesied. The chapter begins with a directive to lament over the impending judgment.
Ezekiel 21 6 Word Analysis
Woe (הוֹי - hoy): An interjection expressing grief, distress, or lamentation. It is a universal cry of sorrow.
Woe unto the inhabiter thereof (הוֹי לְיוֹשֵׁב־בָּהּ - hoy lə·yō·wə·šêḇ-bāh): A direct address signifying the city itself, or those dwelling within its walls, are the recipients of God's impending judgment and sorrow.
the Sword (חֶרֶב - ḥe·reḇ): A weapon of war, here symbolizing the invading Babylonian army and its devastating power.
Therefore (כִּי־לָכֵן - kî-lā·ḵên): Indicates a consequence or reason for the impending doom.
it (hu' - הוא): Refers back to the sword, emphasizing its active role in judgment.
even a sharp sword (חֶרֶב צִיץ - ḥe·reḇ ṣîṣ): "Ṣîṣ" can mean glittering, shining, or sharp. The sword is presented as polished and ready, implying preparedness for immediate execution of judgment.
to the slaughter (לְטֶבַח - lə·ṭe·ḇaḥ): Indicating a place or purpose for being killed, emphasizing the certainty and totality of the destruction.
even to make it to be consumed (מְאֹד לְבַלּוֹת - mə·’ō·ḇə·la·h): "Mə’ōḏ” means very or exceedingly, and "ləḇallōh" means to consume or make away with. It highlights the intense and thorough nature of the destruction.
yea (וְגַם - wə·ḡam): Adds emphasis to the totality of the destruction.
if thou wilt mete (אִם־בִּלְעָם - ’im·bil·‘ām): "’Im" means if, and "bil‘ām" can mean to swallow, consume, or mete out. It implies a conditional aspect, though in context, the condition (sin) has been met, making the judgment inevitable.
that thou mayest consume (כִּבְלוֹעַ - kiḇ·lo·a‘): Again, relating to consumption, reinforcing the idea of total annihilation.
or wilt pray (אוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל - ’ō·lə·hit·pal·lêl): A stark contrast to consumption, suggesting even prayer will be ineffectual against this judgment.
It is exceedingly, saith the LORD of hosts (אִין־הוּא כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת - ’ên-hû·kōh ’ā·ma·r yə·hə·wâ ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ): This confirms that the severe judgment is from God Himself, the Lord of Armies, making it absolute. "’Ên-hû” is often translated as "it is not so" or in this context, can imply a stronger negation of any hope or alternative for them. The RSV and NRSV translate this portion as "For no longer will I grant it their acceptance," suggesting a withdrawal of divine favor that makes intervention impossible.
my favour (בְּרָצְוֹנִי - bə·rô·ṣō·w·nî): This word relates to favor, acceptance, or approval. The verse implies this favor is withdrawn.
My judgement: (added interpretation of context based on preceding and succeeding verses) The context indicates "my judgment" or divine retribution for their sins is what is not accepted.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Woe unto the inhabiter thereof..." The initial lament sets a tone of profound sorrow and impending loss for Jerusalem.
- "...the sword, even a sharp sword, to the slaughter; even to make it to be consumed..." This phrase paints a graphic picture of the invasive force and the utter destruction it will bring. The sword is not merely an instrument, but an active agent of thorough devastation.
- "...yea, to make it that it be consumed: it is exceedingly, saith the LORD of hosts, if thou wilt mete..." The repetition of "consume" emphasizes the complete annihilation. The Lord of Hosts declares this is a done deal; it is absolute. The phrase "if thou wilt mete" is complex and can be understood as a negation of their ability to measure or escape this fate, or as a negation of God's willingness to spare them.
Ezekiel 21 6 Bonus Section
The act of sighing is an outward expression of inward anguish. In the Old Testament, sighing is often linked to grief, suffering, and groaning under oppression or sin (Exodus 2:24; Judges 10:16; Psa 6:8; Isa 1:15). Here, it symbolizes Jerusalem's impending distress. The phrase "to make it that it be consumed" suggests not just death but obliteration, leaving nothing behind. The specific wording regarding the ineffectiveness of prayer ("or wilt pray") emphasizes the finality of this judgment, moving from a time of appeal to a time of reckoning.
Ezekiel 21 6 Commentary
The sigh that Ezekiel proclaims is a sound of agony foretelling Jerusalem's judgment. This judgment is not random violence but God's wrath activated by sin. The sword symbolizes the Babylonian armies. The description "sharp," "polished," and destined for "slaughter" and "consumption" underscores the thoroughness of the coming devastation. No plea or effort from Jerusalem can avert this. God, as the Lord of Hosts, orchestrates this calamity because He is withdrawing His favor. It's a pronouncement of a sealed fate due to persistent rebellion, indicating that prayers and efforts for relief are now rejected in favor of executing His justice.