Ezekiel 21:8 kjv
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 21:8 nkjv
Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ezekiel 21:8 niv
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 21:8 esv
And the word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 21:8 nlt
Then the LORD said to me,
Ezekiel 21 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 21:9-10 | For what are you making it? | Ezekiel 21 |
| Jeremiah 23:29 | Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, | Jeremiah 23:29 |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword | Hebrews 4:12 |
| Isaiah 45:7 | I form the light, and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I the LORD do all these things. | Isaiah 45:7 |
| Jeremiah 51:20 | You are my hammer and weapon of war: to you I will break nations in pieces, to you I will destroy kingdoms | Jeremiah 51:20 |
| Psalm 7:13 | He also prepares for himself instruments of death; he makes ready his burning arrows | Psalm 7:13 |
| Revelation 19:15 | From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike the nations | Revelation 19:15 |
| Deuteronomy 32:41 | if I whet my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on the judgment | Deuteronomy 32:41 |
| Lamentations 2:3 | He has broken off in his anger all the might of Israel | Lamentations 2:3 |
| 2 Samuel 22:33 | God is my strength and power, and he makes my way blameless. | 2 Samuel 22:33 |
| Proverbs 25:21 | If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink | Proverbs 25:21 (Contrast) |
| Job 9:13 | God does not restrain his anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath him. | Job 9:13 |
| Isaiah 10:5 | Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff that is in their hands is my fury! | Isaiah 10:5 |
| Jeremiah 25:9 | behold, I will summon all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant | Jeremiah 25:9 |
| Ezekiel 14:21 | For thus says the Lord GOD: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four dread actions of judgment—sword, famine, dangerous beasts, and pestilence— | Ezekiel 14:21 |
| Ezekiel 20:47 | and say to the forest of the Negeb, ‘Hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree in you | Ezekiel 20:47 |
| Nahum 1:12 | Thus says the LORD: Though they are unharmed and many, yet they shall be shorn and he shall pass by. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more | Nahum 1:12 |
| Habakkuk 2:16 | You are filled with shame instead of glory. Drink, you too, and stagger! The cup of the LORD’s right hand will be turned upon you, and utter shame will cover your glory. | Habakkuk 2:16 |
| Matthew 10:34 | Think not that I have come to send peace on earth. I have not come to send peace, but a sword. | Matthew 10:34 |
Ezekiel 21 verses
Ezekiel 21 8 Meaning
The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel, declaring that a two-edged sword, sharp and gleaming, has been prepared and made ready. This sword is intended for slaughter, polished to shine, and a thunderbolt poised to strike. It signifies a severe judgment that God is bringing against Israel.
Ezekiel 21 8 Context
This verse is found within Ezekiel chapter 21, a chapter that focuses on the impending destruction of Jerusalem and Judah. The prophet is commanded by God to deliver a powerful prophecy concerning a coming invasion. The sword is a central metaphor, representing God's judgment through a foreign invader, specifically the Babylonians. This judgment is a consequence of Israel's persistent sin and rebellion. The entire chapter is laden with imagery of judgment and consequence, preparing the audience for the Babylonian conquest that is detailed further in the book. The immediate context sets the stage for the specific judgment to befall Jerusalem and its king.
Ezekiel 21 8 Word Analysis
- and: (Hebrew: wa) A conjunction linking phrases, indicating sequence or continuation.
- the: (Hebrew: ha) The definite article, specifying "the word".
- word: (Hebrew: dabar) In this context, it signifies a divine message, an oracle, a communication from God. It carries authority and definitive purpose.
- of: (Hebrew: mi) Indicates origin or possession.
- the: (Hebrew: ha)
- LORD: (Hebrew: YHWH) The covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and power to act.
- came: (Hebrew: hayah - "to be" or "to happen") Implies the initiation and presence of God's message to Ezekiel.
- unto: (Hebrew: el) Directionality, indicating to whom the message was given.
- Ezekiel: (Hebrew: Yeḥezqe'l - "God strengthens") The prophet through whom God is speaking.
- word: (Hebrew: dabar) Again, the divine utterance.
- Lo: (Hebrew: hineh) An exclamation used to draw attention, often to something significant or immediate. It functions like "behold" or "look."
- a: (Hebrew: mishlehith) Here used to introduce the subject. The Hebrew is emphatic: "Lo, a decree."
- two: (Hebrew: shnayim)
- edged: (Hebrew: peruvoth - "flanks" or "sides") Refers to something with two edges or sides, implying it can cut from both directions, emphasizing its severity and comprehensive nature.
- sword: (Hebrew: ḥereb) A weapon of war, here a metaphor for God's instruments of judgment—the invading armies.
- sharpened: (Hebrew: maḥaddodah) To make keen, to hone. This indicates preparedness and efficiency in carrying out its purpose.
- to: (Hebrew: le) Indicates purpose or destination.
- make: (Hebrew: ʻaśá) To create, fashion, or prepare.
- bright: (Hebrew: mahallaqoth - "gleaming," "polished," "smooth") Denotes being polished and shining, suggesting it is ready and effective, or perhaps its brilliance is a terrifying spectacle of power.
- ready: (Hebrew: `āzōt - "ready," "prepared," "fitted") Indicates preparedness for use.
- yea: (Hebrew: ghem) An emphatic particle.
- it: Refers back to the sword.
- is: Implied by the structure.
- made: (Hebrew: cuvvah - "prepared," "fashioned") Similar to "sharpened" and "ready," emphasizing active preparation for action.
- ready: (Hebrew: lemuqaḏōt - "for seizing," "for appointment," "for grasping") Indicates being prepared and fitting for its appointed task, like being grasped for use in battle.
- that: (Hebrew: lema‘an) To cause, so that.
- it: The sword.
- might: (Hebrew: yahaz) A potential or capability clause.
- slaughter: (Hebrew: lemīzaḥ - "for slaughtering," "for destruction") The purpose of the sword.
- a: (Hebrew: ’immah - "a mace" or "a war-club," but used here metaphorically for a "thunderbolt" or "lightning bolt," signifying sudden, decisive, and destructive power).
- thunderbolt: (Hebrew: ba’araq - "lightning," "flash") A powerful, swift, and devastating force.
- made: (Hebrew: qummah - "made to stand," "prepared") Prepared and positioned.
- yea: (Hebrew: ghem)
- twice: (Hebrew: śitrey - literally "two folds," possibly implying thoroughness or being made strong and ready).
Groups of words:
- "two edged sword": Emphasizes the sword's capability for maximum destruction and penetration, cutting both ways, symbolizing that judgment would come through means that severely afflicted Israel from multiple angles.
- "sharpened, made bright, ready": These terms collectively portray the absolute readiness and keenness of God's instrument of judgment. The sword is not only functional but prepared for effective, immediate use. The polished brightness suggests the divine authority and unstoppable nature of the judgment being enacted.
- "that it might slaughter": This explicitly states the purpose – a thorough destruction and execution of judgment upon the guilty.
- "a thunderbolt, yea, twice ready": The "thunderbolt" imagery elevates the sword beyond a mere weapon to a manifestation of divine wrath. "Twice ready" may imply extreme preparedness or readiness for repeated devastating action, leaving no escape.
Ezekiel 21 8 Bonus Section
The imagery of God wielding a sword as an instrument of judgment is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. This verse connects strongly with other passages where God prepares a "sword" or implements severe judgment. The "thunderbolt" or "lightning" metaphor in the second part of the verse is potent, evoking instantaneous and catastrophic power, much like what is described in other prophetic books such as Jeremiah and Isaiah when speaking of Babylon's might as God's instrument. The prophet is essentially given a visual preview of the divine judgment about to be unleashed. The careful preparation described signifies God’s foreknowledge and His ultimate control over all nations and events, even those that seem to bring only destruction. This comprehensive preparation speaks to the meticulousness of God's justice and the totality of the consequence for sin.
Ezekiel 21 8 Commentary
This verse vividly describes the instrument of God's judgment. It is not a casual threat but a carefully prepared and powerful force, the "sword of the Lord." The dual edge and sharpened nature signify that God's justice is thorough and complete. The imagery of a "thunderbolt" highlights the swift, devastating, and overwhelming nature of the impending calamity that God will unleash upon His people through the Babylonian armies. It's a solemn warning that God's judgment is precise, unavoidable, and severe when sin is persistent. The repeated emphasis on readiness underscores the certainty of this divine action. This prophecy prepares Ezekiel and his audience for the brutal reality of God's disciplinary action against disobedience, a principle that echoes throughout Scripture concerning the consequences of turning away from the Lord.
- God's judgments are never impulsive; they are prepared and purposeful.
- The "sword of the Lord" can be any tool God uses, including nations, to carry out His will.
- The gleaming nature of the sword indicates the power and terror associated with divine justice being executed.