Ezekiel 21:9 kjv
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
Ezekiel 21:9 nkjv
"Son of man, prophesy and say, 'Thus says the LORD!' Say: 'A sword, a sword is sharpened And also polished!
Ezekiel 21:9 niv
"Son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Lord says: "?'A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished?
Ezekiel 21:9 esv
"Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: "A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,
Ezekiel 21:9 nlt
"Son of man, give the people this message from the Lord: "A sword, a sword
is being sharpened and polished.
Ezekiel 21 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 14:21 | "For thus says the Lord GOD: How much more when I send my four severe judgments, sword and famine and harmful beasts and pestilence, upon Jerusalem to cut off from it man and beast?" | Judgment mechanism |
| Jeremiah 15:2 | "When they say to you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: Those marked for death, to death; and those for the sword, to the sword; those for famine, to famine; and those for captivity, to captivity.’" | Fate of people |
| Isaiah 5:25 | "and his anger will be kindled against them, and he will stretch out his hand against them and strike them down, and the tongues of the peoples will feel their blows, and their carcasses will be like refuse in the midst of the streets." | Divine anger and destruction |
| Revelation 6:4 | "And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword." | Sword as instrument of war |
| Leviticus 26:25 | "and I will bring against you a sword that shall execute the vengeance of the covenant. And you shall be gathered within your cities, and I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy." | Covenant vengeance |
| Deuteronomy 32:41 | "I will sharpen my flashing sword; my hand will take hold on judgment; I will return vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me." | God's judgment and vengeance |
| Jeremiah 4:6 | "Raise a signal toward Zion! Flee for safety! Do not stand still, for I am bringing disaster from the north, and great destruction." | Disaster from the north |
| Psalms 7:12 | "If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and prepared his bow;" | God's preparation for judgment |
| Hosea 11:6 | "The sword shall swing through his cities; it shall break down his next leaders, and shall consume them because of their plots." | Sword's action |
| Revelation 19:15 | "From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty." | Sword of divine wrath |
| Jeremiah 50:35 | "A sword against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her priests and against her wise men!" | Specific enemy sword |
| Deuteronomy 28:22 | "The LORD will strike you with consumption, and with fever, and with inflammation, and with fiery heat, and with drought, and with blight, and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish." | Various divine judgments |
| Ezekiel 5:12 | "A third part of you shall die by the pestilence, and a third part shall be cut off by famine in your midst, and a third part shall fall by the sword. And I will scatter them to every wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them." | Threefold judgment |
| Micah 4:3 | "He will judge between many peoples and will rebuke strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." | Contrast to war and sword |
| 2 Samuel 24:15 | "So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people, from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men." | Pestilence as judgment |
| Luke 21:24 | "and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." | Sword leading to captivity |
| Isaiah 3:26 | "Her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall sit on the ground in ruins." | Desolation due to judgment |
| Ezekiel 25:12 | "thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah and incurred grievous guilt by thus taking vengeance on them," | Vengeance on nations |
| Amos 7:9 | "The high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword." | Sword against a dynasty |
| Lamentations 4:9 | "Those pierced by the sword fare better than those pierced by hunger, for they are wounded and fallen without hope." | Sword as a quicker end |
| Ezekiel 6:3 | "and say: ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.’" | Judgment on the land itself |
Ezekiel 21 verses
Ezekiel 21 9 Meaning
This verse signifies a prophetic declaration concerning judgment. The pronouncement is against the land of Israel, indicating a divine wrath that will be unleashed. The sword is described as a divinely appointed instrument of destruction, sweeping through the land.
Ezekiel 21 9 Context
Ezekiel chapter 21 focuses on pronouncements of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem. The chapter begins with God's sorrow over the coming destruction and then vividly describes a sword drawn from its sheath, symbolizing imminent and widespread devastation. This sword is divinely sent and targets all inhabitants, good and bad alike. The immediate context for verse 9 is the illustration of this judgment instrument, the sword, being sharpened and polished. It's not just a random attack but a prepared and executed act of divine retribution against a sinful nation. Historically, this prophecy was given during a time when Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians, a period of intense suffering and impending fall. The cultural context involves the use of powerful imagery, like a sword and fire, to convey divine anger and the completeness of destruction in ancient Near Eastern thought.
Ezekiel 21 9 Word analysis
Thus (כֹּה - ko): A common adverb indicating "so," "thus," or "in this way." It introduces a direct pronouncement or statement of fact, emphasizing the authoritative nature of God's word.
says (אָמַר - amar): The verb "to say," indicating utterance and communication. Here it signifies God's direct speaking.
the Lord (הַאדֹנָי - ha'Adonai): "Adonai" means Lord, Master, Sovereign. The definite article "ha" makes it "the Lord." It emphasizes God's supreme authority and sovereignty over all creation, especially in His judgments.
GOD (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): A plural form of "El," often translated as "God" or "gods." In this context, used with "Adonai," it forms the special covenant name "Adonai Elohim" (Lord GOD), highlighting God's personal relationship and covenant power.
Says (נְאֻם - ne'um): A noun derived from the verb "to say," meaning "utterance," "oracle," or "declaration." It is a formula used by prophets to attribute the message directly to God, underlining its divine origin and infallibility.
a sword (חֶרֶב - cherev): The primary Hebrew word for "sword." It represents war, destruction, bloodshed, and the execution of divine judgment.
is (הִיא - hi): The feminine singular third-person pronoun, meaning "she" or "it." It refers back to the feminine noun "cherev" (sword).
drawn (הוּפְעַל - huf'al): A passive verb form, indicating that something has been done to it. The verb stem is related to bringing forth or unleashing.
forth (מִתּוֹךְ - mittoch): A prepositional phrase meaning "out of" or "from within." It emphasizes that the sword is brought out from its place of resting or concealment.
from its (מִבְּנֵי - mib'ney): Literally "from the sons of" or "from among," used here with a possessive pronoun to indicate something originating from or belonging to it. In context, it’s the sword's sheath or scabbard.
sheath (נְדָנָהּ - n'danah): The Hebrew word for "sheath" or "scabbard." It signifies the container that holds and protects the sword, from which it is drawn for action. The feminine ending "-ah" indicates possession by a feminine antecedent, which is the sword.
and (וְ - vav): The conjunction "and."
from (מִמְּקוֹמוֹ - mimmekomo): Literally "from his place" or "from its place."
its (מְקוֹמוֹ - mekomo): "Mekom" means place. The masculine possessive pronoun "-o" refers back to the masculine concept of "sheath" or "sword's lodging" metaphorically. It suggests removing it from where it was kept.
its (בֵּיצִיגֶר - beitzigeir): This transliteration appears incorrect or is not a standard Hebrew word commonly found in biblical texts. If the intention is to describe the state of being sharpened or ready, alternative Hebrew words might be "mûqqað" (sharpened) or "m'lūḇah" (polished/wiped). Based on subsequent verse context about polishing, it's likely related to preparation.
grouping of words: "The sword is drawn forth from its sheath" (cherev niftahah mikkelippo) signifies the commencement of God's punitive action. It is no longer contained but released for execution.
grouping of words: "and from its place" (ûmiqommo) adds to the finality of the sword's release, implying it is completely removed from dormancy and actively deployed.
grouping of words: The combination suggests a deliberate, activated instrument of judgment that has been purposefully withdrawn and made ready for use.
Ezekiel 21 9 Bonus section
The sword being "polished" or "prepared" speaks to the completeness of the judgment. It implies that all arrangements for its execution are in place. It is not just a threat but a realized plan of destruction. The specific imagery of polishing suggests making it ready for effective, decisive action, removing any hindrance to its effectiveness. This polishing also implies the thoroughness with which judgment will be carried out. Scholars suggest this active preparation contrasts with any attempt by people to shield themselves, emphasizing the inescapability of God's retribution when it is decreed.
Ezekiel 21 9 Commentary
This verse is a powerful declaration of impending divine judgment, depicted by the image of a sword being drawn and made ready. It’s not a spontaneous event but a deliberate act of God, emphasized by the drawn sword. The language highlights that God's judgment is active, imminent, and will spare no one. The drawing of the sword signifies the commencement of God's wrath upon those who have violated His covenant and laws. The reference to its "place" suggests the sword has been set aside, but now it is removed for deployment, signaling the end of a period of patience or preparation. The preparation implies meticulousness and certainty in the execution of His purposes. This imagery underscores the severity of sin and God’s righteous anger against it. The sword, once sheathed, is now unleashed upon the land.