Ezekiel 28 23

Ezekiel 28:23 kjv

For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 28:23 nkjv

For I will send pestilence upon her, And blood in her streets; The wounded shall be judged in her midst By the sword against her on every side; Then they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 28:23 niv

I will send a plague upon you and make blood flow in your streets. The slain will fall within you, with the sword against you on every side. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 28:23 esv

for I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets; and the slain shall fall in her midst, by the sword that is against her on every side. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 28:23 nlt

I will send a plague against you,
and blood will be spilled in your streets.
The attack will come from every direction,
and your people will lie slaughtered within your walls.
Then everyone will know
that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 28 verses

Ezekiel 28 23 Meaning

Ezekiel 28:23 declares God's determined judgment against Sidon, stating He will bring devastating pestilence and violent bloodshed into her streets. Many inhabitants will be mortally wounded and fall in their midst, by the sword striking the city from all directions. The ultimate theological purpose of these calamities is for the people of Sidon to know and acknowledge that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is the sovereign Lord.

Ezekiel 28 23 Context

Ezekiel 28 follows extensive prophecies of judgment against foreign nations. Chapters 26 and 27 focused on the wealthy and proud city of Tyre, highlighting its fall from greatness. Ezekiel 28 begins with a pronouncement against the prince of Tyre, extending to a lament over the king of Tyre, metaphorically representing his satanic pride and rebellion against God (Eze 28:1-19). This serves as a potent backdrop for the subsequent prophecy against Sidon. Sidon, another prominent Phoenician city-state north of Tyre, was known for its maritime trade and significant Baal worship. Although often associated with Tyre, Sidon’s judgment here is distinct yet rooted in similar themes of pride, hostility towards Israel, and contempt for God. Verse 23 marks the climax of God’s specific declaration of judgment against Sidon, stating the methods and ultimate purpose of her destruction, thereby reaffirming Yahweh's universal sovereignty before leading into prophecies concerning Israel's restoration (Eze 28:24-26). The broader historical context is the Babylonian exile, where God demonstrates His absolute power over all nations to comfort His exiled people and teach both Israel and the world that He alone is God.

Ezekiel 28 23 Word analysis

• And I will send (וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי - və·šil·laḥ·tî): The Hebrew verb שָׁלַח (shalach) means "to send" or "release." The first-person singular conjugation emphatically denotes Yahweh's direct, personal, and active agency in initiating the impending calamities. This is not passive observation but a divine decree.
• into her (בָּהּ - bāh): Refers directly to Sidon.
• pestilence (דֶּבֶר - deḇer): This Hebrew term specifically means plague or epidemic disease. It is a frequent instrument of God's judgment in the Old Testament, showcasing divine control over health and life, often used alongside famine and sword.
• and blood (וְדָם - və·ḏām): Hebrew דָּם (dam) signifies violent death and bloodshed. It denotes the loss of life through direct human violence, distinguishing it from natural causes or disease.
• in her streets (בְּחוּצוֹתֶיהָ - bə·ḥū·ṣō·w·ṯe·hā): חוּץ (chutz) refers to public places, outside, or thoroughfares. This phrase emphasizes that the suffering and death will be widespread, open, and inescapable, affecting the common life of the city rather than being confined to specific areas or battlefields.
• and the wounded (וְנֹפֵל חָלָל - və·nō·fêl ḥā·lāl): נוֹפֵל (nofel) is a participle meaning "one who falls." חָלָל (chalal) refers to someone pierced, slain, or fatally wounded, typically by a weapon. Together, "the wounded shall fall" graphically depicts victims of violence collapsing and dying.
• shall fall in her midst (בְּתוֹכָהּ - bə·ṯō·w·ḵāh): תָּוֶךְ (tawekh) means the middle or center. This intensifies the earlier description, indicating that the death and destruction will penetrate to the very heart and core of Sidon, making it truly pervasive.
• by the sword (בַּחֶרֶב - ba·ḥe·reḇ): חֶרֶב (cherev) means "sword," the primary weapon of warfare in ancient times. It explicitly identifies the instrument of violent death and reinforces the theme of war and violent conquest.
• upon her on every side (עָלֶיהָ מִסָּבִיב - ʻā·le·hā mis·sā·ḇîḇ): סָבִיב (saviv) means "around, surrounding, from every side." This indicates a comprehensive attack, an assault without an avenue of escape, confirming the totality of Sidon's vulnerability and destruction.
• and they shall know (וְיָדְעוּ - və·yāḏ·‘û): The verb יָדַע (yada) means "to know, perceive, acknowledge, or experience." This is a pivotal phrase. The knowledge gained is not mere intellectual awareness but a profound, experiential recognition forged through severe judgment. "They" refers to the inhabitants of Sidon.
• that I am the Lord (כִּי-אֲנִי יְהוָה - kî-ʼă·nî YHWH): כִּי (ki) introduces the content of the knowledge. אֲנִי (ani) is the emphatic "I," identifying the speaker. יְהוָה (YHWH), Yahweh, is God's unique covenant name, signifying His self-existent, sovereign, and personal nature. This phrase, known as the "recognition formula," underscores the theological goal: these acts are designed to reveal God's true identity and authority.

Ezekiel 28 23 Bonus section

• The phrase "they shall know that I am the Lord" is a prominent recurring motif in the book of Ezekiel, serving as the central theological underpinning for many prophecies of both judgment and restoration for Israel and the surrounding nations. It signifies God's self-revelation through His decisive actions.
• The combination of "pestilence" and "sword" is one of God's favored triads of judgment (often including "famine"), used repeatedly throughout the Old Testament to indicate comprehensive and inescapable destruction.
• Compared to the lengthy laments and detailed judgments against Tyre in Ezekiel 26-27, the prophecy against Sidon is relatively brief, suggesting a differentiation in their significance or possibly a swifter, more concise judgment meted out to the city.

Ezekiel 28 23 Commentary

Ezekiel 28:23 encapsulates a vivid, unsparing depiction of God's sovereign judgment upon Sidon. Far from being a random event, the coming pestilence, bloodshed, and deaths by the sword from every direction are explicitly declared as Yahweh's doing ("I will send"). The suffering will be public and widespread, touching the innermost parts of the city. This multifaceted calamity is a clear display of divine justice against a proud nation whose spiritual and commercial autonomy led to disregard for the God of Israel. Critically, the verse climaxes with the statement that through these devastations, Sidon will "know that I am the Lord." This is the ultimate purpose behind the judgment: a profound, inescapable revelation of God's unparalleled power and unique identity. Such judgment serves not merely as punishment, but as a terrifying and undeniable act of divine self-disclosure to a nation that had failed to acknowledge His supremacy. It also implicitly reminds Israel, enduring their own exile, that their God is supreme over all earthly powers and nations.