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Selected Verse: Ezekiel 21:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Eze 21:1	Strong Concordance	And the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came unto me, saying [0559],
	King James	And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The first word of judgment Eze 21:1-7. Ezekiel speaks first to the people of Israel, shows the universality of the coming destructions, and indicates by a sign (that of sighing) the sadness of the calamity. The words and order of words are identical with Eze 20:45-46, except that for "south," there are substituted: (1) "Jerusalem;" (2) "the holy place," i. e., the temple and its various parts; (3) "the land of Israel." No subterfuge is left for the people to pretend misunderstanding.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

The first word of judgment Eze 21:1-7. Ezekiel speaks first to the people of Israel, shows the universality of the coming destructions, and indicates by a sign (that of sighing) the sadness of the calamity.

The words and order of words are identical with Eze 20:45-46, except that for "south," there are substituted:

(1) "Jerusalem;"

(2) "the holy place," i. e., the temple and its various parts;

(3) "the land of Israel."

No subterfuge is left for the people to pretend misunderstanding.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The Sword of the Lord and Its Disastrous Effects Eze 21:1. And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Eze 21:2. Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and trickle over the holy places, and prophesy over the land of Israel, Eze 21:3. And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will deal with thee, and will draw my sword out of its scabbard, and cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Eze 21:4. Because I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword to go forth from its scabbard against all flesh from south to north. Eze 21:5. And all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, have drawn my sword out of its scabbard: it shall not return again. Eze 21:6. And thou, son of man, sigh! so that the hips break; and with bitter pain sigh before their eyes! Eze 21:7. And when they say to thee, Wherefore dost thou sigh? say, Because of a report that it is coming; and every heart will sink, and all hands become powerless, and every spirit will become dull, and all knees turn into water: Behold, it cometh, and will happen, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah. - In the preceding parable, the expression "forest of the field in the south," or "forest of the south-land," was enigmatical. This is explained to signify Jerusalem with its holy places (מקדּשׁים, see comm. on Eze 7:24), and the land of Israel, i.e., the kingdom of Judah. In accordance with this, the fire kindled by the Lord is interpreted as being the sword of the Lord. It is true that this is a figurative expression; but it is commonly used for war, which brings with it devastation and death, and would be generally intelligible. The sword will cut off both righteous and wicked. This applies to the outer side of the judgment, inasmuch as both good and bad fall in war. This is the only aspect brought into prominence here, since the great purpose was to alarm the sinners, who were boasting of their security; but the distinction between the two, as described in Eze 9:4., is not therefore to be regarded as no longer existing. This sword will not return, sc. into the scabbard, till it has accomplished the result predicted in Eze 21:3 (cf. Sa2 1:22; Isa 55:11). As Tremellius has aptly observed upon this passage, "the last slaughter is contrasted with the former ones, in which, after the people had been chastened fore a time, the sword was returned to its scabbard again." In order to depict the terrors of this judgment before the eyes of the people, the prophet is commanded to groan before their eyes in the most painful way possible (Eze 21:6.). בּשׁברון מתנים, with breaking of the hips, i.e., with pain sufficient to break the hips, the seat of strength in man (compare Nah 2:11; Isa 21:3). מרירוּת, bitterness, i.e., bitter anguish. The reason which he is to assign to the questioners for this sighing is "on account of the report that is coming," - an antiptosis for "on account of the coming report" (cf. Gen 1:4, etc.). the report comes when the substance of it is realized. The reference is to the report of the sword of the Lord, - that is to say, of the approach of the Chaldeans to destroy Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah. The impression which this disclosure will make upon the hearers will be perfectly paralyzing (Eze 21:7). All courage and strength for offering resistance will be crippled and broken. נמס כּל־לב (cf. Nah 2:11) is strengthened by כּהתה, every spirit will become dull, so that no one will know what counsel to give. 'כּל־בּרכּים תּלכנה וגו corresponds to רפוּ כּל־ידים (cf. Eze 7:17). The threat is strengthened by the words, "behold, it cometh, and will take place." The subject is שׁמוּעה, the report, i.e., the substance of the report. - This threat is more fully expanded in Eze 21:8-17; Eze 21:8-13 corresponding to Eze 21:1-5, and Eze 21:14-17 to Eze 21:6, Eze 21:7.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The Sword of the Lord and Its Disastrous Effects

Eze 21:1. And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Eze 21:2. Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and trickle over the holy places, and prophesy over the land of Israel, Eze 21:3. And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will deal with thee, and will draw my sword out of its scabbard, and cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Eze 21:4. Because I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword to go forth from its scabbard against all flesh from south to north. Eze 21:5. And all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, have drawn my sword out of its scabbard: it shall not return again. Eze 21:6. And thou, son of man, sigh! so that the hips break; and with bitter pain sigh before their eyes! Eze 21:7. And when they say to thee, Wherefore dost thou sigh? say, Because of a report that it is coming; and every heart will sink, and all hands become powerless, and every spirit will become dull, and all knees turn into water: Behold, it cometh, and will happen, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah. - In the preceding parable, the expression "forest of the field in the south," or "forest of the south-land," was enigmatical. This is explained to signify Jerusalem with its holy places (מקדּשׁים, see comm. on Eze 7:24), and the land of Israel, i.e., the kingdom of Judah. In accordance with this, the fire kindled by the Lord is interpreted as being the sword of the Lord. It is true that this is a figurative expression; but it is commonly used for war, which brings with it devastation and death, and would be generally intelligible. The sword will cut off both righteous and wicked. This applies to the outer side of the judgment, inasmuch as both good and bad fall in war. This is the only aspect brought into prominence here, since the great purpose was to alarm the sinners, who were boasting of their security; but the distinction between the two, as described in Eze 9:4., is not therefore to be regarded as no longer existing. This sword will not return, sc. into the scabbard, till it has accomplished the result predicted in Eze 21:3 (cf. Sa2 1:22; Isa 55:11). As Tremellius has aptly observed upon this passage, "the last slaughter is contrasted with the former ones, in which, after the people had been chastened fore a time, the sword was returned to its scabbard again." In order to depict the terrors of this judgment before the eyes of the people, the prophet is commanded to groan before their eyes in the most painful way possible (Eze 21:6.). בּשׁברון מתנים, with breaking of the hips, i.e., with pain sufficient to break the hips, the seat of strength in man (compare Nah 2:11; Isa 21:3). מרירוּת, bitterness, i.e., bitter anguish. The reason which he is to assign to the questioners for this sighing is "on account of the report that is coming," - an antiptosis for "on account of the coming report" (cf. Gen 1:4, etc.). the report comes when the substance of it is realized. The reference is to the report of the sword of the Lord, - that is to say, of the approach of the Chaldeans to destroy Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah. The impression which this disclosure will make upon the hearers will be perfectly paralyzing (Eze 21:7). All courage and strength for offering resistance will be crippled and broken. נמס כּל־לב (cf. Nah 2:11) is strengthened by כּהתה, every spirit will become dull, so that no one will know what counsel to give. 'כּל־בּרכּים תּלכנה וגו corresponds to רפוּ כּל־ידים (cf. Eze 7:17). The threat is strengthened by the words, "behold, it cometh, and will take place." The subject is שׁמוּעה, the report, i.e., the substance of the report. - This threat is more fully expanded in Eze 21:8-17; Eze 21:8-13 corresponding to Eze 21:1-5, and Eze 21:14-17 to Eze 21:6, Eze 21:7.

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⁴⁵ Moreover the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came unto me, saying [0559],
⁴⁶ Son [01121] of man [0120], set [07760] thy face [06440] toward [01870] the south [08486], and drop [05197] thy word toward the south [01864], and prophesy [05012] against the forest [03293] of the south [05045] field [07704];

¹ And the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came unto me, saying [0559],
² Son [01121] of man [0120], set [07760] thy face [06440] toward Jerusalem [03389], and drop [05197] thy word toward the holy places [04720], and prophesy [05012] against the land [0127] of Israel [03478],
³ And say [0559] to the land [0127] of Israel [03478], Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth [03318] my sword [02719] out of his sheath [08593], and will cut off [03772] from thee the righteous [06662] and the wicked [07563].
⁴ Seeing [03282] then that I will cut off [03772] from thee the righteous [06662] and the wicked [07563], therefore shall my sword [02719] go forth [03318] out of his sheath [08593] against all flesh [01320] from the south [05045] to the north [06828]:
⁵ That all flesh [01320] may know [03045] that I the LORD [03068] have drawn forth [03318] my sword [02719] out of his sheath [08593]: it shall not return [07725] any more.
⁶ Sigh [0584] therefore, thou son [01121] of man [0120], with the breaking [07670] of thy loins [04975]; and with bitterness [04814] sigh [0584] before their eyes [05869].
⁷ And it shall be, when they say [0559] unto thee, Wherefore sighest [0584] thou? that thou shalt answer [0559], For the tidings [08052]; because it cometh [0935]: and every heart [03820] shall melt [04549], and all hands [03027] shall be feeble [07503], and every spirit [07307] shall faint [03543], and all knees [01290] shall be weak [03212] as water [04325]: behold, it cometh [0935], and shall be brought to pass [01961], saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069].

⁷ And it shall be, when they say [0559] unto thee, Wherefore sighest [0584] thou? that thou shalt answer [0559], For the tidings [08052]; because it cometh [0935]: and every heart [03820] shall melt [04549], and all hands [03027] shall be feeble [07503], and every spirit [07307] shall faint [03543], and all knees [01290] shall be weak [03212] as water [04325]: behold, it cometh [0935], and shall be brought to pass [01961], saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069].

⁶ Sigh [0584] therefore, thou son [01121] of man [0120], with the breaking [07670] of thy loins [04975]; and with bitterness [04814] sigh [0584] before their eyes [05869].

¹⁴ Thou therefore, son [01121] of man [0120], prophesy [05012], and smite [05221] thine hands [03709] [03709] together [05221], and let the sword [02719] be doubled [03717] the third [07992] time, the sword [02719] of the slain [02491]: it is the sword [02719] of the great [01419] men that are slain [02491], which entereth into their privy chambers [02314].
¹⁵ I have set [05414] the point [019] of the sword [02719] against all their gates [08179], that their heart [03820] may faint [04127], and their ruins [04383] be multiplied [07235]: ah [0253]! it is made [06213] bright [01300], it is wrapped up [04593] for the slaughter [02874].
¹⁶ Go thee one way or other [0258], either on [07760] the right hand [03231], or on the left [08041], whithersoever [0575] thy face [06440] is set [03259].
¹⁷ I will also smite [05221] mine hands [03709] together [03709], and I will cause my fury [02534] to rest [05117]: I the LORD [03068] have said [01696] it.

⁸ Again the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came unto me, saying [0559],
⁹ Son [01121] of man [0120], prophesy [05012], and say [0559], Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Say [0559], A sword [02719], a sword [02719] is sharpened [02300], and also furbished [04803]:
¹⁰ It is sharpened [02300] to make a sore [02874] slaughter [02873]; it is furbished [04178] that it may glitter [01300]: should [0176] we then make mirth [07797]? it contemneth [03988] the rod [07626] of my son [01121], as every tree [06086].
¹¹ And he hath given [05414] it to be furbished [04803], that it may be handled [03709] [08610]: this sword [02719] is sharpened [02300], and it is furbished [04178], to give [05414] it into the hand [03027] of the slayer [02026].
¹² Cry [02199] and howl [03213], son [01121] of man [0120]: for it shall be upon my people [05971], it shall be upon all the princes [05387] of Israel [03478]: terrors [04048] by reason of [0413] the sword [02719] shall be upon my people [05971]: smite [05606] therefore upon thy thigh [03409].
¹³ Because it is a trial [0974], and what if the sword contemn [03988] even the rod [07626]? it shall be no more, saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069].
¹⁴ Thou therefore, son [01121] of man [0120], prophesy [05012], and smite [05221] thine hands [03709] [03709] together [05221], and let the sword [02719] be doubled [03717] the third [07992] time, the sword [02719] of the slain [02491]: it is the sword [02719] of the great [01419] men that are slain [02491], which entereth into their privy chambers [02314].
¹⁵ I have set [05414] the point [019] of the sword [02719] against all their gates [08179], that their heart [03820] may faint [04127], and their ruins [04383] be multiplied [07235]: ah [0253]! it is made [06213] bright [01300], it is wrapped up [04593] for the slaughter [02874].
¹⁶ Go thee one way or other [0258], either on [07760] the right hand [03231], or on the left [08041], whithersoever [0575] thy face [06440] is set [03259].
¹⁷ I will also smite [05221] mine hands [03709] together [03709], and I will cause my fury [02534] to rest [05117]: I the LORD [03068] have said [01696] it.

¹⁷ All hands [03027] shall be feeble [07503], and all knees [01290] shall be weak [03212] as water [04325].

¹¹ Where is the dwelling [04583] of the lions [0738], and the feedingplace [04829] of the young lions [03715], where the lion [0738], even the old lion [03833], walked [01980], and the lion's [0738] whelp [01482], and none made them afraid [02729]?

⁴ And God [0430] saw [07200] [0853] the light [0216], that [03588] it was good [02896]: and God [0430] divided [0914] [0996] the light [0216] from [0996] the darkness [02822].

³ Therefore are my loins [04975] filled [04390] with pain [02479]: pangs [06735] have taken hold [0270] upon me, as the pangs [06735] of a woman that travaileth [03205]: I was bowed down [05753] at the hearing [08085] of it; I was dismayed [0926] at the seeing [07200] of it.

⁶ Sigh [0584] therefore, thou son [01121] of man [0120], with the breaking [07670] of thy loins [04975]; and with bitterness [04814] sigh [0584] before their eyes [05869].

¹¹ So shall my word [01697] be that goeth forth [03318] out of my mouth [06310]: it shall not return [07725] unto me void [07387], but it shall accomplish [06213] that which I please [02654], and it shall prosper [06743] in the thing whereto I sent [07971] it.

²² From the blood [01818] of the slain [02491], from the fat [02459] of the mighty [01368], the bow [07198] of Jonathan [03083] turned [07734] not back [0268], and the sword [02719] of Saul [07586] returned [07725] not empty [07387].

³ And say [0559] to the land [0127] of Israel [03478], Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth [03318] my sword [02719] out of his sheath [08593], and will cut off [03772] from thee the righteous [06662] and the wicked [07563].

⁴ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto him, Go through [05674] the midst [08432] of the city [05892], through the midst [08432] of Jerusalem [03389], and set [08427] a mark [08420] upon the foreheads [04696] of the men [0582] that sigh [0584] and that cry [0602] for all the abominations [08441] that be done [06213] in the midst [08432] thereof.

²⁴ Wherefore I will bring [0935] the worst [07451] of the heathen [01471], and they shall possess [03423] their houses [01004]: I will also make the pomp [01347] of the strong [05794] to cease [07673]; and their holy places [06942] shall be defiled [02490] [05157].

⁶ Sigh [0584] therefore, thou son [01121] of man [0120], with the breaking [07670] of thy loins [04975]; and with bitterness [04814] sigh [0584] before their eyes [05869].

⁵ That all flesh [01320] may know [03045] that I the LORD [03068] have drawn forth [03318] my sword [02719] out of his sheath [08593]: it shall not return [07725] any more.

⁴ Seeing [03282] then that I will cut off [03772] from thee the righteous [06662] and the wicked [07563], therefore shall my sword [02719] go forth [03318] out of his sheath [08593] against all flesh [01320] from the south [05045] to the north [06828]:

² Son [01121] of man [0120], set [07760] thy face [06440] toward Jerusalem [03389], and drop [05197] thy word toward the holy places [04720], and prophesy [05012] against the land [0127] of Israel [03478],

¹ And the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came unto me, saying [0559],