Ezekiel 21:15

Ezekiel 21:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
• New International Version (NIV)So that hearts may melt with fear and the fallen be many, I have stationed the sword for slaughter at all their gates. Look! It is forged to strike like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.
• English Standard Version (ESV)that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, That the heart may melt and many may stumble. Ah! It is made bright; It is grasped for slaughter:

Context of Ezekiel 21:15

13Testing will surely come. What if you refuse to be disciplined again? Won’t you be tested? declares the Almighty Lord. 14So prophesy, son of man. Clap your hands! Let the sword strike again and again. It’s the sword for killing. It’s the sword for killing many people. It’s the sword that surrounds them. I have appointed my sword to slaughter people at all their gates so that their hearts will sink and many will die. Yes! It’s ready to flash like lightning. It’s polished to kill. 16Sword, cut to the right. Cut to the left or wherever your blade is turned. 17I will also clap my hands and rest from my fury. I, the Lord, have spoken.’ ”

Ezekiel 21:15 word by word

לְמַ֣עַן׀ לָמ֣וּג לֵ֗ב וְהַרְבֵּה֙ הַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔ים עַ֚ל כָּל־שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔ם נָתַ֖תִּי אִבְחַת־חָ֑רֶב אָ֛ח עֲשׂוּיָ֥ה לְבָרָ֖ק מְעֻטָּ֥ה לְטָֽבַח׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I have setנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• the pointאִבְחָה'ibchâh · slaughterH19
• of the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• against all their gatesשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• may faintמוּגmûg · to meltH4127
• ruinsמִכְשׁוֹלmikshôl mikshôl · stumblingH4383
• be multipliedרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• ahאָח'âch · ah!H253
• madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• brightבָּרַקbârâq · to use lightningH1300
• wrapped upמָעֹטmâ‛ôţ · sharpH4593
• for the slaughterטֶ֫בַחţebach · slaughterH2874

Cross-references for Ezekiel 21:15

• Ezekiel 21:22The omens will indicate that he should go to the right, to Jerusalem. So he will set up his battering rams there, give the order to kill, raise a battle cry, aim the battering rams against the city gates, put up ramps, and set up blockades.
• Ezekiel 15:7I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will turn against them.
• Jeremiah 17:27But you must listen to me and observe the day of rest as a holy day by not carrying anything through the gates of Jerusalem on the day of rest. If you don’t do this, I will set its gates on fire. The fire will burn down the palaces in Jerusalem, and you won’t be able to put it out.”
• Ezekiel 21:7When they ask you why you are groaning, say, ‘News has come that will discourage everyone. People’s hands will hang limp, their hearts will lose courage, and their knees will become as weak as water. It’s coming! It will surely take place!’ declares the Almighty Lord.”
• Ezekiel 20:47Tell the forest in the Negev, ‘Listen to the Lord’s word. This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am about to set fire to you to destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The blazing fire will not be put out. It will burn the whole land from the south to the north.
• Ezekiel 21:10It’s sharpened to kill and polished to flash like lightning. How can we rejoice? My son has refused to be disciplined or punished.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 21:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Wrapped up - It is not a blunt sword, it is carefully sharpened and preserved for the slaughter.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-17Verses 8-17 The second word of judgment: the glittering and destroying sword. The passage may be called the “Lay of the Sword;” it is written in the form of Hebrew poetry, with its characteristic parallelism. Ezekiel 21:10 It contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree - The rod is the scepter of dominion, assigned to Judah Genesis 49:10. The destroying sword of Babylon despises the scepter of Judah; it despises every tree. Others render the verse, “Shall…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-17As the Lord's representative, Ezekiel was to clap his hands in a threatening way and wave the sword three times. This action symbolized the complete massacre to come. There would be no place to escape. No one could hide from the sword of judgment. When the Lord was ready to act, he would destroy his people. In this way, he would satisfy his fury (his burning anger). They would be filled with terror. Their courage would disappear.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. point--"the whirling glance of the sword" [Fairbairn]. "The naked (bared) sword" [Henderson]. ruins--literally, "stumbling-blocks." Their own houses and walls shall be stumbling-blocks in their way, whether they wish to fight or flee. made bright--made to glitter. wrapped, &c.--namely, in the hand of him who holds the hilt, or in its scabbard, that the edge may not be blunt when it is presently drawn forth to strike. Gesenius, translates, "sharpened,"…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 21:15

• War

In the dictionaries

• Parting
• Privy
• Ah; Aha
• Gate
• Groan
• Ruin
• Stumbling-Block; Stumbling-Stone

Commentaries on Ezekiel 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings