New American Standard Bible 1995

Ezekiel 21

Parable of the Sword of the Lord

1And the wordH1697of the LordH3068cameH1961to me sayingH559,

2“SonH1121of manH120,setH7760your faceH6440towardH413Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimH3389, andspeakH5197againstH413the sanctuariesמִקְדָּשִׁ֑יםmik.da.ShimH4720and prophesyH5012againstH413the landאַדְמַ֥ת'ad.MatH127of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478;

3and sayH559to the landלְאַדְמַ֣תle.'ad.MatH127of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478, ‘ThusH3541saysH559the LordH3068, “BeholdH2009,I am againstאֵלַ֔יִךְ'e.La.yikhH413you; and I will drawוְהוֹצֵאתִ֥יve.ho.tze.TiH3318My swordחַרְבִּ֖יchar.BiH2719out of its sheathמִתַּעְרָ֑הּmi.ta'.RahH8593and cutוְהִכְרַתִּ֥יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772offH3772from you therighteousצַדִּ֥יקtza.DikH6662and the wickedוְרָשָֽׁע׃ve.ra.Sha'H7563.

4Becauseיַ֛עַןYa.'anH3282I will cutהִכְרַ֥תִּיhikh.Ra.tiH3772offH3772from you the righteousצַדִּ֣יקtza.DikH6662and the wickedוְרָשָׁ֑עve.ra.Sha'H7563,thereforeלָ֠כֵןLa.khenH3651My swordחַרְבִּ֧יchar.BiH2719will goתֵּצֵ֨אte.Tze'H3318forthH3318from its sheathמִתַּעְרָ֛הּmi.ta'.RahH8593againstאֶל־'el-H413allH3605fleshH1320from southמִנֶּ֥גֶבmi.Ne.gevH5045tonorthצָפֽוֹן׃tza.FonH6828.

5Thus allכָּל־kol-H3605fleshבָּשָׂ֔רba.SarH1320will knowוְיָֽדְעוּ֙ve.ya.de.'UH3045that I, the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,have drawnהוֹצֵ֥אתִיho.Tze.tiH3318My swordחַרְבִּ֖יchar.BiH2719out of its sheathמִתַּעְרָ֑הּmi.ta'.RahH8593. It willnot returnתָשׁ֖וּבta.ShuvH7725to its sheathagainעֽוֹד׃ סodH5750.”’

6As for you, sonבֶן־ven-H1121of manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120,groanהֵֽאָנַ֑חhe.'a.NachH584with breakingבְּשִׁבְר֤וֹןbe.shiv.RonH7670heartמָתְנַ֙יִם֙ma.te.Na.yimH4975and bitterH4814griefH4814,groanתֵּֽאָנַ֖חte.'a.NachH584in their sightלְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃le.'ei.nei.HemH5869.

7And whenH3588they sayיֹאמְר֣וּyo.me.RuH559to you, ‘Whyעַל־ מָ֖ה'al- mahH5921 H4100do you groanנֶאֱנָ֑חne.'e.NachH584?’you shall sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֡ve.'a.mar.TaH559, ‘BecauseH413of thenewsשְׁמוּעָ֣הshe.mu.'AhH8052that is comingבָאָ֡הva.'AhH935; andeveryכָּל־kol-H3605heartלֵב֩levH3820will meltוְנָמֵ֣סve.na.MesH4549,allכָל־khol-H3605handsיָדַ֜יִםya.Da.yimH3027will be feebleוְרָפ֨וּve.ra.FuH7503,everyכָל־khol-H3605spiritר֗וּחַRu.achH7307willfaintוְכִהֲתָ֣הve.khi.ha.TahH3543and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605kneesבִּרְכַּ֙יִם֙bir.Ka.yimH1290willbe weakתֵּלַ֣כְנָהte.Lakh.nahH1980as waterמַּ֔יִםMa.yimH4325.Beholdהִנֵּ֤הhi.NehH2009,it comesבָאָה֙va.'AhH935and it will happenH1961,’declaresנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136GodH3068.”

8Again the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the LordH3068cameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961to me, sayingH559,

9“Sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of manאָדָ֕ם'a.DamH120,prophesyהִנָּבֵא֙hi.na.Ve'H5012and sayוְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ve.'A.mar.taH559, ‘Thusכֹּ֖הkohH3541saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559the LordH3068.’Sayאֱמֹ֕ר'e.MorH559, ‘A swordH2719,a swordH2719sharpenedהוּחַ֖דָּהhu.Cha.dahH2300And alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571polishedמְרוּטָֽה׃me.ru.TahH4803!

10Sharpenedהוּחַ֔דָּהhu.Cha.dahH2300to makeטְבֹ֤חַte.Vo.achH2873aslaughterטֶ֙בַח֙te.vachH2874,Polishedמֹרָ֑טָּהmo.Ra.tahH4803to flashH1300like lightningבָּ֖רָקBa.rokH1300!’Orא֣וֹ'oH176shall we rejoiceנָשִׂ֔ישׂna.SisH7797, therodשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626of My sonבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121despisingמֹאֶ֥סֶתmo.'E.setH3988everyH3605treeעֵֽץ׃'EtzH6086?

11It is givenוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414to be polishedלְמָרְטָ֖הle.ma.re.TahH4803,that it may be handledלִתְפֹּ֣שׂlit.PosH8610;the swordחֶ֙רֶב֙che.revH2719is sharpenedהוּחַ֤דָּהhu.Cha.dahH2300and polishedמֹרָ֔טָּהmo.Ra.tahH4803,to giveלָתֵ֥תla.TetH5414it into the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of the slayerהוֹרֵֽג׃ho.RegH2026.

12Cryזְעַ֤קze.'AkH2199out and wailוְהֵילֵל֙ve.hei.LelH3213,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of manאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120;for it is against My peopleבְעַמִּ֔יve.'a.MiH5971,it is against allH3605theofficialsנְשִׂיאֵ֣יne.si.'EiH5387of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478.They are deliveredמְגוּרֵ֤יme.gu.ReiH4048over to the swordחֶ֙רֶב֙che.revH2719with My peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971,thereforeלָכֵ֖ןla.KhenH3651strikeסְפֹ֥קse.FokH5606yourthighיָרֵֽךְ׃ya.RekhH3409.

13For there isa testingH976;and whatוּמָ֕הu.MahH4100ifאִם־'im-H518evenגַּם־gam-H1571therodשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626which despisesמֹאֶ֖סֶתmo.'E.setH3988will be noלֹ֣אlo'H3808more?” declaresנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136 Godיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068.

14“You therefore, sonH1121of manH120,prophesyH5012and clapוְהַ֖ךְve.HakhH5221yourhandsכַּ֣ףkafH3709togetherאֶל־ כָּ֑ף'el- KafH413 H3709;and let the swordH2719bedoubledוְתִכָּפֵ֞לve.ti.ka.FelH3717the thirdשְׁלִישִׁ֙תָה֙she.li.Shi.tahH7992timeH7992,the swordH2719for the slainחֲלָלִ֔יםcha.la.LimH2491.It is the swordH2719for the greatהַגָּד֔וֹלha.ga.DolH1419oneH1419slainחָלָ֣לcha.LalH2491,which surroundsהַחֹדֶ֖רֶתha.cho.De.retH2314them,

15that theirheartsלֵ֗בLevH3820may meltלָמ֣וּגla.MugH4127,and manyוְהַרְבֵּה֙ve.har.BehH7235fallהַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔יםha.mikh.sho.LimH4383at allH3605theirgatesשַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔םsha.'a.rei.HemH8179.I have givenנָתַ֖תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414the glitteringאִבְחַת־'iv.chat-H19swordחָ֑רֶבCha.revH2719.Ahאָ֛ח'achH253!It is madeעֲשׂוּיָ֥ה'a.su.YahH6213for strikinglike lightningH1300,it is wrappedH5844up in readinessfor slaughterH2874.

16ShowH2300yourself sharpH2300,goהֵימִ֖נִיhei.Mi.niH3231to the rightH3231;setהָשִׂ֣ימִיha.Si.miH7760yourself; goהַשְׂמִ֑ילִיhas.Mi.liH8041to the leftH8041,whereverאָ֖נָה'A.nahH575youredgeפָּנַ֥יִךְpa.Na.yikhH6440is appointedמֻעָדֽוֹת׃mu.'a.DotH3259.

17I will alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571clapאַכֶּ֤ה'a.KehH5221My handsכַפִּי֙kha.PiH3709togetherכַּפִּ֔יka.PiH413 H3709, and I willappeaseוַהֲנִחֹתִ֖יva.ha.ni.cho.TiH5117My wrathחֲמָתִ֑יcha.ma.TiH2534;I, the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,have spokenדִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ פdi.Bar.tiH1696.”

The Instrument of God’s Judgment

18The wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068cameH1961to me sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

19“As for you, sonH1121of manH120,makeשִׂים־sim-H7760twoשְׁנַ֣יִםshe.Na.yimH8147waysדְּרָכִ֗יםde.ra.KhimH1870for the swordH2719of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֔לba.VelH894to comeלָבוֹא֙la.Vo'H935;bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֑םshe.nei.HemH8147of them will goיֵצְא֣וּye.tze.'UH3318out of oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259landמֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retzH776. Andmakeבָּרֵ֔אba.Re'H1254a signpostוְיָ֣דve.YadH3027;makeבָּרֵֽא׃ba.Re'H1254it at the headבְּרֹ֥אשׁbe.RoshH7218of the wayדֶּֽרֶךְ־de.rekh-H1870to the cityעִ֖יר'irH5892.

20You shallmarkתָּשִׂ֔יםta.SimH7760a wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870for the swordH2719to comeלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935toRabbahרַבַּ֣תra.BatH7237of the sonsבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Ammonעַמּ֑וֹןa.MonH5983,and to Judahיְהוּדָ֥הye.hu.DahH3063intofortifiedבְּצוּרָֽה׃be.tzu.RahH1219Jerusalemבִירוּשָׁלִַ֖םvi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

21For the kingמֶלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֜לba.VelH894standsעָמַ֨ד'a.MadH5975at thepartingאֵ֣ם'emH517of the wayהַדֶּ֗רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870,at the headבְּרֹ֛אשׁbe.RoshH7218of the twoשְׁנֵ֥יshe.NeiH8147waysהַדְּרָכִ֖יםha.de.ra.KhimH1870,to useלִקְסָם־lik.som-H7080divinationקָ֑סֶםKa.semH7081; heshakesקִלְקַ֤לkil.KalH7043the arrowsבַּֽחִצִּים֙ba.chi.TzimH2671,he consultsשָׁאַ֣לsha.'AlH7592thehouseholdH8655idolsH8655,he looksרָאָ֖הra.'AhH7200at the liverבַּכָּבֵֽד׃ba.ka.VedH3516.

22Into his rightבִּֽימִינ֞וֹbi.mi.NoH3225handH3225cameהָיָ֣ה׀ha.YahH1961the divinationהַקֶּ֣סֶםha.Ke.semH7081, ‘Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֗םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,’ tosetלָשׂ֤וּםla.SumH7760batteringH3733ramsH3733,to openלִפְתֹּ֤חַlif.To.achH6605the mouthפֶּה֙pehH6310for slaughterבְּרֶ֔צַחbe.Re.tzachH7524,to liftלְהָרִ֥יםle.ha.RimH7311up the voiceק֖וֹלKolH6963with a battleH8643cryH8643,to setלָשׂ֤וּםla.SumH7760batteringH3733ramsH3733againstעַל־'al-H5921the gatesשְׁעָרִ֔יםshe.'a.RimH8179,to castלִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְlish.PokhH8210up rampsסֹלְלָ֖הso.le.LahH5550,to buildלִבְנ֥וֹתliv.NotH1129a siegeH1785wallH1785.

23And it will be to them like a falseשָׁוְא֙shaV'H7723divinationכִּקְסָםkik.som-H7080in their eyesבְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔םbe.'Ei.nei.HemH5869; they have swornsolemnשְׁבֻעֵ֥יshe.vu.'EiH7650oathsשְׁבֻע֖וֹתshe.vu.'otH7621. But hebringsמַזְכִּ֥ירmaz.KirH2142iniquityעָוֹ֖ן'a.VonH5771to remembranceH2142,that they may be seizedלְהִתָּפֵֽשׂ׃ פle.hi.ta.FesH8610.

24“Thereforeלָכֵ֗ןla.KhenH3651,thusכֹּֽה־koh-H3541saysאָמַר֮'a.MarH559the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136 GodH3068, ‘Becauseיַ֗עַןYa.'anH3282you have made your iniquityעֲוֹ֣נְכֶ֔ם'a.Vo.ne.KhemH5771to be rememberedH2142,in that your transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֗םpish.'ei.KhemH6588are uncoveredבְּהִגָּל֣וֹתbe.hi.ga.LotH1540,so that in allבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3605your deedsעֲלִילֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑םa.li.lo.tei.KhemH5949your sinsחַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔םcha.To.tei.KhemH2403appearלְהֵֽרָאוֹת֙le.he.ra.'OtH7200--becauseיַ֚עַןYa.'anH3282you have comeH2142to remembranceH2142,you will be seizedתִּתָּפֵֽשׂוּ׃ פti.ta.Fe.suH8610with the handבַּכַּ֖ףba.KafH3709.

25And you, O slainחָלָ֣לcha.LalH2491,wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563oneH7563,the princeנְשִׂ֖יאne.Si'H5387of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,whoseאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834dayיוֹמ֔וֹyo.MoH3117has comeH935,in the timeבְּעֵ֖תbe.'EtH6256of thepunishmentעֲוֹ֥ן'a.VonH5771of the endקֵֽץ׃ סKetzH7093,’

26thusכֹּ֤הkohH3541saysאָמַר֙'a.MarH559the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136 GodH3068, ‘Removeהָסִיר֙ha.SirH5493the turbanהַמִּצְנֶ֔פֶתha.mitz.Ne.fetH4701and takeH7311offH7311thecrownהָֽעֲטָרָ֑הha.'a.ta.RahH5850;thisH2088willnoלֹא־lo'-H3808longer bethe sameH2088.Exaltהַגְבֵּ֔הַhag.Be.haH1361that whichH8217is lowH8217and abaseהַשְׁפִּֽיל׃hash.PilH8213that whichH1364is highH1364.

27A ruinעַוָּ֥ה'a.VahH5754,a ruinעַוָּ֖ה'a.VahH5754,a ruinעַוָּ֣ה'a.VahH5754,I will makeH7760it. ThisH2088alsoגַּם־gam-H1571will be noלֹ֣אlo'H3808more untilעַד־'ad-H5704He comesבֹּ֛אbo'H935whoseאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834rightהַמִּשְׁפָּ֖טha.mish.PatH4941it is, and I will giveוּנְתַתִּֽיו׃ פu.ne.ta.TivH5414it to Him.’

28“And you, sonבֶן־ven-H1121of manאָדָ֗ם'a.DamH120,prophesyהִנָּבֵ֤אhi.na.Ve'H5012and sayוְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ve.'a.mar.TaH559, ‘Thusכֹּ֤הkohH3541saysאָמַר֙'a.MarH559the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136 GodH3068concerningאֶל־'el-H413the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Ammonעַמּ֖וֹןa.MonH5983and concerningוְאֶל־ve.'el-H413theirreproachחֶרְפָּתָ֑םcher.pa.TamH2781,’and sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֗ve.'a.mar.TaH559: ‘A swordחֶ֣רֶבChe.revH2719,a swordחֶ֤רֶבChe.revH2719is drawnפְּתוּחָה֙pe.tu.ChahH6605,polishedמְרוּטָ֔הme.ru.TahH4803for the slaughterלְטֶ֣בַחle.Te.vachH2874, to cause it toconsumeH398,that it may be like lightningבָּרָֽק׃ba.RakH1300--

29while they seeבַּחֲז֥וֹתba.cha.ZotH2372for youfalseH7723visionsH7723,while they divineבִּקְסָם־bik.som-H7080liesכָּזָ֑בka.ZavH3577for you--to placeלָתֵ֣תla.TetH5414you on the necksצַוְּארֵי֙tza.ve.ReiH6677of the wickedרְשָׁעִ֔יםre.sha.'ImH7563whoH2491are slainH2491,whoseאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834dayיוֹמָ֔םyo.MamH3117has comeבָּ֣אba'H935, in thetimeבְּעֵ֖תbe.'EtH6256of thepunishmentH5771of the endקֵֽץ׃KetzH7093.

30Returnהָשַׁ֖בha.ShavH7725itto its sheathתַּעְרָ֑הּta'.RahH8593. In theplaceבִּמְק֧וֹםbim.KomH4725whereH834you were createdנִבְרֵ֛אתniv.RetH1254,in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of your originמְכֻרוֹתַ֖יִךְme.khu.ro.Ta.yikhH4351,I will judgeאֶשְׁפֹּ֥ט'esh.PotH8199you.

31I willpourוְשָׁפַכְתִּ֤יve.sha.fakh.TiH8210out My indignationזַעְמִ֔יza'.MiH2195on you; I willblowאָפִ֣יחַ'a.Fi.achH6315on you with the fireבְּאֵ֥שׁbe.'EshH784of My wrathעֶבְרָתִ֖י'ev.ra.TiH5678,and I will giveוּנְתַתִּ֗יךְu.ne.ta.TikhH5414you into the handבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027of brutalבֹּֽעֲרִ֔יםbo.'a.RimH1197menH376,skilledחָרָשֵׁ֖יcha.ra.SheiH2796in destructionמַשְׁחִֽית׃mash.ChitH4889.

32You will befuelלְאָכְלָ֔הle.'okh.LahH402for the fireלָאֵ֤שׁla.'EshH784;your bloodדָּמֵ֥ךְda.MekhH1818will be in the midstבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776. You willnot be rememberedתִזָּכֵ֔רִיti.za.Khe.riH2142,for I, the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,have spokenדִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ פdi.Bar.tiH1696.’”

Parable of the Sword of the Lord

The Instrument of God’s Judgment

Commentaries on Ezekiel 21