Ezekiel 21:16

Ezekiel 21:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
• New International Version (NIV)Slash to the right, you sword, then to the left, wherever your blade is turned.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Swords at the ready! Thrust right! Set your blade! Thrust left— Wherever your edge is ordered!

Context of Ezekiel 21:16

14“Son of man, prophesy to them and clap your hands. Then take the sword and brandish it twice, even three times, to symbolize the great massacre, the great massacre facing them on every side. 15Let their hearts melt with terror, for the sword glitters at every gate. It flashes like lightning and is polished for slaughter! O sword, slash to the right, then slash to the left, wherever you will, wherever you want. 17I, too, will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 18Then this message came to me from the Lord:

Ezekiel 21:16 word by word

הִתְאַחֲדִ֥י הֵימִ֖נִי הָשִׂ֣ימִי הַשְׂמִ֑ילִי אָ֖נָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ מֻעָדֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Go thee one way or otherאָחַד'âchad · to go either wayH258
• onשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• the right handיָמַןyâman · to go rightH3231
• on the leftשִׂמְאֵלώâma'l · to go leftH8041
• whithersoeverאָן'ân 'ânâh · where?H575
• thy faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• setיָעַדyâ‛ad · to appointH3259

Cross-references for Ezekiel 21:16

• Ezekiel 21:4Yes, I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked! I will draw my sword against everyone in the land from south to north.
• Ezekiel 14:17“Or suppose I were to bring war against the land, and I sent enemy armies to destroy both people and animals.
• Ezekiel 16:46“Your older sister was Samaria, who lived with her daughters in the north. Your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters in the south.
• Genesis 13:9The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

Commentaries on Ezekiel 21:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Go thee one way or other - Thou shalt prosper, O sword, whithersoever thou turnest; against Ammon, or Judea, or Egypt.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. 1616. Apostrophe to the sword. Go ... one way--or, "Concentrate thyself"; "Unite thy forces on the right hand" [Grotius]. The sword is commanded to take the nearest route for Jerusalem, "whither their face was set," whether south or north ("right hand or left"), according to where the several parts of the Chaldean host may be. or other, ... on the left--rather "set thyself on the left." The verbs are well-chosen. The main "concentration" of forces was to be…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 21:16

• War

In the dictionaries

• Parting
• Privy
• Gather
• Groan
• Set

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