New Living Translation
Ezekiel 21:7
7When they ask why you are groaning, tell them, ‘I groan because of the terrifying news I have heard. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will become as weak as water. And the Sovereign Lord says: It is coming! It’s on its way!’”
Ezekiel 21:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.
- New International Version (NIV)And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will become faint and every leg will be wet with urine.’ It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when they say to you, 'Why do you groan?' you shall say, 'Because of the news that it is coming. Every heart will melt, and all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming, and it will be fulfilled,'" declares the Lord God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it shall be when they say to you, ‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shall answer, ‘Because of the news; when it comes, every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming and shall be brought to pass,’ says the Lord God.”
Context of Ezekiel 21:7
5Everyone in the world will know that I am the Lord. My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.’ 6“Son of man, groan before the people! Groan before them with bitter anguish and a broken heart. When they ask why you are groaning, tell them, ‘I groan because of the terrifying news I have heard. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will become as weak as water. And the Sovereign Lord says: It is coming! It’s on its way!’” 8Then the Lord said to me, 9“Son of man, give the people this message from the Lord: “A sword, a sword is being sharpened and polished.
Read all of Ezekiel 21Ezekiel 21:7 word by word
וְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־יֹאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ עַל־מָ֖ה אַתָּ֣ה נֶאֱנָ֑ח וְאָמַרְתָּ֡ אֶל־שְׁמוּעָ֣ה כִֽי־בָאָ֡ה וְנָמֵ֣ס כָּל־לֵב֩ וְרָפ֨וּ כָל־יָדַ֜יִם וְכִהֲתָ֣ה כָל־ר֗וּחַ וְכָל־בִּרְכַּ֙יִם֙ תֵּלַ֣כְנָה מַּ֔יִם הִנֵּ֤ה בָאָה֙ וְנִֽהְיָ֔תָה נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And it shall be, when they sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto thee, Wherefore sighestאָנַח'ânach · to sighH584
- For the tidingsשְׁמוּעָהshemû‛âh · tidingsH8052
- because it comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- and every heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- shall meltמָסַסmâsas · to meltH4549
- and all handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- shall be feebleרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
- and every spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- shall faintכָּהָהkâhâh · to grow dimH3543
- and all kneesבֶּ֫רֶךְberek · kneeH1290
- shall be weakיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
- and shall be brought to passהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
- the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
Cross-references for Ezekiel 21:7
- Ezekiel 12:9“Son of man, these rebels, the people of Israel, have asked you what all this means.
- Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me, ‘He only talks in riddles!’”
- Ezekiel 24:19Then the people asked, “What does all this mean? What are you trying to tell us?”
- Ezekiel 7:26Calamity will follow calamity; rumor will follow rumor. They will look in vain for a vision from the prophets. They will receive no teaching from the priests and no counsel from the leaders.
- 2 Kings 21:12So this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror.
- Isaiah 7:2The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel against us!” So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.
- Isaiah 28:19Again and again that flood will come, morning after morning, day and night, until you are carried away.” This message will bring terror to your people.
- Jeremiah 6:22This is what the Lord says: “Look! A great army coming from the north! A great nation is rising against you from far-off lands.
- Jeremiah 49:23This message was given concerning Damascus. This is what the Lord says: “The towns of Hamath and Arpad are struck with fear, for they have heard the news of their destruction. Their hearts are troubled like a wild sea in a raging storm.
- Exodus 15:15The leaders of Edom are terrified; the nobles of Moab tremble. All who live in Canaan melt away;
- Deuteronomy 20:8“Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’
- Joshua 2:9“I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror.
- Joshua 5:1When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.
- 2 Samuel 17:10Then even the bravest soldiers, though they have the heart of a lion, will be paralyzed with fear. For all Israel knows what a mighty warrior your father is and how courageous his men are.
- Nahum 2:10Soon the city is plundered, empty, and ruined. Hearts melt and knees shake. The people stand aghast, their faces pale and trembling.
- Job 4:3“In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 21:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Wherefore sighest thou? - The prophet was a sign unto them. His sighing and mourning showed them how they should act. All knees shall be weak as water - See the note on Ezekiel 7:17.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7Ezekiel's groaning showed that in the coming judgment, even the bravest would feel fear and the strong would become weak. The judgment that had been announced was now a harsh reality (compare Ezekiel 7:1–4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. The abrupt sentences and mournful repetitions imply violent emotions.Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 21:7
In the dictionaries
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
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