Revised Literal Translation

Ezekiel 21

1And the wordH1697of YhwhH3068came unto me, sayingH559,

2SonH1121of manH120,setH7760thy faceH6440toward Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םye.Ru.sha.LimH3389,and dropH5197thy wordtoward the holy placesמִקְדָּשִׁ֑יםmik.da.ShimH4720,and prophesyH5012against the landאַדְמַ֥ת'ad.MatH127of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478,

3And sayH559to the landלְאַדְמַ֣תle.'ad.MatH127of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478,Thus saithH559YhwhH3068; Behold, I amagainst thee, and will draw forthוְהוֹצֵאתִ֥יve.ho.tze.TiH3318my swordחַרְבִּ֖יchar.BiH2719out of his sheathמִתַּעְרָ֑הּmi.ta'.RahH8593,and will cut offוְהִכְרַתִּ֥יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772from thee the righteousצַדִּ֥יקtza.DikH6662and the wickedוְרָשָֽׁע׃ve.ra.Sha'H7563.

4Seeingיַ֛עַןYa.'anH3282then that I will cut offהִכְרַ֥תִּיhikh.Ra.tiH3772from thee the righteousצַדִּ֣יקtza.DikH6662and the wickedוְרָשָׁ֑עve.ra.Sha'H7563,therefore shall my swordחַרְבִּ֧יchar.BiH2719go forthתֵּצֵ֨אte.Tze'H3318out of his sheathמִתַּעְרָ֛הּmi.ta'.RahH8593against all fleshH1320from the southמִנֶּ֥גֶבmi.Ne.gevH5045to the northצָפֽוֹן׃tza.FonH6828:

5That all fleshבָּשָׂ֔רba.SarH1320may knowוְיָֽדְעוּ֙ve.ya.de.'UH3045that I Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068have drawn forthהוֹצֵ֥אתִיho.Tze.tiH3318my swordחַרְבִּ֖יchar.BiH2719out of his sheathמִתַּעְרָ֑הּmi.ta'.RahH8593:it shall not returnתָשׁ֖וּבta.ShuvH7725any more.

6Sighהֵֽאָנַ֑חhe.'a.NachH584therefore, thou sonבֶן־ven-H1121of manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120,with the breakingבְּשִׁבְר֤וֹןbe.shiv.RonH7670of thyloinsמָתְנַ֙יִם֙ma.te.Na.yimH4975;and with bitternessוּבִמְרִיר֔וּתu.vim.ri.RutH4814sighתֵּֽאָנַ֖חte.'a.NachH584before their eyesלְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃le.'ei.nei.HemH5869.

7And it shall be, when they sayיֹאמְר֣וּyo.me.RuH559unto thee, Wherefore sighestנֶאֱנָ֑חne.'e.NachH584thou? that thou shalt answerוְאָמַרְתָּ֡ve.'a.mar.TaH559,For the tidingsשְׁמוּעָ֣הshe.mu.'AhH8052;because it comethבָאָ֡הva.'AhH935:and every heartלֵב֩levH3820shall meltוְנָמֵ֣סve.na.MesH4549,and all handsיָדַ֜יִםya.Da.yimH3027shall be feebleוְרָפ֨וּve.ra.FuH7503,and every spiritר֗וּחַRu.achH7307shall faintוְכִהֲתָ֣הve.khi.ha.TahH3543,and all kneesבִּרְכַּ֙יִם֙bir.Ka.yimH1290shall be weakH3212aswaterמַּ֔יִםMa.yimH4325:behold, it comethבָאָה֙va.'AhH935,and shall be brought to passH1961,saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִֽה׃ פYah.wehH3069.

8Again the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of YhwhH3068came unto me, sayingH559,

9Sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of manאָדָ֕ם'a.DamH120,prophesyהִנָּבֵא֙hi.na.Ve'H5012,and sayוְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ve.'A.mar.taH559,Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559YhwhH3068;Sayאֱמֹ֕ר'e.MorH559,A swordH2719,a swordH2719is sharpenedהוּחַ֖דָּהhu.Cha.dahH2300,and also furbishedמְרוּטָֽה׃me.ru.TahH4803:

10It is sharpenedהוּחַ֔דָּהhu.Cha.dahH2300to make a soreטֶ֙בַח֙te.vachH2874slaughterטְבֹ֤חַte.Vo.achH2873;it is furbishedH4178that it may glitterבָּ֖רָקBa.rokH1300:shouldא֣וֹ'oH176we then make mirthנָשִׂ֔ישׂna.SisH7797?it contemnethמֹאֶ֥סֶתmo.'E.setH3988the rodשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626of my sonבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121, asevery treeעֵֽץ׃'EtzH6086.

11And he hath givenוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414it to be furbishedH4803,that it may be handledלִתְפֹּ֣שׂ בַּכָּ֑ףlit.Pos ba.KafH8610 H3709:this swordחֶ֙רֶב֙che.revH2719is sharpenedהוּחַ֤דָּהhu.Cha.dahH2300,and it is furbishedH4178,to giveלָתֵ֥תla.TetH5414it into the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of the slayerהוֹרֵֽג׃ho.RegH2026.

12Cryזְעַ֤קze.'AkH2199and howlוְהֵילֵל֙ve.hei.LelH3213,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of manאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120:for it shall be upon my peopleבְעַמִּ֔יve.'a.MiH5971, it shall beupon all the princesנְשִׂיאֵ֣יne.si.'EiH5387of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478:terrorsמְגוּרֵ֤יme.gu.ReiH4048by reason ofH413the swordחֶ֙רֶב֙che.revH2719shall be upon my peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971:smiteסְפֹ֥קse.FokH5606therefore upon thythighיָרֵֽךְ׃ya.RekhH3409.

13Because it isa trialבֹ֔חַןVo.chanH974, and what if the swordcontemnמֹאֶ֖סֶתmo.'E.setH3988even the rodשֵׁ֥בֶטShe.vetH7626? it shall be no more,saithנְאֻ֖םne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִֽה׃ פYah.wehH3069.

14Thou therefore, sonH1121of manH120,prophesyH5012,and smiteH5221thinehandsH3709togetherH5221,and let the swordH2719be doubledוְתִכָּפֵ֞לve.ti.ka.FelH3717the thirdשְׁלִישִׁ֙תָה֙she.li.Shi.tahH7992time, the swordH2719of the slainחֲלָלִ֔יםcha.la.LimH2491: it isthe swordH2719of the greatהַגָּד֔וֹלha.ga.DolH1419men that areslainחָלָ֣לcha.LalH2491,which entereth into their privy chambersהַחֹדֶ֖רֶתha.cho.De.retH2314.

15I have setנָתַ֖תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414the pointאִבְחַת־'iv.chat-H19of the swordחָ֑רֶבCha.revH2719against all their gatesשַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔םsha.'a.rei.HemH8179, that theirheartלֵ֗בLevH3820may faintלָמ֣וּגla.MugH4127, and theirruinsהַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔יםha.mikh.sho.LimH4383be multipliedוְהַרְבֵּה֙ve.har.BehH7235:ahאָ֛ח'achH253! it ismadeעֲשׂוּיָ֥ה'a.su.YahH6213brightH1300, it iswrapped upמְעֻטָּ֥הme.'u.TahH4593for the slaughterH2874.

16Go thee one way or otherהִתְאַחֲדִ֥יhit.'a.cha.DiH258, eitheronהָשִׂ֣ימִיha.Si.miH7760the right handהֵימִ֖נִיhei.Mi.niH3231, oron the leftהַשְׂמִ֑ילִיhas.Mi.liH8041,whithersoeverאָ֖נָה'A.nahH575thy faceפָּנַ֥יִךְpa.Na.yikhH6440issetמֻעָדֽוֹת׃mu.'a.DotH3259.

17I will also smiteאַכֶּ֤ה'a.KehH5221mine handsכַפִּי֙kha.PiH3709togetherכַּפִּ֔יka.PiH3709,and I will cause my furyחֲמָתִ֑יcha.ma.TiH2534to restוַהֲנִחֹתִ֖יva.ha.ni.cho.TiH5117:I Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068have saidדִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ פdi.Bar.tiH1696it.

18The wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068came unto me again, sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

19Also, thou sonH1121of manH120,appointשִׂים־sim-H7760thee twoשְׁנַ֣יִםshe.Na.yimH8147waysדְּרָכִ֗יםde.ra.KhimH1870,that the swordH2719of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֔לba.VelH894may comeלָבוֹא֙la.Vo'H935:both twainשְׁנֵיהֶ֑םshe.nei.HemH8147shall come forthיֵצְא֣וּye.tze.'UH3318out of oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259landמֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retzH776:and chooseבָּרֵ֔אba.Re'H1254thou a placeוְיָ֣דve.YadH3027,chooseבָּרֵֽא׃ba.Re'H1254itat the headבְּרֹ֥אשׁbe.RoshH7218of the wayדֶּֽרֶךְ־de.rekh-H1870to the cityעִ֖יר'irH5892.

20Appointתָּשִׂ֔יםta.SimH7760a wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870,that the swordH2719may comeלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935to Rabbathרַבַּ֣תra.BatH7237of the Ammonitesבְּנֵֽי־ עַמּ֑וֹןbe.nei- a.MonH5983 H1121,and to Judahיְהוּדָ֥הye.hu.DahH3063in Jerusalemבִירוּשָׁלִַ֖םvi.ru.sha.LimH3389the defencedבְּצוּרָֽה׃be.tzu.RahH1219.

21For the kingמֶלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֜לba.VelH894stoodעָמַ֨ד'a.MadH5975at the partingאֵ֣ם'emH517of the wayהַדֶּ֗רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870,at the headבְּרֹ֛אשׁbe.RoshH7218of the twoשְׁנֵ֥יshe.NeiH8147waysהַדְּרָכִ֖יםha.de.ra.KhimH1870,to useלִקְסָם־lik.som-H7080divinationקָ֑סֶםKa.semH7081: he made hisarrowsבַּֽחִצִּים֙ba.chi.TzimH2671brightקִלְקַ֤לkil.KalH7043,he consultedשָׁאַ֣לsha.'AlH7592with imagesבַּתְּרָפִ֔יםba.te.ra.FimH8655,he lookedרָאָ֖הra.'AhH7200in the liverבַּכָּבֵֽד׃ba.ka.VedH3516.

22At his right handבִּֽימִינ֞וֹbi.mi.NoH3225was the divinationהַקֶּ֣סֶםha.Ke.semH7081for Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֗םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,to appointלָשׂ֤וּםla.SumH7760captainsכָּרִים֙ka.RimH3733,to openלִפְתֹּ֤חַlif.To.achH6605the mouthפֶּה֙pehH6310in the slaughterבְּרֶ֔צַחbe.Re.tzachH7524,to lift upלְהָרִ֥יםle.ha.RimH7311the voiceק֖וֹלKolH6963with shoutingבִּתְרוּעָ֑הbit.ru.'AhH8643,to appointלָשׂ֤וּםla.SumH7760batteringramsכָּרִים֙ka.RimH3733against the gatesשְׁעָרִ֔יםshe.'a.RimH8179,to castלִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְlish.PokhH8210a mountסֹלְלָ֖הso.le.LahH5550, andto buildלִבְנ֥וֹתliv.NotH1129a fortדָּיֵֽק׃da.YekH1785.

23And it shall be unto them as a falseשָׁוְא֙shaV'H7723divinationכִּקְסָםkik.som-H7080in their sightבְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔םbe.'Ei.nei.HemH5869,to them that have swornשְׁבֻעֵ֥יshe.vu.'EiH7650oathsשְׁבֻע֖וֹתshe.vu.'otH7621:but he will call to remembranceמַזְכִּ֥ירmaz.KirH2142the iniquityעָוֹ֖ן'a.VonH5771,that they may be takenלְהִתָּפֵֽשׂ׃ פle.hi.ta.FesH8610.

24Therefore thus saithאָמַר֮'a.MarH559the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִה֒Yah.wehH3069;Because ye have made your iniquityעֲוֹ֣נְכֶ֔ם'a.Vo.ne.KhemH5771to be rememberedהַזְכַּרְכֶם֙haz.kar.KhemH2142,in that your transgressionsפִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֗םpish.'ei.KhemH6588are discoveredבְּהִגָּל֣וֹתbe.hi.ga.LotH1540,so that in all your doingsעֲלִילֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑םa.li.lo.tei.KhemH5949your sinsחַטֹּ֣אותֵיכֶ֔םcha.To.tei.KhemH2403do appearלְהֵֽרָאוֹת֙le.he.ra.'OtH7200; because, I say,that ye are come to remembranceהִזָּ֣כֶרְכֶ֔םhi.Za.kher.KhemH2142,ye shall be takenתִּתָּפֵֽשׂוּ׃ פti.ta.Fe.suH8610with the handבַּכַּ֖ףba.KafH3709.

25And thou, profaneחָלָ֣לcha.LalH2491wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563princeנְשִׂ֖יאne.Si'H5387of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,whose dayיוֹמ֔וֹyo.MoH3117is comeH935,whenבְּעֵ֖תbe.'EtH6256iniquityעֲוֹ֥ן'a.VonH5771shall havean endקֵֽץ׃ סKetzH7093,

26Thus saithאָמַר֙'a.MarH559the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִ֔הYah.wehH3069;Removeהָסִיר֙ha.SirH5493the diademהַמִּצְנֶ֔פֶתha.mitz.Ne.fetH4701,and take offוְהָרִ֖יםve.ha.RimH7311the crownהָֽעֲטָרָ֑הha.'a.ta.RahH5850: this shall not bethe sameH2063:exaltהַגְבֵּ֔הַhag.Be.haH1361him that islowהַשָּׁפָ֣לָהha.sha.Fa.lahH8217,and abaseהַשְׁפִּֽיל׃hash.PilH8213him that ishighוְהַגָּבֹ֖הַve.ha.ga.Vo.haH1364.

27I will overturnעַוָּ֥ה'a.VahH5754,overturnעַוָּ֖ה'a.VahH5754,overturnעַוָּ֣ה'a.VahH5754,it: and it shall beH7760no more,until he comeבֹּ֛אbo'H935whose rightהַמִּשְׁפָּ֖טha.mish.PatH4941it is; and I will giveוּנְתַתִּֽיו׃ פu.ne.ta.TivH5414it him.

28And thou, sonבֶן־ven-H1121of manאָדָ֗ם'a.DamH120,prophesyהִנָּבֵ֤אhi.na.Ve'H5012and sayוְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ve.'a.mar.TaH559,Thus saithאָמַר֙'a.MarH559the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהֹוִ֔הYah.wehH3069concerning the Ammonitesבְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹןbe.Nei a.MonH5983 H1121,and concerning their reproachחֶרְפָּתָ֑םcher.pa.TamH2781;even sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֗ve.'a.mar.TaH559thou, The swordחֶ֣רֶבChe.revH2719,the swordחֶ֤רֶבChe.revH2719isdrawnפְּתוּחָה֙pe.tu.ChahH6605:for the slaughterלְטֶ֣בַחle.Te.vachH2874it isfurbishedמְרוּטָ֔הme.ru.TahH4803,to consumeH398because of the glitteringבָּרָֽק׃ba.RakH1300:

29Whiles they seeבַּחֲז֥וֹתba.cha.ZotH2372vanityשָׁ֔וְאShav'H7723unto thee, whiles they divineבִּקְסָם־bik.som-H7080a lieכָּזָ֑בka.ZavH3577unto thee, to bringלָתֵ֣תla.TetH5414thee upon the necksצַוְּארֵי֙tza.ve.ReiH6677of them that areslainחַֽלְלֵ֣יcha.LeiH2491,of the wickedרְשָׁעִ֔יםre.sha.'ImH7563,whose dayיוֹמָ֔םyo.MamH3117is comeבָּ֣אba'H935,whenבְּעֵ֖תbe.'EtH6256their iniquityH5771shall havean endקֵֽץ׃KetzH7093.

30Shall I cause itto returnהָשַׁ֖בha.ShavH7725into his sheathתַּעְרָ֑הּta'.RahH8593?I will judgeאֶשְׁפֹּ֥ט'esh.PotH8199thee in the placeבִּמְק֧וֹםbim.KomH4725where thou wast createdנִבְרֵ֛אתniv.RetH1254,in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of thy nativityמְכֻרוֹתַ֖יִךְme.khu.ro.Ta.yikhH4351.

31And I will pour outוְשָׁפַכְתִּ֤יve.sha.fakh.TiH8210mine indignationזַעְמִ֔יza'.MiH2195upon thee, I will blowאָפִ֣יחַ'a.Fi.achH6315against thee in the fireבְּאֵ֥שׁbe.'EshH784of my wrathעֶבְרָתִ֖י'ev.ra.TiH5678,and deliverוּנְתַתִּ֗יךְu.ne.ta.TikhH5414thee into the handבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027of brutishבֹּֽעֲרִ֔יםbo.'a.RimH1197menאֲנָשִׁ֣ים'a.na.ShimH582, andskilfulחָרָשֵׁ֖יcha.ra.SheiH2796to destroyמַשְׁחִֽית׃mash.ChitH4889.

32Thou shalt be for fuelלְאָכְלָ֔הle.'okh.LahH402to the fireלָאֵ֤שׁla.'EshH784;thy bloodדָּמֵ֥ךְda.MekhH1818shall be in the midstבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776; thou shalt be no morerememberedתִזָּכֵ֔רִיti.za.Khe.riH2142:for I Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068have spokenדִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ פdi.Bar.tiH1696it.

Commentaries on Ezekiel 21