Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version and say to her: ‘This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. New Living Translation Tell her, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am your enemy, O Israel, and I am about to unsheath my sword to destroy your people—the righteous and the wicked alike. English Standard Version and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. Berean Standard Bible and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. King James Bible And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. New King James Version and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you. New American Standard Bible and say to the land of Israel, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am against you; and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. NASB 1995 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you; and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. NASB 1977 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you; and I shall draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Legacy Standard Bible and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Behold, I am against you; and I will bring out My sword from its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Amplified Bible and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you and will draw My sword out of its sheath and I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. Christian Standard Bible and say to it, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. Holman Christian Standard Bible and say to it: This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off both the righteous and the wicked from you. American Standard Version and say to the land of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Contemporary English Version that I am about to punish them. I will pull out my sword and have it ready to kill everyone, whether good or evil. English Revised Version and say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. GOD'S WORD® Translation Tell the land of Israel, 'This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will take my sword out of its scabbard and kill the righteous people and the wicked people among you. Good News Translation that I, the LORD, am saying: I am your enemy. I will draw my sword and kill all of you, good and evil alike. International Standard Version Declare to Israel, 'This is what the LORD says: "Watch out! I'm against you! I'm going to unsheathe my sword to kill both the righteous and the wicked among you. NET Bible and say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: Look, I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. New Heart English Bible and tell the land of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD: "Look, I am against you, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Webster's Bible Translation And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. World English Bible Tell the land of Israel, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand you have said to the ground of Israel, Thus said YHWH: Behold, I [am] against you, "" And have brought out My sword from its scabbard, "" And have cut off righteous and wicked from you. Young's Literal Translation and thou hast said unto the ground of Israel: Thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am against thee, And have brought out My sword from its scabbard, And have cut off from thee righteous and wicked. Smith's Literal Translation And say to the land of Israel, Thus said Jehovah: behold me against thee, and I brought forth my sword from its sheath, and I cut off from thee the just and the unjust. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd say to the land of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, and I will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off in thee the just, and the wicked. Catholic Public Domain Version And you shall say to the land of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, and I will cast my sword from its sheath, and I will slay the just and the impious among you. New American Bible Say to the land of Israel: Thus says the LORD: See! I am coming against you; I will draw my sword from its scabbard and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. New Revised Standard Version and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: I am coming against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD God: Behold, I am against you; I will draw my sword out of its sheath and will destroy from you the righteous and the sinner. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And say to the land of Israel: ’Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS, behold, I am against you, and I shall bring out my sword from its sheath and I shall destroy from you the righteous and the sinner OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917say to the land of Israel: Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. Brenton Septuagint Translation and thou shalt say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, and I will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and I will destroy out of thee the transgressor and unrighteous. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The LORD's Sword of Judgment…2“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel 3and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. 4Because I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.… Cross References Jeremiah 21:5-7 And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. / I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’ / ‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’ Isaiah 34:5-6 When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom. Jeremiah 12:12 Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace. Lamentations 2:4 He has bent His bow like an enemy; His right hand is positioned. Like a foe He has killed all who were pleasing to the eye; He has poured out His wrath like fire on the tent of the Daughter of Zion. Isaiah 66:16 For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD. Jeremiah 25:29 For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’ Amos 9:4 Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.” Revelation 19:15 And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. Matthew 10:34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Luke 12:49-51 I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! / But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! / Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. Revelation 1:16 He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea. Jeremiah 47:6-7 ‘Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!’ / How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland.” Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones. Treasury of Scripture And say to the land of Israel, Thus said the LORD; Behold, I am against you, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Behold Ezekiel 5:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. Ezekiel 26:3 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up. Jeremiah 21:13 Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations? will draw Ezekiel 21:9-11,19 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished: … Ezekiel 5:12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. Ezekiel 14:17,21 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: … the righteous Ezekiel 9:5,6 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: … Job 9:22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. Ecclesiastes 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. Jump to Previous Cover Cut Cutting Draw Evil Forth Ground Israel Righteous Scabbard Sheath Sword Upright Wicked WordsJump to Next Cover Cut Cutting Draw Evil Forth Ground Israel Righteous Scabbard Sheath Sword Upright Wicked WordsEzekiel 21 1. Ezekiel prophesies against Jerusalem with a sign of sighing8. The sharp and bright sword 18. against Jerusalem 25. against the kingdom 28. and against the Ammonites and tell her that this is what the LORD says: This phrase introduces a direct message from God, emphasizing the authority and seriousness of the proclamation. In the context of Ezekiel, God often speaks directly to the prophet, who then conveys His words to the people. This reflects the role of prophets as intermediaries between God and His people. The phrase underscores the divine origin of the message, which demands attention and obedience. ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet of God, called to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the people of Israel during their exile in Babylon. 2. The Land of Israel The geographical and spiritual center of the Jewish people, representing the nation and its covenant relationship with God. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is both just and merciful, delivering messages through His prophets. 4. The Sword A symbol of divine judgment and warfare, representing God's impending judgment on Israel. 5. The Righteous and the Wicked The people of Israel, both those who follow God's laws and those who do not, indicating the comprehensive nature of the coming judgment. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinGod's judgment is a response to the pervasive sin in the land. We must recognize the gravity of sin in our own lives and communities. Impartiality of God's Judgment God's judgment does not discriminate between the righteous and the wicked. We must live with integrity, knowing that God sees all. Call to Repentance The impending judgment serves as a call to repentance. We should examine our hearts and turn back to God. The Role of Prophets Prophets like Ezekiel are God's messengers, calling people to awareness and change. We should heed the warnings and teachings of Scripture. Hope Beyond Judgment While this passage focuses on judgment, the broader account of Ezekiel includes restoration. We can trust in God's ultimate plan for redemption. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 21:3?2. How does Ezekiel 21:3 demonstrate God's judgment on both righteous and wicked? 3. What does "I am against you" reveal about God's stance towards sin? 4. How can Ezekiel 21:3 deepen our understanding of God's holiness and justice? 5. How should Ezekiel 21:3 influence our daily repentance and pursuit of righteousness? 6. What other scriptures emphasize God's impartial judgment on all people? 7. What does Ezekiel 21:3 reveal about God's judgment on Israel and its implications for today? 8. How does Ezekiel 21:3 challenge the concept of divine protection for God's chosen people? 9. In what ways does Ezekiel 21:3 reflect the historical context of Israel's disobedience? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 21? 11. In Ezekiel 21:3–4, how can God threaten to destroy both the righteous and the wicked without contradicting other texts that portray Him as just? 12. Is there any evidence outside the Bible supporting the military and political tumult depicted throughout Ezekiel 21? 13. How can the severe judgment imagery in Ezekiel 21 be reconciled with teachings elsewhere in Scripture about God's mercy? 14. Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? What Does Ezekiel 21:3 Mean This is what the LORD saysEzekiel begins with the familiar prophetic formula, signaling that the message carries God’s full authority. His audience needs to hear that this is not Ezekiel’s opinion but divine revelation (Isaiah 1:2; Jeremiah 1:4-9). The phrase reminds us that “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16), so we approach the warning that follows with reverence and readiness to respond. I am against you Those words are startling. The covenant God who once declared, “I will walk among you and be your God” (Leviticus 26:12) now says the opposite because the nation has broken that covenant. Similar announcements appear in Leviticus 26:17 and Jeremiah 21:5, where persistent rebellion turns the Lord’s protective presence into active opposition. The statement underscores that no political alliance, temple ritual, or national history can shield a people who persist in sin. I will draw My sword from its sheath The sword is a vivid picture of imminent judgment. It is God’s own weapon—He is not sending a distant calamity but personally overseeing the discipline (Deuteronomy 32:41-42; Isaiah 34:5). The imagery also recalls the cherubim’s flashing sword in Genesis 3:24, showing that sin always brings about the loss of God’s protective garden and the imposition of divine justice. Once the sword leaves the sheath, there is no human means to return it (Ezekiel 21:5). I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked This clause announces a sweeping, national judgment. When a nation’s corporate sin reaches a tipping point, even the faithful experience the fallout (Ecclesiastes 9:2). The Babylonian advance would not spare the righteous, though God still knew how to keep them eternally secure (2 Peter 2:9). Abraham once pled, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23). In that episode God agreed to spare the city for enough righteous residents, but here the righteous remnant is too small, and judgment falls on the entire population (Ezekiel 9:6; Matthew 13:47-50). The righteous suffer, yet their suffering refines rather than destroys them (Malachi 3:3). summary Ezekiel 21:3 delivers a sobering message: God Himself is opposing His covenant people because of persistent rebellion. His drawn sword portrays an unavoidable, personal judgment that sweeps across the land without discrimination. The verse calls every generation to take sin seriously, heed God’s authoritative word, and cling to Him in obedient faith before the sword leaves its sheath. (3, 4) The righteous and the wicked.--This explains the green tree and the dry of Ezekiel 20:47; and "all flesh" of Ezekiel 21:4-5, corresponds to "all faces" of the same. These expressions are meant to show the universality of the approaching desolation. The actual separation in God's sight between the righteous and the wicked has already been plainly set forth in 9:4-6. But still in this, as in all national judgments, the innocent must of necessity be involved in the same temporal sufferings with the guilty. The general terms of this prophecy are to be limited by what is elsewhere said of the mercy which shall be shown to a remnant.Hebrew and tellוְאָמַרְתָּ֞ (wə·’ā·mar·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say [her] יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc that this is what כֹּ֚ה (kōh) Adverb Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now the LORD יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel says: אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘I am against you, אֵלַ֔יִךְ (’ê·la·yiḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to and I will draw וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י (wə·hō·w·ṣê·ṯî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim My sword חַרְבִּ֖י (ḥar·bî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword from its sheath מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ (mit·ta‘·rāh) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 8593: A knife, razor, a scabbard and cut off וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י (wə·hiḵ·rat·tî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant from you מִמֵּ֖ךְ (mim·mêḵ) Preposition | second person feminine singular Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of both the righteous צַדִּ֥יק (ṣad·dîq) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6662: Just, righteous and the wicked. וְרָשָֽׁע׃ (wə·rā·šā‘) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person Links Ezekiel 21:3 NIVEzekiel 21:3 NLT Ezekiel 21:3 ESV Ezekiel 21:3 NASB Ezekiel 21:3 KJV Ezekiel 21:3 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 21:3 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 21:3 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 21:3 French Bible Ezekiel 21:3 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 21:3 And tell the land of Israel Thus (Ezek. Eze Ezk) |
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