Ezekiel 21:11

11 The sword is given to be polished, to be grasped in the hand; it is sharpened, the sword is polished, to be placed in the slayer's hand.

Ezekiel 21:11 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 21:11

And he hath given it to be furbished, that it might be
handled
Either Nebuchadnezzar, or rather God, or the Son of God, prepared and brightened the sword, that it might be handled and made use of, either by the Chaldeans or Romans, to the destruction of the Jews. The Targum is,

``he gave their vengeance to be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.''
The sword is sharpened and furbished, to give it into the hand of the
slayer;
either the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar; or the Roman emperor, Titus Vespasian.

Ezekiel 21:11 In-Context

9 Mortal, prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord; Say: A sword, a sword is sharpened, it is also polished;
10 it is sharpened for slaughter, honed to flash like lightning! How can we make merry? You have despised the rod, and all discipline.
11 The sword is given to be polished, to be grasped in the hand; it is sharpened, the sword is polished, to be placed in the slayer's hand.
12 Cry and wail, O mortal, for it is against my people; it is against all Israel's princes; they are thrown to the sword, together with my people. Ah! Strike the thigh!
13 For consider: What! If you despise the rod, will it not happen? says the Lord God.

Footnotes 1

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.