Ezekiel 21:9

9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: “ ‘A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished—

Ezekiel 21:9 in Other Translations

9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:

9 "Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: "A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,

9 “Son of man, give the people this message from the Lord: “A sword, a sword is being sharpened and polished.

9 "Son of man, prophesy. Tell them, 'The Master says: "'A sword! A sword! razor-sharp and polished,

9 "Son of man, prophesy: This is what the Lord says! You are to proclaim: A sword! A sword is sharpened and also polished.

Ezekiel 21:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 21:9

Son of man, prophesy and say, thus saith the Lord
Deliver out the following prophecy in the name of the Lord: say, a sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished;
it is not only drawn out of its sheath, as before, but is made sharp and bright, and ready for use. It is repeated, either to show the certainty of it, or to express the terror and anguish of mind on account of it; persons in distress generally repeating that which is the occasion of it. The Targum interprets it of two swords, the sword of the Babylonians, and the sword of the Ammonites; first the one was to be used, and then the other: this latter, Jarchi and Kimchi observe, was fulfilled by Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slaying Gedaliah, sent for that purpose by Baalis king of the Ammonites, ( Jeremiah 40:14 ) ( Jeremiah 41:2 Jeremiah 41:10 ) , but if two distinct swords are meant, I should rather think the sword of the Chaldeans, and the sword of the Romans, are intended. Cocceius, before observed, interprets it only of the latter; but Abendana both of the sword of the king of Babylon, and of the sword of the Romans.

Ezekiel 21:9 In-Context

7 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.”

8 The word of the LORD came to me:

9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: “ ‘A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished—

10 sharpened for the slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! “ ‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.

11 “ ‘The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped with the hand; it is sharpened and polished, made ready for the hand of the slayer.