Ezekiel 21:15

15 that their ¹hearts may melt, and many ²fall at all their ³gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter.

Ezekiel 21:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 21:15

I have set the point of the sword against all their gates,
&c.] The word rendered "point" is nowhere else used, and is differently translated: by some the "fear" of the sword ^F26, as Menachem and Kimchi; by others the "cry" of the sword, or of those that are slain with it, as Jarchi; and the Targum paraphrases it,

``those that slay with the sword:''

some, as both Jarchi and Kimchi, observe, by an inversion of the letters of the alphabet, called "athbash", render it, the "slaughter" of the sword; and De Dieu and Dr. Castel, from the use of the word in the Ethiopic language, the "destruction" of it, or, the power of it. The meaning is, that the enemy, with their swords drawn, should be placed at every gate of the city of Jerusalem, or of their houses, pointed towards them; which would be very terrible, and sore destruction to them. That their hearts may faint;
seeing nothing but death before their eyes, and no way to escape it: and their ruins be multiplied;
of their families, and of their houses. Ah! it is made bright;
to terrify the more, as in ( Ezekiel 21:10 ) , appearing as a flaming sword, and so causing fear; the prophet expresses his sorrow and concern for it. The Targum is,

``woe! the sword is drawn out to kill.''

It is wrapped up for slaughter;
in its sheath or scabbard, that it might not rust or be blunted, it being furbished and brightened; but this seems contrary to its being drawn out of its sheath, as in ( Ezekiel 21:3 Ezekiel 21:5 ) . Kimchi renders it, therefore, "sharpened", as in ( Ezekiel 21:10 ) and so the Targum,

``it is sharpened to destroy;''

the more easily and speedily.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 (brx txba) "terrorem gladii", Munster, Pagninus, Montanus.

Ezekiel 21:15 In-Context

13 "For there is a testing; and what if even the rod which despises will be no more?" declares the Lord GOD.

14 "You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together ; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them,

15 that their hearts may melt, and many fall at all their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter.

16 "Show yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your edge is appointed.

17 "I will also clap My hands together , and I will appease My wrath; I, the LORD , have spoken."

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 2:11; 2 Samuel 17:10; Psalms 22:14; Ezekiel 21:7
• 2. Isaiah 59:10; Jeremiah 13:16; Jeremiah 18:15
• 3. Jeremiah 17:27; Ezekiel 21:19