Ezekiel 7:17

17 " 'Their hands will be powerless to help them. Their knees will become as weak as water.

Ezekiel 7:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 7:17

All hands shall be feeble
No strength in them, to lay hold on weapons of war to defend themselves, or fight the enemy; no heart nor courage in them, to go forth and meet him; and even afraid to lift up their voice in mourning, lest they should be heard, and pursued, and taken: and all knees shall be weak [as] water;
tremble and beat one against another, for fear of the enemy; or,

``shall flow with water,''

as the Targum; either with sweat or urine, which are sometimes both caused by fear.

Ezekiel 7:17 In-Context

15 " 'There is trouble everywhere. War is outside the city. Plague and hunger are inside it. Those who are out in the country will die in battle. Those in the city will be destroyed by hunger and plague.

16 All those who escape and are left alive will run to the mountains. They have committed many sins. So they will cry like sad doves in the valleys.

17 " 'Their hands will be powerless to help them. Their knees will become as weak as water.

18 They will put on black clothes. They will put on terror as if it were their clothes. Their faces will be covered with shame. Their heads will be shaved.

19 " 'They will throw their silver into the streets. Their gold will be like an "unclean" thing. Their silver and gold will not be able to save them on the day I pour out my anger on them. They will not be able to satisfy their hunger. Their stomachs will not be full. Their silver and gold have tripped them up. They have made them fall into sin.