Ezekiel 21:15

15 So that hearts may melt with fear and the fallen be many, I have stationed the sword for slaughter^[a]at all their gates. Look! It is forged to strike like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.

Ezekiel 21:15 in Other Translations

15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

15 that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter.

15 Let their hearts melt with terror, for the sword glitters at every gate. It flashes like lightning and is polished for slaughter!

15 People collapsing right and left, going down like dominoes. I've stationed a murderous sword at every gate in the city, Flashing like lightning, brandished murderously.

15 I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.

15 I have appointed my sword to slaughter people at all their gates so that their hearts will sink and many will die. Yes! It's ready to flash like lightning. It's polished to kill.

15 I have appointed a sword for slaughter at all their gates, so that their hearts may melt and many may stumble. Alas! It is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter.

15 People's hearts will melt away in fear. Many will be wounded or killed. I have prepared the sword to kill people at all of their city gates. It flashes like lightning. It is in the killer's hand.

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 “ ‘Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign LORD.’

14 “So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times. It is a sword for slaughter— a sword for great slaughter, closing in on them from every side.

15 So that hearts may melt with fear and the fallen be many, I have stationed the sword for slaughterat all their gates. Look! It is forged to strike like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.

16 Slash to the right, you sword, then to the left, wherever your blade is turned.

17 I too will strike my hands together, and my wrath will subside. I the LORD have spoken.”

Cross References

• 1. S 2 Samuel 17:10
• 2. Psalms 22:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.