Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 21

Verse 1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 2

Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

the land of Israel = the soil of Israel, Hebrew. 'admath Israel . See note on Ezekiel 11:17 .

Verse 3

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

draw forth My sword , See note on Ezekiel 5:2 , Ezekiel 5:17 , and Ezekiel 12:14 .

the righteous , &c. Therefore Ezekiel 18:2 , Ezekiel 18:3 , is not yet ful filled, but corresponds with the green tree and the dry of Ezekiel 20:47 .

the righteous = a righteous one.

the wicked = a lawless one. Heb, rasha'. App-44 .

Verse 5

it shall not return , &c.: i.e. until it has executed its mission.

Verse 7

spirit. Hebrew. ruach, App-9 .

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle. See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

Verse 9

the LORD = Jehovah. App-4 . Some codices, with three early printed editions (one Rabbinic in margin), read Adonai. App-4 .

A sword , a sword. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis = a great or sharp sword.

Verse 10

make a sore slaughter. Figure of speech Polyptbton ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Hebrew to slay a slaughter.

glitter = flash as lightning.

should we then make mirth? or, "should we flourish [the sceptre of My son (i.e. of Judah? "

it, &c. i.e. "Jehovah's sword despiseth the [wooden] sceptre of My son (i.e. Judah), as [it despiseth] every tree". The Ellipsis is to be thus supplied.

rod = sceptre.

Verse 11

the slayer : i.e. the king of Babylon.

Verse 12

it : i.e. the sword of Jehovah, the king of Babylon.

princes = leaders.

be = come.

terrors by , &c. = who shall be delivered to the sword with My People.

smite therefore , &c. This was the symbol of grief in man, as beating the breast was in woman.

Verse 13

it is a trial = sit (Jehovah's sword) has been tried (or proved).

and what , &c. = and what [will happen or be the result] if [Jehovah's sword shall not despise] the [wooden] sceptre?

it shall be no more = it will not [despise it.

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

Verse 14

smite thine hands together , &c. A sign of disappointment or grief in men. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 24:10 ).

Verse 15

their ruins = the overthrown. So the Septuagint and Syriac. Compare Jeremiah 18:23 .

bright = bright as lightning.

wrapped up keen, or sharp.

Verse 16

Go thee . Figure of speech Apostrophe. App-6 . Addressedto the sword.

thee : i.e. the sword. Not Ezekiel. It is feminine, not masculine: = Go to the right, turn to the left: or, One stroke to the right, another to the left, &c.

thy face = thine edge.

Verse 17

I will also smite , &c. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 19

that the sword . . . may come = for the sword to come.

both twain = the two ways.

choose thou a place = grave a hand: i.e. set up a

sign = post.

Verse 21

stood = bath come to a stand.

to use divination = to divine a divination.

made his arrows bright = hath shaken his arrows. This was one of the modes of divination by which the arrow (marked like a lot), gave the decision.

images = teraphim.

looked in , &c. = inspected the liver; another mode of divination. It healthy or double and the lobes inclined inward, the omen was favourable; but if diseased or too dry, or without a lobe or a band between the parts, the omen was unfavourable.

Verse 22

appoint captains = set up battering-rams. Compare Ezekiel 4:2 .

the mouth in the slaughter = a hole by a breach.

shouting = a war shout.

and. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one Rabbinic in margin), Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read this "and" in the text.

a fort = a siege wall.

Verse 23

them : i.e. Zedekiah and the rulers in Jerusalem. sworn oaths. Referring to Zedekiah's reacherous breach of faith with the king of Babylon. See Ezekiel 17:11-21 .

iniquity = treachery. Hebrew. 'avdh . App-44 .

Verse 24

transgressions = rebellion (plural of Majesty) = great rebellion. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .

sins . Hebrew. chata '. App-44 . plural of Majesty = great sin.

with the hand = captured, or made captives.

Verse 25

profane = pierced through: i.e. deadly wounded

one . Zedekiah a type of the future Antichrist. Compare Revelation 13:3 .

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha . App-44 . x,

iniquity . . . an end. Figure of speech Hypallage . App-8 , Hebrew "iniquity of the end" = an end

of the iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah , as in Ezekiel 21:23 .

Verse 26

be the same: or, endure. They might exalt and abase. but Jehovah would not recognise it.

Verse 27

overturn, &c. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for great emphasis.

until He come: i.e. the promised Messiah Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 49:10 ). App-92 . See Isaiah 9:6 , Isaiah 9:7 ; Isaiah 42:1 .Jeremiah 23:5 ; Jeremiah 33:17 . Zechariah 6:12 , Zechariah 6:13 , &c.

Verse 28

their reproach. Brought against Jerusalem. See Jeremiah 49:1 .Zephaniah 2:8 .

to consume = that when it beginneth it may flash like lightning.

Verse 29

the wicked = wicked ones (plural) their. Refers to "them" (Ezekiel 21:23 ).

Verse 31

men. Hebrew, plural of 'enosh. App-14 .