Ezekiel 21

1 And the word [message from God, divine utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came [existed, came into being] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to proclaim], word study 2 “Son [descendant, human] of man [the first human, Adam], set [appoint, place] your face [presence, toward] against [toward, in the direction of] Jerusalem [the holy city] and preach [speak, prophesy] against [to, toward] the sanctuaries [holy places, temples]. Prophesy [speak by inspiration, predict] against [to, toward] the land [ground, territory] of Israel [God’s people, the nation] word study 3 and tell her that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘I am against you [in opposition to you], and I will draw My sword from its sheath [the place of rest] and cut off from you [separate, remove] both the righteous [those who are just, upright] and the wicked [those who are evil, unrighteous]. word study 4 Because I [the Lord] will cut off [destroy, eliminate] both the righteous [just, upright] and the wicked [evil, unrighteous], My sword [instrument of judgment] will be unsheathed [drawn from its scabbard] against everyone [all flesh, from the south to the north] from south to north. word study 5 Then all flesh [every living being, all humanity] will know that I, the LORD [Adonay, the supreme Ruler], have taken My sword [instrument of punishment] from its sheath [scabbard, resting place], not [never, under no circumstances] to return it again [to be put back, to be sheathed once more].’ word study 6 But you, son of man [human, a mortal], groan [sigh, mourn with bitterness]! Groan [with the breaking of thy loins, showing terrible sadness] before their eyes with a broken [shattered, deeply sorrowful] heart and bitter [intensely painful, grievous] grief [sorrow, lamentation]. word study 7 And when they ask, ‘Why are you groaning [sighing, mourning]?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news [tidings, report] that is coming [approaching, drawing near]. Every heart will melt [become soft, lose courage], and every hand will go limp [become feeble, weak]. Every spirit will faint [become weak, lose strength], and every knee will turn to water [become weak as water, lose stability].’ Yes, it is coming [drawing near, approaching] and it will surely happen [be done, come to pass], declares the Lord GOD [the supreme Ruler, Yehovah].” word study 8 Again the word [message from God, divine utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came to me [toward me, in my direction], saying [to speak, to command], word study 9 “Son of man [human, mortal], prophesy [speak as a prophet, declare the Lord’s message] and tell them that this is what the Lord [the self-existent God] says: ‘A sword [weapon, instrument of judgment], a sword [sharp and deadly], sharpened [made sharp, prepared for use] and polished [furbished, made ready for battle]— word study 10 it is sharpened [to make a sore slaughter] for the slaughter, polished [furbished, made bright] to flash like lightning! Should we rejoice [make mirth, celebrate] in the scepter [rod] of My son? The sword [cutting instrument] despises [contemneth, rejects] every such stick [tree]. word study 11 The sword [for battle] is appointed [given, designated] to be polished [furbished, sharpened], to be grasped [handled, taken hold of] in the hand. It is sharpened [made sharp, refined] and polished [furbished, made ready], to be placed [given, delivered] in the hand of the slayer [killer, one who takes life]. word study 12 Cry out [and howl, lament] and wail, O son of man [mortal, human], for the sword [instrument of war, judgment] is wielded [used, brandished] against My people [nation, those I have chosen]; it is against all [every one of] the princes [rulers, leaders] of Israel [God’s chosen people]! They are tossed [delivered, given over] to the sword [death, destruction] with My people [those I care for]; therefore strike [smite, hit] your thigh [in grief, as a sign of sorrow]. word study 13 Surely testing [a trial, a refining process] will come [arrive, take place]! And what if even the scepter [rod], which the sword [instrument of war, destroyer] despises [contemns, rejects], does not continue [endure, remain]?’ declares [says, speaks] the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [the supreme Ruler, Yehovah]. word study 14 ‘So then, son [a descendant] of man [Adam, a human], prophesy [to speak under the influence of the divine spirit] and strike your hands together. Let the sword [a cutting instrument] strike two times, even three [doubled the third time]. It is a sword [of great slaughter, a sword of the slain] that slays, a sword of great [deadly, fatal] slaughter closing in on every side [entering their private chambers, attacking from every direction]! word study 15 So that their hearts [may faint, become soft] may melt and many [people, souls] may stumble, I have appointed [set, placed] at all their gates [entrances, doors] a sword [weapon, instrument] for [the purpose of] slaughter [killing, destruction]. Yes, it is ready [prepared, sharpened] to flash [shine, gleam] like lightning [a bright, powerful force]; it is drawn [extended, unsheathed] for [the act of] slaughter [butchery, carnage]. word study 16 Slash [with swift and deadly precision] to the right; set [position and direct] your blade [sword, cutting instrument] to the left— wherever [in any direction, towards any target] your blade [edge, sharpened point] is directed [pointed, aimed]. word study 17 I too will strike [smite, clap] My hands together, and I will satisfy [cause to rest, bring to an end] My wrath [fury, indignation].’ I, the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], have spoken [declared, uttered].” word study 18 Then the word [utterance, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, God, Adonay] came to me, saying [speaking, proclaiming, uttering a message], word study 19 “Now you, son [a descendant] of man [Adam, the first human], mark out two roads [ways, paths] for the sword [a cutting instrument] of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same land [country, territory]. And make a signpost [a pillar, a marker] where the road branches off [divides, forks] to each city [a place of habitation, a community]. word study 20 Mark out [appoint, designate] one road [way, path] for the sword [weapon, instrument of war] to come against Rabbah [the capital city] of the Ammonites [a neighboring nation], and another against Judah [the southern kingdom] into fortified [strongly defended, secure] Jerusalem [the holy city, the center of worship]. word study 21 For the king of Babylon [ruler of the Babylonian empire] stands at the fork [junction, parting of the way] in the road, at the junction [head, top] of the two roads, to seek [use, consult] an omen [divination, prophetic sign]: He shakes [moves lightly, casts] the arrows [to and fro], he consults [asks advice from, inquires of] the idols [images, teraphim], he examines [looks in, inspects] the liver [inner parts, entrails]. word study 22 In his right hand [palm, the inner part of the hand] appears the portent [divination, a sign or omen] for Jerusalem, where he is to set up [appoint, position] battering rams [engines of war, devices to break down walls], to call for the slaughter [destruction, killing], to lift a battle cry [voice with shouting, a loud war cry], to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp [earthworks, a raised path], and to erect a siege wall [fort, a strong defensive barrier]. word study 23 It will seem like a false [misleading] omen [divination, sign] to the eyes of those who have [sworn allegiance, made a vow] sworn allegiance to him, but it will [reveal, draw attention to] draw attention to their [moral, spiritual] guilt [iniquity, sin] and take them captive [prisoner, into bondage]. word study 24 Therefore this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] says: ‘Because you have drawn attention to your guilt [iniquity, moral evil], exposing your transgressions [rebellions, disobedience], so that your sins [lawlessness, unrighteousness] are revealed [made visible, uncovered] in all your deeds [actions, works]—because you have come to remembrance [been remembered, recalled to mind]—you shall be taken in hand [captured, seized]. word study 25 And you, O profane [unclean] and wicked [morally corrupt, deadly wounded] prince of Israel, the day [appointed time, moment of reckoning] has come for your final [ultimate] punishment [judgment, iniquity of the end].’ word study 26 This is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: ‘Remove the turban [mitre], and take off the crown [diadem, royal headpiece]. Things will not remain as they are [this shall not be the same]: Exalt [lift up, elevate] the lowly [humble, oppressed] and bring low [abase, humble] the exalted [proud, lofty]. word study 27 A ruin [complete destruction, devastation], a ruin, I will make it a ruin [overturn, demolish]! And it will not be restored [rebuilt, reestablished] until the arrival [coming, advent] of Him to whom it belongs [has the right, is the rightful owner], to whom I have assigned [given, entrusted] the right of judgment [authority, power to judge]. ’ word study 28 Now prophesy, son of man [human, a mortal], and declare that this is what the Lord GOD [Yehovah] says concerning the Ammonites [a neighboring nation, descended from Lot] and their contempt [reproach, shame, or blasphemy]: ‘A sword [a weapon of war]! A sword is drawn [unsheathed, ready for battle] for slaughter [killing, destruction], polished [furbished, sharpened] to consume [destroy, devour], to flash [shine, glitter] like lightning— word study 29 while they offer false [false and misleading, vanity] visions for you and lying [deceptive, untrue] divinations about you— to be placed on the necks [in a position of judgment] of the wicked [those who are morally evil, sinful] who are slain [killed, destroyed], whose day [appointed time, judgment] has come, the time [season, moment] of their final [last, ultimate] punishment [judgment, condemnation]. word study 30 Return the sword [to its scabbard, go back to where you came from] to its sheath! In the place [produced, born] where you were created, in the land [nativity, birth, habitation] of your origin, I will judge [evaluate, condemn] you. word study 31 I will pour out My [intense, fiery] anger [indignation, wrath] upon you; I will breathe [blow with the force of] the fire of My fury [wrath, intense anger] against you; I will hand you over to [deliver into the power of] brutal [brutish, cruel] men, skilled [expert, trained] in destruction [causing ruin, devastation]. word study 32 You will be fuel [to be burned] for the fire. Your blood [in the midst of the land, shed where you live] will stain your own land. You will not [no more, never again] be remembered, for I, the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], have spoken [said it, declared].’” word study