Ezekiel 14:17
Ezekiel 14:17 in Multiple Translations
Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast,
¶ Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off from it man and beast;
Or if I send a sword against that land, and say, Sword, go through the land, cutting off from it man and beast:
I could bring war to that country and say, ‘Have a sword cut through it,’ so that I destroy both people and animals.
Or if I bring a sworde vpon this land, and say, Sword, go through the land, so that I destroy man and beast out of it,
'Or — a sword I bring in against that land, and I have said: Sword, thou dost pass over through the land, and I have cut off from it man and beast —
“Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land, so that I cut off from it man and animal’—
Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
Or if I bring the sword upon that land, and say to the sword: Pass through the land: and I destroy man and beast out of it:
Or, if I bring enemy soldiers [MTY] to attack that country, and they kill [MTY] people and animals throughout that country with their swords,
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 14:17
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Ezekiel 14:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 14:17
Study Notes — Ezekiel 14:17
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 14:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 14:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 14:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 14:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
- Sermons on Ezekiel 14:17
Context — Four Dire Judgments
17Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast,
18then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered. 19Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed, cutting off from it both man and beast,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 26:25 | And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 21:3–4 | and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. Because I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. |
| 3 | Zephaniah 1:3 | “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 5:12 | A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 14:13 | “Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast, |
| 6 | Jeremiah 47:6 | ‘Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!’ |
| 7 | Ezekiel 25:13 | therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 38:21–22 | And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 33:12 | This is what the LORD of Hosts says: In this desolate place, without man or beast, and in all its cities, there will once more be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. |
| 10 | Ezekiel 5:17 | I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring a sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken.” |
Ezekiel 14:17 Summary
In Ezekiel 14:17, God is saying that if He brings war and violence to a land, it will be a form of punishment for the people's sins. This is a serious thing, and even good people cannot save their loved ones from God's judgment, only themselves can be spared. However, God's judgment is always meant to bring people back to Him, as seen in (2 Chronicles 7:14), and He desires that all people turn from their sins and live, as stated in (Ezekiel 18:21-23). We should take this verse as a reminder to examine our own hearts and turn to God in humility and repentance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to 'bring a sword' against a land?
This phrase is a metaphor for God's judgment, where He allows war and violence to occur as a form of punishment, as seen in Ezekiel 14:17 and also in Jeremiah 25:29 where God says He will 'make war' against all nations.
Can anyone escape God's judgment in a land that is under His wrath?
According to Ezekiel 14:17-18, even if righteous men like Noah, Daniel, or Job were in the land, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters from God's judgment, only themselves would be spared, as stated in Ezekiel 14:20, referencing the righteousness of these three men.
Is God's judgment always final and without hope of restoration?
No, God's judgment can be a call to repentance, as seen in Ezekiel 18:21-23, where God desires that all people turn from their sins and live, and also in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God promises to heal the land if His people humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways.
How does this verse relate to God's character as a loving and merciful God?
This verse shows that God's love and mercy are balanced with His justice and holiness, as stated in Exodus 34:6-7, where God describes Himself as 'abounding in love and faithfulness' but also as One who 'does not leave the guilty unpunished'.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God's judgment can be seen in the world today, and how should we as Christians respond to these situations?
- How can I examine my own heart to ensure that I am not contributing to the wickedness that provokes God's judgment, as seen in Ezekiel 14:17?
- In what ways can I be a source of hope and restoration in a world that is under God's judgment, as seen in Isaiah 61:1-4?
- What does it mean to 'humble myself' and 'turn from my wicked ways' in response to God's judgment, as seen in 2 Chronicles 7:14?
- How can I trust in God's sovereignty and goodness even when I do not understand the reasons behind His judgment, as seen in Romans 8:28 and Psalm 23:4?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 14:17
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 14:17
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 14:17
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
Sermons on Ezekiel 14:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Removing the Stumbling Blocks by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of removing stumbling blocks from our hearts and from the church. He warns that if we do not heed God's call to be honest and |
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The Quarrel of God's Covenant by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher uses the analogy of a young calf being released into a field to describe the joy and healing that God promises to those who fear His name. He emphasize |
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(Genesis) - Part 10 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the continuity of natural phenomena such as cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night for the past 4,000 years. He highlights that |
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A Cry for Repentance and Revival by Edgar Reich | This sermon by Edgar Reich is a powerful cry for repentance and revival, emphasizing the need for humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God's face, and turning from wicked ways. The |
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Don't Lay Down Your Sword by David Ravenhill | David Ravenhill emphasizes the urgency of not laying down our spiritual sword, which represents the Word of God, in the face of demonic attacks and societal challenges. He discusse |
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The King of the North by John F. Walvoord | John F. Walvoord preaches about the prophetic significance of the great world conflict predicted in the Scriptures, involving a revived Roman Empire, a ten-nation confederacy, and |






