Ezekiel 21:9
Ezekiel 21:9 in Multiple Translations
“Son of man, prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord says: ‘A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished—
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah: Say, A sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and also furbished;
Son of man, say as a prophet, These are the words of the Lord: Say, A sword, a sword which has been made sharp and polished:
“Son of man, prophesy! Tell them this is what the Lord says: There's a sword, a sword that's being sharpened and polished.
Sonne of man, prophecie, and say, Thus saith the Lord God, say, A sworde, a sworde both sharpe, and fourbished.
'Son of man, prophesy, and thou hast said, Thus said Jehovah, say: A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also polished.
“Son of man, prophesy, and say, ‘The LORD says: “A sword! A sword! It is sharpened, and also polished.
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
Son of man, prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Say: The sword, the sword is sharpened, and furbished.
“You human, prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh says: I have sharpened my sword and polished it.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 21:9
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Ezekiel 21:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 21:9
Study Notes — Ezekiel 21:9
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 21:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 21:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 21:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 21:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 21:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 21:9
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 21:9
- Sermons on Ezekiel 21:9
Context — God’s Sword of Judgment
9“Son of man, prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord says: ‘A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished—
10it is sharpened for the slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! Should we rejoice in the scepter of My son? The sword despises every such stick. 11The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished, to be placed in the hand of the slayer.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 34:5–6 | When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 21:28 | Now prophesy, son of man, and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says concerning the Ammonites and their contempt: ‘A sword! A sword is drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, to flash like lightning— |
| 3 | Ezekiel 21:3 | 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. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 12:12 | Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace. |
| 5 | Job 20:25 | It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him. |
| 6 | Isaiah 27:1 | In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent —Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea. |
| 7 | Ezekiel 21:15 | So that their hearts may melt and many may stumble, I have appointed at all their gates a sword for slaughter. Yes, it is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 15:2 | If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’ |
| 9 | Psalms 7:11–13 | God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day. If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire. |
| 10 | Amos 9:4 | Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.” |
Ezekiel 21:9 Summary
In Ezekiel 21:9, God is warning His people of the coming judgment and destruction through the symbol of a sharpened and polished sword. This represents the severity and certainty of God's judgment, as also seen in Deuteronomy 32:41. Just as a sword is sharpened and polished for its purpose, God is preparing to execute His judgment on the nations (Jeremiah 47:6). We can learn from this verse that God is a holy and just God who will not tolerate sin forever, and we must surrender our lives to Him and seek His mercy and forgiveness, as seen in Psalm 103:8.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the sword being sharpened and polished in Ezekiel 21:9?
The sharpened and polished sword represents God's judgment and the coming destruction, as also seen in Deuteronomy 32:41, where God sharpens His sword to execute judgment.
Why is the Lord repeating 'a sword, a sword' in this verse?
The repetition of 'a sword, a sword' emphasizes the certainty and severity of God's judgment, similar to how the Lord repeats 'Holy, holy, holy' in Isaiah 6:3 to emphasize His holiness.
Is the sword a literal or symbolic representation in Ezekiel 21:9?
While the sword can be literal, in this context, it is also symbolic of God's judgment and the coming destruction of Israel's enemies, as seen in Jeremiah 47:6, where the sword is used to symbolize God's judgment on the nations.
How does this verse relate to other prophecies in the Bible?
This verse is part of a larger narrative of God's judgment on Israel and the nations, as seen in prophecies like Isaiah 13:4-5 and Jeremiah 25:31, where God declares His judgment on the nations.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to surrender to God's refining and polishing, just as the sword is sharpened and polished for its purpose?
- How can I balance the reality of God's judgment with His love and mercy, as seen in verses like Ezekiel 21:9 and Psalm 103:8?
- In what ways can I be a messenger of God's Word, like Ezekiel, to proclaim the coming judgment and the need for repentance?
- What are some 'swords' in my life that I need to surrender to God, allowing Him to use them for His purposes, rather than my own?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 21:9
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 21:9
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 21:9
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 21:9
Ellicott's Commentary on Ezekiel 21:9
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 21:9
Sermons on Ezekiel 21:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Judgment Prepared in the Ungodly Ii by Aaron Dunlop | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of complacency and its consequences. He uses the analogy of thieves robbing vineyards to illustrate how God will strip away every |
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The Sword in the Shadow by Allan Halton | Allan Halton emphasizes the danger of spiritual dullness caused by information overload, urging believers to carefully and prayerfully engage with God's Word to avoid becoming dese |
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Living That Grieves the Spirit by A.W. Tozer | James urges believers to experience deep sorrow and wretchedness over their sins, emphasizing the need for genuine repentance and inner penitence rather than external ascetic pract |
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Seminar 3 - Dinosaurs and the Bible by Kent Hovind | This seminar addresses the perceived conflict between dinosaur fossils and the biblical account of creation, exploring the field of cryptozoology to shed light on hidden animals li |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 27:1 - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of family and the breakdown of the family unit in society. He uses the metaphor of a vineyard to describe God's people a |
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Except Ye Repent by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the dire plight and desperate need of humanity by contrasting it with the Beatitudes. He asks the congregation if they have ever been lost, |
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The Cup of Wrath by Andrew Bonar | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the severity of God's wrath and the consequences of sin. He uses imagery of the seven seals, trumpets, and vials from the book of Revelation |







