O mortal, set your face toward Teman, and proclaim to Darom, and prophesy against the brushland of the Negeb.aTeman…Darom…Negeb Three terms for “the south.” The allusion is to Jerusalem (v. 7), which was always approached from Babylon by way of the north.
Say to the brushland of the Negeb: Hear the word of GOD. Thus said the Sovereign GOD: I am going to kindle a fire in you, which shall devour every tree of yours, both green and withered. Its leaping flame shall not go out, and every face from south to north shall be scorched by it.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואמרת
647
ליער
310
הנגב
60
שמע
410
דבריהוה
232
כהאמר
266
אדני
65
יהוה
26
הנני
115
מציתבךאש
863
ואכלה
62
בך
22
כלעץלח
248
וכלעץ
216
יבש
312
לאתכבה
458
להבת
437
שלהבת
737
ונצרבובה
361
כלפנים
230
מנגב
95
צפונה
231
Ezekiel 21:4
Gematria: 2027
וראוכלבשרכיאנייהוהבערתיהלאתכבה
Then all flesh shall recognize that I, GOD, have kindled it; it shall not go out.
Word-by-Word Analysis
וראו
213
כלבשר
552
כי
30
אני
61
יהוה
26
בערתיה
687
לא
31
תכבה
427
Ezekiel 21:5
Gematria: 1688
ואמראההאדנייהוההמהאמריםליהלאממשלמשליםהואפ
And I said, “Ah, my Sovereign GOD! They say of me: He is just a riddlemonger.”
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואמר
247
אהה
11
אדני
65
יהוה
26
המה
50
אמרים
291
לי
40
הלא
36
ממשל
410
משלים
420
הואפ
92
Ezekiel 21:6
Gematria: 575
ויהידבריהוהאלילאמר
Then the word of GOD came to me:
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויהי
31
דבריהוה
232
אלי
41
לאמר
271
Ezekiel 21:7
Gematria: 2930
בןאדםשיםפניךאלירושלםוהטףאלמקדשיםוהנבאאלאדמתישראל
O mortal, set your face toward Jerusalem and proclaim against her sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel.
Say to the land of Israel: Thus said GOD: I am going to deal with you! I will draw My sword from its sheath, and I will wipe out from you both the righteous and the wicked.
And when they ask you, “Why do you sigh?” answer, “Because of the tidings that have come.” Every heart shall sink and all hands hang nerveless; every spirit shall grow faint and all knees turn to water because of the tidings that have come. It is approaching, it shall come to pass—declares the Sovereign GOD.
Word-by-Word Analysis
והיה
26
כייאמרו
287
אליך
61
עלמה
145
אתה
406
נאנח
109
ואמרת
647
אלשמועה
452
כיבאה
38
ונמס
156
כללב
82
ורפו
292
כלידים
114
וכהתה
436
כלרוח
264
וכלברכים
328
תלכנה
505
מים
90
הנה
60
באה
8
ונהיתה
476
נאם
91
אדני
65
יהוהפ
106
Ezekiel 21:13
Gematria: 575
ויהידבריהוהאלילאמר
The word of GOD came to me:
Word-by-Word Analysis
ויהי
31
דבריהוה
232
אלי
41
לאמר
271
Ezekiel 21:14
Gematria: 2131
בןאדםהנבאואמרתכהאמראדניאמרחרבחרבהוחדהוגםמרוטה
O mortal, prophesy and say: Thus said the Sovereign: A sword! A sword has been whetted and polished.
It has been whetted to wreak slaughter; [therefore] it has been ground to a brilliant polish.b[therefore] it has been ground to a brilliant polish Lit. “it has been polished in order that it may have lightning.” How can we rejoice? My child, it scornscHow can we rejoice? My child, it scorns Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the rod and every stick.
It has been given to be polished and then grasped in the hand; for this has the sword been whetted, for this polished—to be put into the hand of a slayer.
Cry and wail, O mortal, for this shall befall My people, this shall befall all the chieftains of Israel: they shall be cast before the sword together with My people; oh, strike the thigh [in grief].
Word-by-Word Analysis
זעק
177
והילל
81
בןאדם
97
כיהיא
46
היתה
420
בעמי
122
היא
16
בכלנשיאי
423
ישראל
541
מגורי
259
אלחרב
241
היו
21
אתעמי
521
לכן
100
ספק
240
אלירך
261
Ezekiel 21:18
Gematria: 1360
כיבחןומהאםגםשבטמאסתלאיהיהנאםאדנייהוהפ
Consider: How shall it fail to happen, seeing that it even scorns the rod?dConsider: How shall it fail to happen, seeing that it even scorns the rod? Meaning of Heb. uncertain.—says the Sovereign GOD.
Further, O mortal, prophesy, striking hand against hand. Let the sword strike a second time and yet a third time; it is a sword for massacre, a sword for great carnage, that pressesepresses Meaning of Heb. uncertain. upon them.
Thus hearts shall lose courage and many shall fall. At all their gates I have appointed slaughterfslaughter Meaning of Heb. uncertain. by the sword. Ah! it is made to flash brilliantly, it is honedghoned Meaning of Heb. uncertain. for slaughter.
Word-by-Word Analysis
למען
190
למוג
79
לב
32
והרבה
218
המכשלים
445
על
100
כלשעריהם
675
נתתי
860
אבחתחרב
621
אח
9
עשויה
391
לברק
332
מעטה
124
לטבח
49
Ezekiel 21:21
Gematria: 2039
התאחדיהימניהשימיהשמיליאנהפניךמעדות
Be united,hBe united Meaning of Heb. uncertain; Targum reads “Be whetted.” Cf. vv. 14–16. go to the right, turn left; whither are you bound?
Word-by-Word Analysis
התאחדי
428
הימני
115
השימי
365
השמילי
395
אנה
56
פניך
160
מעדות
520
Ezekiel 21:22
Gematria: 2117
וגםאניאכהכפיאלכפיוהניחתיחמתיאנייהוהדברתיפ
I, too, will strike hand against hand and will satisfy My fury upon you; I, GOD, have spoken.
And you, O mortal, choose two roads on which the sword of the king of Babylon may advance, both issuing from the same country; and select a spot, select it where roads branch off to [two] cities.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ואתה
412
בןאדם
97
שיםלך
400
שנים
400
דרכים
274
לבוא
39
חרב
210
מלךבבל
124
מארץ
331
אחד
13
יצאו
107
שניהם
405
ויד
20
ברא
203
בראש
503
דרךעיר
504
ברא
203
Ezekiel 21:25
Gematria: 3782
דרךתשיםלבואחרבאתרבתבניעמוןואתיהודהבירושלםבצורה
Choose a way for the sword to advance on Rabbah of the Ammonites or on fortified Jerusalem in Judah.
For the king of Babylon has stood at the fork of the road, where two roads branch off, to perform divination: He has shaken arrows, consulted oracle idols, and inspected the liver.iinspected the liver Of a sacrificed animal.
In his right hand came up the omen against Jerusalem—to set battering rams, to proclaim murder, to raise battle shouts, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to erect towers.
jThe inhabitants of Jerusalem disregarded their oaths to the Babylonians; cf. 17.13ff. In their eyes, the oaths they had sworn to them were like empty divination; but this shall serve to recall their guilt, for which they shall be taken to task.
Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: For causing your guilt to be recalled, your transgressions to be uncovered, and your sins to be revealed—all your misdeeds—because you have brought yourselves to [My] mind, you shall be taken to task.
Word-by-Word Analysis
לכן
100
כהאמר
266
אדני
65
יהוה
26
יען
130
הזכרכם
292
עונכם
186
בהגלות
446
פשעיכם
520
להראות
642
חטאותיכם
494
בכל
52
עלילותיכם
616
יען
130
הזכרכם
292
בכף
102
תתפשופ
1266
Ezekiel 21:30
Gematria: 3366
ואתהחללרשענשיאישראלאשרבאיומובעתעוןקץס
And to you, O dishonored wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come—the time set for your punishment—
thus said the Sovereign GOD: Remove the turban and lift off the crown! This shall not remain as it is; exalt the low and abase the high.
Word-by-Word Analysis
כה
25
אמר
241
אדני
65
יהוה
26
הסיר
275
המצנפת
665
והרים
261
העטרה
289
זאת
408
לאזאת
439
השפלה
420
הגבה
15
והגבה
21
השפיל
425
Ezekiel 21:32
Gematria: 3151
עוהעוהעוהאשימנהגםזאתלאהיהעדבאאשרלוהמשפטונתתיופ
Ruin, an utter ruin I will make it. It shall be no morekIt shall be no more Meaning of Heb. uncertain. until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs; and I will give it to him.
Further, O mortal, prophesy and say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD concerning the Ammonites and their blasphemies: Proclaim: O sword! O sword unsheathed for slaughter, polished to the utmost, to a flashing brilliance!
Because they have prophesied falsely about you and have divined deceitfully concerning you, you shall be wielded over the necks of the dishonored wicked ones, for their day has come, the time set for their punishment.lset for their punishment Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Word-by-Word Analysis
בחזות
423
לך
50
שוא
307
בקסםלך
252
כזב
29
לתת
830
אותך
427
אלצוארי
338
חללי
78
רשעים
620
אשרבא
504
יומם
96
בעת
472
עון
126
קץ
190
Ezekiel 21:35
Gematria: 4155
השבאלתערהבמקוםאשרנבראתבארץמכרותיךאשפטאתך
Return it to its sheath!mReturn it to its sheath! Emendation yields “Return to your scabbard!” In this and the following verses, the prophet describes the future punishment of Babylon, still symbolized by the sword. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
I will pour out My indignation upon you, I will blow upon you with the fire of My wrath; and I will deliver you into the hands of barbarians, skilled in destruction.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ושפכתי
816
עליך
130
זעמי
127
באש
303
עברתי
682
אפיח
99
עליך
130
ונתתיך
886
ביד
16
אנשים
401
בערים
322
חרשי
518
משחית
758
Ezekiel 21:37
Gematria: 3136
לאשתהיהלאכלהדמךיהיהבתוךהארץלאתזכריכיאנייהוהדברתיפ
You shall be fuel for the fire, your blood shall sink into the earth, you shall not be remembered, for I, GOD, have spoken.