*THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
EZEKIEL

Ezekiel 21

1Ezekiel prophesieth the sword of the Lord against all flesh in the land of Israel, sighing bitterly for a sign. 8Another prophecy of a bright and sharp sword, commissioned to destroy. 18The sword of the king of Babylon, in suspense which of two ways to take, by divination is directed the way to Jerusalem. 25The fall of the profane prince of Israel, and of his kingdom for a time. 28The destruction of the Ammonites.


1AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2Son of man, 1set thy face toward Jerusalem, and 2drop thy word toward 3the holy places, and prophesy against the 4land of Israel,

1 See Ezek. 20 on verse 46.

2 That is, teach, reprove, exhort. See Deut. 32 on verse 2.

3 Understand the temple of the Lord, concerning which the Jews did boast and brag as if it could not be destroyed, Jer. 7:4. The plural number is used, because this temple had several parts. See Lev. 26 on verse 31.

4 Understand the land of Judah, which was a part of the land of Canaan, which the Lord had promised unto the Israelites for their inheritance. See Ezek. 6 on verse 2.

3And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, 5I am against thee, and will draw forth my 6sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the 7righteous and the wicked.

5 As if the Lord said: Not only the Babylonians are set against you, but I Myself am your Adversary also, ready to destroy you. See Ezek. 13:8.

6 It is spoken of God after the manner of men, as also Lev. 26:33. Sword for the punishment for war, Lev. 26:6. Sometimes it seems to comprehend yet some other punishment, as Job 19:29, as war is a sea of all manner of plagues. See also Psalm 22 on verse 20.

7 Understand the righteous in show, but not in truth, as Ezek. 3:20; see the annotation. Or, the righteous in comparison to the wicked who is more unrighteous. He, who is less wicked, is justified by him who is more wicked, that is, he is counted more righteous in respect of him. See Ezek. 16:51, 52. If the word righteous be taken for the true, godly man, then he is punished with the wicked man, because he continues with him, though the godly man does not perish as does the wicked man. Compare Rev. 18:4.

4Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath 8against all flesh from the south to the north:

8 See Ezek. 20 on verses 47 and 48.

5That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall 9not return any more.

9 That is, not to be put up into the sheath again; that is, not cease from destroying until it shall have executed My full vengeance.

610Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the 11breaking of thy loins; and 12with bitterness sigh before 13their eyes.

10 Namely, to represent the lamentation and the howling which the Jews would make when they would hear the news of the Chaldeans’ arrival.

11 That is, with such heavy drawing up of his breath out of the depth of his body, and with such a carriage and wringing of his limbs, as if his loins were broken.

12 That is, with most inward smarting grief. Compare 2 Kings 4 on verse 27.

13 Namely, of the people among whom thou dwellest; for, the prophet’s act was to be a sure sign unto the congregation of the punishments which would come upon the Jews in Judea and Chaldea.

7And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the 14tidings; because it cometh: and every heart 15shall melt,a and all hands 16shall be feeble,b and every 17spirit shall 18faint,c and all kneesd shall be 19weak as water: behold, it 20cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.

14 That is, the certain news of the arrival of the Chaldeans to destroy you.

15 Namely, for fear. See Deut. 1 on verse 28; Joshua 2 on verse 11.

a Jer. 49:23.

16 Through astonishment and consternation. See 2 Sam. 4 on verse 1.

b Jer. 6:24; Ezek. 7:17.

17 That is, bravery and courage. See Prov. 15 on verse 13.

18 That is, to be afflicted, pressed and vexed by the apprehension and feeling of its miseries. The contrary is when the heart dilates and spreads itself, Psalm 119:32.

c Ezek. 4:17.

d Ezek. 7:17.

19 Hebr. go away, that is, lose their strength. See Ezek. 7 on verse 17.

20 Namely, the rumor, just mentioned.

8¶Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, 21A sword, 22a sword is 23sharpened, and also 24furbished:

21 Understand by the sword the plague of war. See Lev. 26 on verse 6.

22 The word is doubled to express the greatness and certainty of the thing which is related, as likewise the grief and sorrow of him who relates the account, and also to stir them up, who concerns the account, to hearty sorrow and grief. Compare verse 28; 2 Kings 4:19; Isa. 26:5; Jer. 4:19.

23 Namely, to punish and to destroy you.

24 That is, made clean, neat and elegant.

10It is sharpened to make 25a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may 26glitter: 27should we then make mirth? 28it 29contemneth 30the rod 31of my son, as 32every tree.

25 Understand hereby the slaying and murdering of the Jews by the sword and weapons of the Chaldeans. The Hebrew word is likewise thus taken Psalm 37:14; Isa. 34:6; Jer. 25:34. Otherwise it signifies the slaughter of beasts for man’s food and nourishment, Gen. 43:16; Prov. 9:2; see the annotations.

26 That is, be suitable to terrify and to kill. Compare Deut. 32:41; Job 20:25 and the annotations.

27 Some take these to be the words of the prophet unto the Jews, wherein he gives a reason why he ought to sigh as he was instructed, verse 6; namely, because there was no cause of gladness, but sufficient cause of mourning and sighing. Hebr. or we shall rejoice.

28 Namely, the aforementioned sword. These are the words of God unto the prophet.

29 That is, is so strong and tough that it cannot be broken by beating against any wood, be it ever so hard. Other, the tribe of my son contemneth all wood, that is, My people cares not for any Fatherly correction, therefore I will punish them with the sword.

30 That is, the scourge or punishment. See Job 9 on verse 34.

31 That is, wherewith I chastise My son, namely, My people Israel, who are so called in respect of the covenant of grace. See Exod. 4:22 and the annotation. Or, understand the natural and eternal Son of God, by Whom the Father executes His judgments, Psalm 2:7, 8, 9, 12.

32 Some: all trees, that is, all men who were left in Judah, both high and low, princes and the congregation. See verse 12.

11And 33he hath given 34it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand 35of the slayer.

33 Namely, God.

34 Namely, the sword.

35 That is, of the king of Babel and his army.

12Cry and howl, son of man: for 36it shall be 37upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: 38terrorse by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: 39smitef therefore upon thy thigh.

36 Namely, that sharpened and furbished sword.

37 Namely, to destroy and to cut them off.

38 Other, they, namely the aforementioned princes, shall be thrust down into the sword with my people, that is, shall fall into the sword and perish by war.

e Ezek. 7:27.

39 Namely, unto a sign of great sorrow. See Jer. 31:19.

f Ezek. 6:11.

1340Because it isg a 41trial, and 42what 43if the sword 44contemn 45even the rod? 46it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.

40 Or, When the trial hath been, what then? shall they not also belong to the despising rod?

g Isa. 1:5; Jer. 6:28, etc.

41 Namely, whereby I previously tried My people by the Chaldeans and other enemies that grievously plagued them, 2 Kings 23:33; 24:1, etc.; 2 Chron. 36:3, etc. Other, If it were a trial, what would it be? Should he nevertheless not be a contemning tribe?

42 That is, what did it avail, namely, for the amendment of My people? As if He would say: Nothing at all.

43 Other, should they then (namely, My people) also not be without the contemning rod!

44 See of the contemning rod on verse 10.

45 Namely, in regard the people grow daily worse and worse.

46 Whereby they may be punished according to their deserts.

14Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and 47smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled 48the third time, the 49sword of the slain: it is the sword of the 50great men that are slain, which entereth 51into their privyh chambers.

47 That is, smite your hands together, namely, for a sign of grief and sorrow for the willful perverseness of the Jews, and of their terrible ruin and destruction. Also Ezek. 6:11; see the annotation. It may also be that this clapping of the hands is commanded to the prophet to signify how the Chaldeans would incite one another to fall upon the Jews. Compare the 17th verse following; Ezek. 22:13.

48 That is, to be used often to destroy the Jews. Or, understand this of three great slaughters which the Chaldeans made among the Jews. See of the first 2 Kings 25:5, 6, 7; Jer. 52:8, 9, 10, 11; of the second 2 Kings 25:8, 9, 10, etc.; Jer. 52:12, 13, 14, etc.; and of the third, which after the death of Gedaliah was also made by the Chaldeans among the Jews who were fled into Egypt, see Jeremiah 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46.

49 That is, which shall slay and destroy many people.

50 That is, wherewith not only ordinary and common people, but even lords and princes shall be slain. See of the words great men taken as such 2 Kings 5:1; 10:6, and the annotations.

51 That is, unto those who shall hide themselves in the most secret and private places to escape the sword. Compare 1 Kings 20:30; 22:25. Hebr. which shall descend, or is descending unto them in the innermost places.

h secret, private*

15I have set the 52point of the sword against all 53their gates, that their heart may 54faint, and their 55ruins be multiplied: 56ah! 57it isi made 58bright, it is 59wrapped up for the slaughter.

52 Or, edge, or, brightness. Others translate the word as terror, slaughter, or cry. It is only found here.

53 That is, against their cities, strongholds, which in times past mainly consisted in their gates. See Gen. 22 on verse 17.

54 That is, may perish for anguish and fear, and may lose all its strength. Also Joshua 2:9, 24; Job 30:22.

55 That is, the occasions of falling, where into they shall cast and destroy themselves, seeking indeed to escape dangers, and to save their lives, but would find themselves out of one mishap into another. Compare Ezek. 7:19.

56 These are the words of the prophet, lamenting the misery of his people.

57 Namely, the sword.

i verse 28.

58 Hebr. for glittering, that is, in order that is suitable to terrify and to destroy the obstinate Jews. Compare verses 10 and 28.

59 That is, it is laid aside to have it ready for the slaughter. Other, sharpened.

1660Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, 61whithersoever thy face is set.

60 Hebr. Keep close together, go the right hand, order thyself, go to the left hand. See of this manner of speech Psalm 45 on verse 4. The Lord addresses the sword as if it were the soldier himself that was to use it. See Job 14 on verse 7. He gives it a charge to join and unite itself together with the other swords or soldiers of his band, that they may all at once with one carriage and strength fall upon the enemy, whether on the right or on the left.

61 That is, to what part or place of Judea that thou art commanded to go there to kill and to destroy. Spare not, nor pity any man.

17I will also 62smite mine hands together, and I will cause 63my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.

62 Namely, to encourage the Chaldeans, and to instigate, to rouse them to destroy and exterminate the Jewish nation. See the annotation on verse 14. Understand that this would so appear by the event of the business that the actions of the Chaldeans agreed with the righteous will of God.

63 That is, wreak My rage upon you, and satisfy My wrath upon you. Compare Ezek. 5 on verse 13.

18¶The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

19Also, thou son of man, 64appoint thee 65two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of 66one land: and choose thou a 67place, choose it 68at the head of the way to the city.

64 Or, set before thee, namely, to portray and to express it in a picture, as Ezek. 4:1, 2.

65 Namely, both ways coming forth out of the land of Babylon; of which one was on the right hand, to come into Judea; the other on the left, to come into the land of the Amorites. Nebuchadnezzar at this time took counsel which land he would first attack in this expedition, which is here signified by these two ways.

66 Namely, Babylon. Or, out of one man’s land, that is, of the king of Babel.

67 Hebr. hand. See Prov. 8:3 and the annotation. Understand from where the king of Babel would invade the land of the Jews.

68 That is, at the beginning of the crossways, namely, at the road which turns to the city of Jerusalem. It is a prophecy which Nebuchadnezzar would first seek to bring the land of the Jews under his subjection, that he might afterwards subdue the Ammonites also.

20Appoint a way, that the sword may come to 69Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

69 See 2 Sam. 11 on verse 1.

21For the king of Babylon 70stood 71at the 72parting of the way, at the 73head of the two ways, to use 74divination: he made his arrows 75bright, he 76consulted with 77images, he looked in the 78liver.

70 Namely, when he shall march up with an army out of his own land toward the south to do a military expedition. In the Hebrew the time passed is used stood, to show the certainty of this account, as if it had already been done.

71 Namely, as one who doubts which way he was to go, whether the way which leads to the right hand or which leads to the left.

72 Hebr. at the mother of the way. Understand a crossroad or a two-way, which is divided into two ways. The parting of the way is called a mother of ways, because other ways do come forth out of it, as children do come forth from a mother.

73 That is, at the beginning, the entry. See Ezek. 16:25 and the annotation.

74 Hebr. to divine divination, that is, to use divination, or to deal in divination. See of the word divination Prov. 16 on verse 10. The sense is, that he would use the art of his idolatrous divination to see which way he should go.

75 Namely, to the end that, when he would have made use of them according to his superstitious custom, they might tell him which way he would choose. Others translate the word arrows knives, which were wiped and made clean when they had done many offerings therewith, from which the Gentiles made their divinations.

76 Namely, for counsel.

77 See Gen. 31 on verse 19.

78 Namely, of their slain beasts. From the disposition of the liver they judged, according to their idolatrous superstition, what they were to do or to omit.

22At his right hand was the divination 79for Jerusalem, 80to appoint 81captains, to open 82the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up 83the voice with shouting, to appoint 84battering rams against the gates, to castj a mount,k and to build a fort.

79 That is, the divination shall show that Nebuchadnezzar was to choose the right hand to besiege Jerusalem first.

80 That is, to attempt and to ordain the siege against Jerusalem.

81 The Hebrew word is also taken at 2 Kings 11:4, but in the following words of this verse it signifies battering rams, as also Ezek. 4:2.

82 That is, to drive on the soldiers with a great noise and cry to the murdering and destroying of the Jews, or, for the opening of some gap in the wall whereby they might break into the city. The following word shouting may also be translated a broken sound.

83 That is, with a fearful alarm to confound the enemies, and to attack the city.

84 See Ezek. 4 on verse 2.

j build a raised fortification

k Ezek. 4:2; 17:17.

23And 85it shall be unto 86them as a 87false divination 88in their sight, 89to them that have sworn oaths: but 90he will call to remembrance the 91iniquity, 92that they may be 93taken.

85 That is, this your prophecy.

86 Namely, the Jews.

87 Hebr. a divination of vanity or of a lie. Compare verse 29.

88 That is, in their judgment. See Job 18 on verse 3.

89 Namely, the Jews with the Egyptians, or also other nations round about, who had promised the Jews with an oath that they would protect them against the Chaldeans. Some understand it of the oath whereby they were engaged to the king of Babel; from what follows.

90 Namely, the king of Babel.

91 Understand the disloyalty and perjury which king Zedekiah had shown in breaking his covenant made with Nebuchadnezzar.

92 Namely, the Jews who dwelt in Jerusalem and in places resorting to it.

93 Or, apprehended, or taken in custody, that is, be conquered and subdued by weapons of war and carried away captive.

24Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to 94be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the 95hand.

94 That is, because ye make Me and the king of Babel to remember it by going on willfully and openly in your perjury, and strengthening yourselves therein by new covenants which ye have made with other nations against the king of Babel.

95 Namely, of Nebuchadnezzar, that is, by his mighty army.

25¶And thou, 96profane 97wicked prince of Israel, whose 98day is come, when iniquity shall have an 99end,

96 He means Zedekiah, king of Judah.

97 Namely, by reason of his idolatry against God, perjury against king Nebuchadnezzar, cruelty against his own subjects, etc.

98 Namely, of thy punishment and ruin. See Job 18:20 and the annotation; Psalm 37 on verse 13. Likewise below verse 29.

99 That is, when iniquity shall be come to the highest and shall be full, Gen. 15:16. Hebr. at the time of the iniquity of the end, or of the utmost, that is, to the utmost or final iniquity; or we may understand with some by iniquity (as elsewhere) the punishment of iniquity, and of the end, that is, which shall make an end of them, or which shall put an end to them. Also verse 29; Ezek. 35:5.

26Thus saith the Lord GOD; 100Remove the diadem,l and take off the crown: this shall not be the 101same: exalt him that is 102low, and abase him 103that is high.

100 Namely, from thine head. See of this hat Exod. 28 on verse 4.

l head-dress

101 That is, be no more thy crown, that is, thou shalt be no more king.

102 Understand king Jehoiachin, who was in the Babylonian prison, of whose exaltation see 2 Kings 25:27, etc.

103 That is, Zedekiah, who indeed was king at this present, but would be soon taken prisoner, be made blind, and carried away to Babel. See 2 Kings 25:6, 7.

27I will 104overturn, overturn, overturn, 105it: and 106it shall be no more, until he come whose 107right it is; and I will give 108it him.

104 That is, utterly abolish, overthrow and destroy it. The same word is repeated thrice, to show the certainty of the prediction, and the zeal of the prophet, and also to move him effectively whom it did concern. Compare Jer. 7:4; 22:29. The Hebrew word is also taken at Isa. 24:1.

105 Namely, this crown, of which is mentioned in the previous verse.

106 That is, there shall be no king from the tribe of Judah.

107 Namely, to have the crown. This is our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the true Son and Successor of David.

108 Namely, the right.

28¶And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their 109reproach; even say thou, The sword, 110the sword is 111drawn: for the 112slaughter it is furbished, 113to consume 114because of the glittering:

109 Namely, which they have done unto My people; whereof see Ezek. 25:6; Zeph. 2:8.

110 Of similar doubling of this word, see on verse 9.

111 Hebr. opened. See Psalm 37 on verse 14.

112 Namely, of you, O Ammonites, who have likewise revolted from king Nebuchadnezzar, and therefore you shall not escape destruction, though it is Jerusalem’s turn first.

113 Other, to apprehend or to take hold.

114 That is, because it is prepared even unto glittering, that with the slaughter it shall also cause great fear and terror. Compare with verse 10.

29Whiles 115they see 116vanity unto 117thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the 118necks of them 119that are slain, of the wicked, 120whose 121day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.

115 Understand the false prophets of the Ammonites.

116 That is, prophecy falsehood, namely, concerning peace. For, while they thus flatter you, the Chaldeans shall fall upon you.

117 He speaks unto the people of the Ammonites.

118 That is, to cause you to rejoice at the Jews, who are oppressed by the Chaldeans, as if you were not to expect the same oppression yourselves.

119 Hebr. of the slain of the wicked. Understand the Jews, who were murdered by the Chaldeans.

120 Namely, the slain.

121 See on verse 25.

30122Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will 123judge thee in the place 124where thou wast created, in the land of thy 125nativity.

122 That is, do not resist the Chaldeans, for, it will not avail you. Other, Should I cause the sword to return into his sheath? Intimating, No; but in the place, etc.

123 That is, punish with the sword of the Chaldeans. See Gen. 15 on verse 14.

124 That is, in the country where thou wast born.

125 Other, of thy dealings.

31And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the 126fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of 127brutish men, and 128skilful to destroy.

126 Compare Ezek. 20:47 and the annotations.

127 Namely, burning with anger and enmity. Other, irrational men.

128 Or, devisers of destruction, that is, who are skilful and cunning to cause destruction.

32Thou shalt be 129for fuel to the fire; thy 130blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be 131no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.

129 Hebr. for to eat, that is, for the fire to eat thee. As the fire devours wood, as such shall the enemies devour thee.

130 Namely, cruelly shed everywhere by the enemies.

131 Namely, by the people. Thus shalt thou be entirely destroyed. Compare Ezek. 25:10.