Ezekiel 21:12

Cry out and wail, O son of man, for the sword is wielded against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel! They are tossed to the sword with My people; therefore strike your thigh.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel, commanding him to vocalize grief as the divinely appointed sword approaches the people of Israel and their rulers. This occurs in the middle of a vision detailing the sharpening and preparation of that weapon for execution.

The words — The opening command uses זְעַק (ze.'Ak), meaning "cry out," joined with וְהֵילֵל (ve./hei.Lel), meaning "wail," to direct the prophet's immediate vocal response to the coming violence.

The thread — This directive aligns with the prophetic pattern in Ezekiel 21:6, Joel 1:13, and Jeremiah 25:34, where leaders and communities are ordered to lament as national judgment arrives.

Why it lands — The text requires the prophet to publicly acknowledge the certainty of coming destruction before the event occurs, demanding that readers face the reality of divine discipline without evasion or comfort.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 21:6 But you, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief.
Joel 1:13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, because the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.
Jeremiah 25:34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For the days of your slaughter have come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.
Jeremiah 31:12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish.
Jeremiah 31:19 After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
Ezekiel 6:11 This is what the Lord GOD says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and cry out “Alas!” because of all the wicked abominations of the house of Israel, who will fall by sword and famine and plague.
Ezekiel 9:8 While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel?”
Ezekiel 21:14 ‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side!
Ezekiel 30:2 “Son of man, prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Wail, ‘Alas for that day!’
Micah 1:8 Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.