Bible Strands
Ezekiel 21:9
“Son of man, prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord says: ‘A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished—
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to an unspecified audience about an impending judgment. The declaration follows God's prior address to the prophet in Ezekiel 21:8 and introduces the lethal description of the weapon in Ezekiel 21:10.
The words — The Hebrew הִנָּבֵא (hi.na.Ve') means "prophesy," while אֱמֹ֕ר ('e.Mor) translates to "say," structuring the verse as a direct divine commission to announce what the Lord declares.
The thread — The imagery of a divinely wielded sword appears in Isaiah 34:5, where it descends upon Edom, and in Ezekiel 21:3, where God draws His sword from its sheath. Ezekiel 21:28 also pairs prophetic declaration with divine judgment against a specific nation.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate obedience to announce a coming judgment without softening its severity. It requires the reader to recognize that divine warning precedes execution, leaving no room for self-deception about the certainty of the coming event.
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
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
Cross-references
- Isaiah 34:5 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.
- 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.
- 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—
- Deuteronomy 32:41 when I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me.
- Job 20:25 It is drawn out of his back, the gleaming point from his liver. Terrors come over him.
- Psalms 7:11 God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day.
- 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.
- Isaiah 66:16 For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.
- 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.
- 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.’