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The word of the LORD came to me:
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“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and speak against the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel.
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Say to the land of Israel: Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from among you both the righteous and the wicked.
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Because I will cut off from among you both the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north.
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And all flesh shall know that I, the LORD, have drawn My sword from its sheath; it shall not return again.
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And you, son of man, groan! Groan before them as one whose loins are broken and who is in bitter anguish.
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And when they ask you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of a report! When it comes, every heart will melt, all hands will grow weak, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be like water. It is coming, and it will happen,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
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Then the word of the LORD came to me:
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“Son of man, prophesy and say: Thus says the LORD: A sword! A sword! Sharpened and also polished!
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Sharpened to make a slaughter, polished to flash like lightning. Shall we rejoice? — The rod of my son despises every tree. —
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It is given to be polished, that it may be ready for use; the sword is sharpened and polished, to be put into the hand of the slayer.
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Cry out and wail, son of man! For it is against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They and My people are given over to the sword. Therefore strike your thigh as a sign of mourning.
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For the testing has come, and nothing will stand, declares the Lord GOD.
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And you, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands; let the sword be doubled, yes, tripled. It is a sword for slaughter, a sword for great slaughter, that goes around consuming them.
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So that their hearts may melt and those who stumble may be multiplied at all their gates, I have appointed the sword for slaughter. Ah, it is made like lightning and polished for slaughter.
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Slash to the right and to the left, wherever your edge is directed.
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And I also will clap My hands, and My wrath will subside. I, the LORD, have spoken.”
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Then the word of the LORD came to me:
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“Son of man, mark out two roads by which the sword of the king of Babylon may come; both of them shall start from one land. Set up a signpost at the head of the road that leads to each city.
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Mark out the road by which the sword comes against Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, and against Judah, whose fortified city is Jerusalem.
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For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the head of the two roads, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, consults the teraphim, and looks at the liver.
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In his right hand falls the divination for Jerusalem: to set up the battering rams, to raise the shout of battle, to build the siegeworks against the gates, to heap up a mound, and to erect siege towers.
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But to them it seems like false divination, though they have sworn solemn oaths; yet he brings their guilt to remembrance, so that they are taken.
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Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have brought your guilt to remembrance, by revealing your transgressions, so that your sins are seen in all your deeds, because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken by force.
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And you, O king of Israel, wicked and profane one, whose day has come, the time of final judgment,
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thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown! Things shall not remain as they are. The lowly shall be exalted, and the high shall be brought low.
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A ruin, a ruin, a ruin I will make it! This also shall not remain. Until he comes whose right it is, and to him I will give it.”
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“And you, son of man, prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites and their reproach; say: A sword, a sword is drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, and to flash like lightning —
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while they see false visions for you and give you lying divinations — to be laid against the necks of the wicked and profane, whose day has come, the time of final judgment.
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Return it to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
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I will pour out my wrath upon you and breathe the fire of my anger against you, and I will hand you over to brutal men, skilled in destruction.
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You shall be fuel for the fire; your blood shall be shed in the midst of the land, and you shall be remembered no more, for I, the LORD, have spoken.”
🗡️🔥⚖️ Summary of Ezekiel 21 – The Sword of God against Jerusalem and the Nations
Ezekiel 21 is a severe and symbolic prophecy of God’s judgment through the sword. The sword represents inescapable punishment upon Jerusalem, the nation of Judah, and other nations, especially by the hand of Babylon. God describes the sword as sharpened, sharpened again, and ready for use, without mercy. It is a warning that the time for repentance is nearly over, and judgment will come sharply and painfully.
📌 1. The Lord’s Sword Is Sharpened (verses 1–17)
➡️ The Lord commands Ezekiel to lament and cry out because the sword has been drawn
➡️ The Lord’s sword is sharpened and polished, ready to kill
➡️ Even the royal scepter of Judah will be struck by this sword
➡️ Ezekiel is told to clap his hands, signifying the Lord’s wrath
🎯 God’s judgment is certain, sharp, and just—no one can escape it.
📌 2. The Sword of Babylon Will Strike Everyone (verses 18–23)
➡️ The Lord describes the King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) at a crossroads: toward Ammon or Jerusalem
➡️ Through divination practices (arrows, idols, and liver), he is directed to Jerusalem
➡️ Though the people of Judah regard his oath as false, Babylon will attack according to the Lord’s decision
🎯 The Lord uses even a pagan king and their divination as instruments to carry out His plan.
📌 3. The Sin of the King of Judah and the Fall of the Crown (verses 24–27)
➡️ Because of their sin, the Lord says: “Take him! Remove the turban, lift off the crown!”
➡️ Everything will be reversed—the lowly will be raised up and the high brought low.
➡️ “It will not remain so until He comes whose right it is” – this is a Messianic prophecy
🎯 Human rule will come to an end, and it is the Messiah who is worthy to reign.
📌 4. Judgment on Ammon (verses 28–32)
➡️ The Lord also promises to draw His sword against the Ammonites, who mocked Israel
➡️ They will be remembered for their wickedness and destroyed without restoration
🎯 The Lord judges not only His people, but also the nations that are sinful and proud.
📖 Main Teaching
- The Lord provides time for repentance, but if it is ignored, His judgment will come like a sword
- The Lord is sovereign over history, even through pagan nations
- Judgment shows no favoritism—both God’s people and other nations will be judged if they sin
- The promise of the coming of “He who has the right” is the hope that judgment will be brought to an end by the presence of Christ
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Revelation 19:15
“From His mouth goes forth a sharp sword… to strike the nations.”
➡️ A picture of Jesus as the final Judge who judges the world justly.
📖 Hebrews 4:12
“The word of God… sharper than any two-edged sword.”
➡️ The spiritual sword reveals the heart and convicts sin.
📖 Luke 1:32–33
“He will be great… the Lord will give Him the throne of David.”
➡️ The prophecy of Ezekiel 21:27 about “He who has the right” is fulfilled in Jesus.
📖 Matthew 23:37–38
“Jesus wept over Jerusalem… your house is left desolate.”
➡️ As in Ezekiel, Jesus pronounced judgment on Jerusalem because of its rejection of the Lord.
🕊️ “One sword, one sword has been sharpened and polished…” – Ezekiel 21:9
🕊️ “Remove the turban, take off the crown… nothing shall remain.” – Ezekiel 21:26
🕊️ “Until He comes whose right it is, to Him I will give it.” – Ezekiel 21:27
🕊️ “I will judge you in the place where you were born…” – Ezekiel 21:30
