Ezekiel 17:21

Authorized King James Version

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And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.

Original Language Analysis

וְאֵ֨ת H853
וְאֵ֨ת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 1 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 2 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִבְרָחָ֤ו And all his fugitives H4015
מִבְרָחָ֤ו And all his fugitives
Strong's: H4015
Word #: 3 of 16
a refugee
בְּכָל H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 4 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲגַפָּיו֙ with all his bands H102
אֲגַפָּיו֙ with all his bands
Strong's: H102
Word #: 5 of 16
(only plural) wings of an army, or crowds of troops
בַּחֶ֣רֶב by the sword H2719
בַּחֶ֣רֶב by the sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 6 of 16
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
יִפֹּ֔לוּ shall fall H5307
יִפֹּ֔לוּ shall fall
Strong's: H5307
Word #: 7 of 16
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים and they that remain H7604
וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים and they that remain
Strong's: H7604
Word #: 8 of 16
properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant
לְכָל H3605
לְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 9 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
ר֣וּחַ toward all winds H7307
ר֣וּחַ toward all winds
Strong's: H7307
Word #: 10 of 16
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
יִפָּרֵ֑שׂוּ shall be scattered H6566
יִפָּרֵ֑שׂוּ shall be scattered
Strong's: H6566
Word #: 11 of 16
to break apart, disperse, etc
וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם and ye shall know H3045
וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם and ye shall know
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 12 of 16
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
כִּ֛י H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 13 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֲנִ֥י H589
אֲנִ֥י
Strong's: H589
Word #: 14 of 16
i
יְהוָ֖ה that I the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה that I the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 15 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ have spoken H1696
דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ have spoken
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 16 of 16
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

Analysis & Commentary

Comprehensive military defeat: 'all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds.' Total destruction and dispersion. 'And ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it' appears throughout Ezekiel (60+ times), emphasizing that fulfillment demonstrates God's sovereignty and prophetic authority. When events unfold as predicted, skeptics must acknowledge God's word.

Historical Context

The 586 BC fall fulfilled this precisely. The siege lasted 18 months, causing extreme famine (Lamentations 4:9-10). When Babylon breached walls, Zedekiah's army scattered. Survivors were executed, deported to Babylon, or fled to surrounding nations. Archaeological evidence shows widespread destruction of Judean cities, confirming devastation's scope.

Questions for Reflection

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