Ezekiel 21:1
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֥י
H1961
וַיְהִ֥י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 5
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דְבַר
And the word
H1697
דְבַר
And the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
2 of 5
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Historical Context
Delivered circa 590-589 BC as Babylon prepared to besiege Jerusalem, this prophecy warned that God's sword (Babylon) was drawn, sharpened, and ready to strike. Within months, Nebuchadnezzar's armies surrounded the city. The sword oracle's timing—just before actual siege—gave final warning while demonstrating prophetic foreknowledge of imminent events.
Questions for Reflection
- How does vivid judgment imagery (swords, violence) prevent abstract minimizing of divine wrath?
- What does the timing of prophecy (just before fulfillment) teach about God's final warnings?
- In what ways should we balance speaking about judgment graphically versus avoiding gratuitous violence?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The prophetic formula introduces the 'sword oracle'—one of Scripture's most vivid judgment prophecies. Chapter 21 personifies God's sword executing judgment against Jerusalem. The recurring imagery of drawn, sharpened, polished swords creates atmosphere of imminent, inescapable violence. This oracle demonstrates that judgment isn't abstract theology but concrete historical reality involving real suffering.