Ezekiel Chapter 21 · Verse 3

Authorized King James Version

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And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.

Original Language Analysis

אָמַ֣ר And say H559
אָמַ֣ר And say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 15
to say (used with great latitude)
לְאַדְמַ֣ת to the land H127
לְאַדְמַ֣ת to the land
Strong's: H127
Word #: 2 of 15
soil (from its general redness)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 3 of 15
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
כֹּ֚ה H3541
כֹּ֚ה
Strong's: H3541
Word #: 4 of 15
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַ֣ר And say H559
אָמַ֣ר And say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 5 of 15
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָ֔ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֔ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 6 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הִנְנִ֣י H2005
הִנְנִ֣י
Strong's: H2005
Word #: 7 of 15
lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
אֵלַ֔יִךְ H413
אֵלַ֔יִךְ
Strong's: H413
Word #: 8 of 15
near, with or among; often in general, to
וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י Behold I am against thee and will draw forth H3318
וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י Behold I am against thee and will draw forth
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 9 of 15
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
חַרְבִּ֖י my sword H2719
חַרְבִּ֖י my sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 10 of 15
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ out of his sheath H8593
מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ out of his sheath
Strong's: H8593
Word #: 11 of 15
a knife or razor (as making bare); also a scabbard (as being bare, i.e., empty)
וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י and will cut off H3772
וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י and will cut off
Strong's: H3772
Word #: 12 of 15
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
מִמֵּ֖ךְ H4480
מִמֵּ֖ךְ
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 13 of 15
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
צַדִּ֥יק from thee the righteous H6662
צַדִּ֥יק from thee the righteous
Strong's: H6662
Word #: 14 of 15
just
וְרָשָֽׁע׃ and the wicked H7563
וְרָשָֽׁע׃ and the wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 15 of 15
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

Analysis & Commentary

"And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked." The terrifying declaration "I am against thee" (hineni elayikh, הִנְנִי אֵלַיִךְ) reverses holy war—God fights against Israel, not for them. The drawn sword represents active judgment, not passive permission. Shockingly, both "righteous and wicked" face the sword—comprehensive judgment spares none. This doesn't contradict selective preservation (9:4) but emphasizes judgment's comprehensive scope affecting all residents.

Historical Context

When Babylon conquered Jerusalem, both righteous and wicked experienced the siege, violence, and exile. Daniel, Ezekiel, and other faithful Jews suffered exile alongside idolaters. However, the righteous experienced judgment as discipline leading to restoration, while the wicked faced it as deserved punishment leading to destruction. The same event served different divine purposes for different people—purifying the righteous, punishing the wicked.

Questions for Reflection