Ezekiel 21:32

Authorized King James Version

PDF

Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.

Original Language Analysis

לָאֵ֤שׁ to the fire H784
לָאֵ֤שׁ to the fire
Strong's: H784
Word #: 1 of 13
fire (literally or figuratively)
תִּֽהְיֶה֙ H1961
תִּֽהְיֶה֙
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 2 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לְאָכְלָ֔ה Thou shalt be for fuel H402
לְאָכְלָ֔ה Thou shalt be for fuel
Strong's: H402
Word #: 3 of 13
food
דָּמֵ֥ךְ thy blood H1818
דָּמֵ֥ךְ thy blood
Strong's: H1818
Word #: 4 of 13
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
יִהְיֶ֖ה H1961
יִהְיֶ֖ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 5 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּת֣וֹךְ shall be in the midst H8432
בְּת֣וֹךְ shall be in the midst
Strong's: H8432
Word #: 6 of 13
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
הָאָ֑רֶץ of the land H776
הָאָ֑רֶץ of the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 7 of 13
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
לֹ֣א H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 8 of 13
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִזָּכֵ֔רִי thou shalt be no more remembered H2142
תִזָּכֵ֔רִי thou shalt be no more remembered
Strong's: H2142
Word #: 9 of 13
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
כִּ֛י H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 10 of 13
(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 #: 11 of 13
i
יְהוָ֖ה for I the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה for I the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 12 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ have spoken H1696
דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ have spoken
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 13 of 13
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

Analysis & Commentary

Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire—Ammon itself would become אָכְלָה לָאֵשׁ (oklāh lāēsh, 'food for fire'), not merely destroyed by fire but consumed as its fuel. This intensifies the judgment: complete obliteration.

Thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered—The Hebrew זָכַר (zākar, 'to remember/mention') indicates total erasure from collective memory. Unlike Israel, who would be preserved and restored (chapter 37), Ammon would vanish from history. For I the LORD have spoken it—The divine signature כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה דִּבַּרְתִּי (kî ănî YHWH dibbartî) seals the prophecy with absolute certainty. What God speaks must occur (Isaiah 55:11). Archaeological and historical records confirm: after the Babylonian conquest, Ammonite culture disappeared, absorbed into Arab populations.

Historical Context

By the 3rd century BC, 'Ammon' existed only as a geographical reference (Amman). The Ammonites as a distinct people were gone. In contrast, Jewish identity survived Babylonian exile. This dramatic difference fulfilled Ezekiel's distinction between Israel's discipline and Ammon's destruction.

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

People