Ezekiel 21:4

Authorized King James Version

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Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:

Original Language Analysis

יַ֛עַן Seeing H3282
יַ֛עַן Seeing
Strong's: H3282
Word #: 1 of 15
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
אֲשֶׁר H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 2 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִכְרַ֥תִּי then that I will cut off H3772
הִכְרַ֥תִּי then that I will cut off
Strong's: H3772
Word #: 3 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 #: 4 of 15
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
צַדִּ֣יק from thee the righteous H6662
צַדִּ֣יק from thee the righteous
Strong's: H6662
Word #: 5 of 15
just
וְרָשָׁ֑ע and the wicked H7563
וְרָשָׁ֑ע and the wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 6 of 15
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
לָ֠כֵן H3651
לָ֠כֵן
Strong's: H3651
Word #: 7 of 15
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
תֵּצֵ֨א go forth H3318
תֵּצֵ֨א go forth
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 8 of 15
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
חַרְבִּ֧י therefore shall my sword H2719
חַרְבִּ֧י therefore shall my sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 9 of 15
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
מִתַּעְרָ֛הּ out of his sheath H8593
מִתַּעְרָ֛הּ out of his sheath
Strong's: H8593
Word #: 10 of 15
a knife or razor (as making bare); also a scabbard (as being bare, i.e., empty)
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 11 of 15
near, with or among; often in general, to
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 12 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בָּשָׂ֖ר against all flesh H1320
בָּשָׂ֖ר against all flesh
Strong's: H1320
Word #: 13 of 15
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
מִנֶּ֥גֶב from the south H5045
מִנֶּ֥גֶב from the south
Strong's: H5045
Word #: 14 of 15
the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)
צָפֽוֹן׃ to the north H6828
צָפֽוֹן׃ to the north
Strong's: H6828
Word #: 15 of 15
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)

Analysis & Commentary

"Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:" The comprehensive scope "from south to north" (mi-negev ad-tzafon, מִנֶּגֶב עַד־צָפוֹן) covers entire land—no region escapes. "Against all flesh" (el-kol-basar, אֶל־כָּל־בָּשָׂר) universalizes judgment. The drawn sword remains unsheathed until judgment completes—no premature mercy interrupts God's determined purpose. This totality ensures no one escapes through geography or strategy.

Historical Context

Babylon's conquest indeed affected the entire land from southern Negev to northern borders. Archaeological surveys document comprehensive destruction across Judah. No city or region avoided devastation. The totality fulfilled this prophecy—the drawn sword didn't return to its sheath until judgment was complete. This geographic comprehensiveness demonstrated that covenant violation brought universal consequences, not localized problems.

Questions for Reflection

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