Ezekiel 21:7
And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.
Original Language Analysis
וְנִֽהְיָ֔תָה
and shall be brought to pass
H1961
וְנִֽהְיָ֔תָה
and shall be brought to pass
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 32
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
2 of 32
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
וְאָמַרְתָּ֡
And it shall be when they say
H559
וְאָמַרְתָּ֡
And it shall be when they say
Strong's:
H559
Word #:
3 of 32
to say (used with great latitude)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 32
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מָ֖ה
H4100
מָ֖ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
6 of 32
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
וְאָמַרְתָּ֡
And it shall be when they say
H559
וְאָמַרְתָּ֡
And it shall be when they say
Strong's:
H559
Word #:
9 of 32
to say (used with great latitude)
כִֽי
H3588
כִֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
12 of 32
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בָאָה֙
because it cometh
H935
בָאָה֙
because it cometh
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
13 of 32
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְנָמֵ֣ס
shall melt
H4549
וְנָמֵ֣ס
shall melt
Strong's:
H4549
Word #:
14 of 32
to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
15 of 32
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לֵב֩
and every heart
H3820
לֵב֩
and every heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
16 of 32
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
וְרָפ֨וּ
shall be feeble
H7503
וְרָפ֨וּ
shall be feeble
Strong's:
H7503
Word #:
17 of 32
to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
18 of 32
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יָדַ֜יִם
and all hands
H3027
יָדַ֜יִם
and all hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
19 of 32
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
וְכִהֲתָ֣ה
shall faint
H3543
וְכִהֲתָ֣ה
shall faint
Strong's:
H3543
Word #:
20 of 32
to be weak, i.e., (figuratively) to despond (causatively, rebuke), or (of light, the eye) to grow dull
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
21 of 32
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
ר֗וּחַ
and every spirit
H7307
ר֗וּחַ
and every spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
22 of 32
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
23 of 32
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
תֵּלַ֣כְנָה
H1980
תֵּלַ֣כְנָה
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
25 of 32
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
מַּ֔יִם
as water
H4325
מַּ֔יִם
as water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
26 of 32
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
בָאָה֙
because it cometh
H935
בָאָה֙
because it cometh
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
28 of 32
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְנִֽהְיָ֔תָה
and shall be brought to pass
H1961
וְנִֽהְיָ֔תָה
and shall be brought to pass
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
29 of 32
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Cross References
Ezekiel 7:17All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.Hebrews 12:12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;Isaiah 13:7Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:Jeremiah 50:43The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.Nahum 2:10She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.Ezekiel 7:26Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
Historical Context
This describes the response when Jerusalem's fall became known. Ezekiel 33:21-22 records when a fugitive arrived announcing 'The city is smitten.' The news devastated the exiles who still hoped for quick deliverance. Their physical and emotional collapse fulfilled this prophecy exactly.
Questions for Reflection
- How should certainty of judgment affect our evangelistic urgency?
- What does comprehensive human helplessness before divine judgment teach about the need for God's mercy?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
'And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.' When people ask about his sighing, Ezekiel must explain: devastating news is coming. The description—hearts melting, hands feeble, spirits fainting, knees like water—depicts comprehensive terror and helplessness. 'Behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass' emphasizes absolute certainty. No escape, no prevention.