Ezekiel 21 · Verse 15

Ezekiel 21:15

I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
Ezekiel 21:15, King James Version

Ezekiel 21:15 in other translations

BSBSo that their hearts may melt and many may stumble, I have appointed at all their gates a sword for slaughter. Yes, it is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter.
WEBI have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied. Ah! It is made as lightning. It is pointed for slaughter.
ASVI have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.
YLTTo melt the heart, and to multiply the ruins, By all their gates I have set the point of a sword. Ah, it is made for brightness, Wrapped up for slaughter.
DARBYIn order that the heart may melt, and the stumbling-blocks be multiplied, I have set the threatening sword against all their gates: ah! it is made glittering, it is whetted for the slaughter.
BBEIn order that hearts may become soft, and the number of those who are falling may be increased, I have sent death by the sword against all their doors: you are made like a flame, you are polished for death.
WebsterI have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is sharpened for the slaughter.

What does Ezekiel 21:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. point--"the whirling glance of the sword" [Fairbairn]. "The naked (bared) sword" [Henderson]. ruins--literally, "stumbling-blocks." Their own houses and walls shall be stumbling-blocks in their way, whether they wish to fight or flee. made bright--made to glitter. wrapped, &c.--namely, in the hand of him who holds the hilt, or in its scabbard, that the edge may not be blunt when it is presently drawn forth to strike. Gesenius, translates, "sharpened," &c.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Wrapped up - It is not a blunt sword, it is carefully sharpened and preserved for the slaughter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 21:1-17

The ruin of Judah under the emblem of a sharp sword. (Ezek 21:1-17) The approach of the king of Babylon described. (Ezek 21:18-27) The destruction of the Ammonites. (Ezek 21:28-32) Verses 1-17 Here is an explanation of the parable in the last chapter. It is declared that the Lord was about to cut off Jerusalem and the whole land, that all might know it was his decree against a wicked and rebellious people. It…

Read the full comment on Ezekiel 21:1-17 →

Ezekiel 21:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לְמַ֣עַן\׀le.Ma.'anso asH4616
לָמ֣וּגla.Mugto meltH4127
לֵ֗בLeva heartH3820
וְהַרְבֵּה֙ve.har.Behand [may be] manyH7235
הַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔יםha.mikh.sho.Limthe stumblingsH4383
עַ֚ל'alatH5921
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔םsha.'a.rei.Hemgates theirH8179
נָתַ֖תִּיna.Ta.tiI have setH5414
אִבְחַת\־'iv.chat-a slaughter ofH19
חָ֑רֶבCha.reva swordH2719
אָ֛ח'achalas!H253
עֲשׂוּיָ֥ה'a.su.YahmadeH6213
לְבָרָ֖קle.va.Rakfor lightningH1300
מְעֻטָּ֥הme.'u.TahwrappedH4593
לְטָֽבַח\׃le.Ta.vachfor slaughteringH2874

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 21:15

  • Jeremiah 17:27

    But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

  • Ezekiel 21:10

    It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.

  • 2 Samuel 17:10

    And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

  • Ezekiel 21:22

    At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.

  • Ezekiel 21:28

    And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:

  • Psalms 22:14

    I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

  • Ezekiel 15:7

    And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.

  • 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.

  • Ezekiel 20:47

    And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
point. or, glittering, or fear. against.
22; 15:7; Jer 17:27
that their.
7; 20:47
it is made.
10,28
wrapped up. or, sharpened.
9-11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezekiel 21:14

    Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.

  • Ezekiel 21:15

    I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

  • Ezekiel 21:16

    Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.

Read all of Ezekiel 21

Ezekiel 21:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Para que el corazón desmaye, y los estragos se multipliquen: en todas las puertas de ellos he puesto espanto de espada. ¡Ah! dispuesta está para que relumbre, y aderezada para degollar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est afin qu’elle égorge bien, qu’elle est aiguisée; c’est pour briller comme l’éclair, qu’elle est fourbie. Ou bien nous réjouirions-nous, disant: Le sceptre de mon fils méprise tout bois?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Damit es eine Schlachtung anrichte, ist es geschärft; damit es blitze, ist es geschliffen. Oder sollen wir uns freuen und sagen: Das Scepter meines Sohnes verachtet alles Holz?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et corde tabescere, et multiplicat ruinas. In omnibus portis eorum dedi conturbationem gladii acuti, et limati ad fulgendum, amicti ad cædem.