Ezekiel 21:12 Cry out and wail, O son of man, for the sword is wielded against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel! They are tossed to the sword with My people; therefore strike your thigh.

◄ Ezekiel 21:12 ►

New International Version
Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They are thrown to the sword along with my people. Therefore beat your breast.

New Living Translation
“Son of man, cry out and wail; pound your thighs in anguish, for that sword will slaughter my people and their leaders— everyone will die!

English Standard Version
Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Strike therefore upon your thigh.

Berean Standard Bible
Cry out and wail, O son of man, for the sword is wielded against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel! They are tossed to the sword with My people; therefore strike your thigh.

King James Bible
Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.

New King James Version
“Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh.

New American Standard Bible
Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the officials of Israel. They are turned over to the sword with My people, therefore slap your thigh.

NASB 1995
“Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the officials of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with My people, therefore strike your thigh.

NASB 1977
“Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the officials of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with My people, therefore strike your thigh.

Legacy Standard Bible
Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with My people; therefore slap your thigh.

Amplified Bible
Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They are thrown to the sword along with My [terrified] people. Therefore strike your thigh and strike your chest [in grief].

Christian Standard Bible
“Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel! They are given over to the sword with my people. Therefore strike your thigh in grief.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against My people. It is against all the princes of Israel! They are given over to the sword with My people. Therefore strike your thigh in grief.

American Standard Version
Cry and wail, son of man; for it is upon my people, it is upon all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people; smite therefore upon thy thigh.

Contemporary English Version
Groan in sorrow, Ezekiel; the sword is drawn against my people and their leaders. They will die! So give up all hope.

English Revised Version
Cry and howl, son of man: for it is upon my people, it is upon all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'Cry and mourn, son of man, because the sword will be used against my people and against all the princes of Israel. I will throw the princes and my people on the sword. So beat your breast, and grieve.

Good News Translation
Howl in grief, mortal man; this sword is meant for my people and for all the leaders of Israel. They are going to be killed with all the rest of my people. Beat your breast in despair!

International Standard Version
Cry and wail, you Son of Man! It's headed against my people. It's also against all the princes of Israel, who have been tossed to the sword, along with my people. So it's time to grieve like you mean it,

Majority Standard Bible
Cry out and wail, O son of man, for the sword is wielded against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel! They are tossed to the sword with My people; therefore strike your thigh.

NET Bible
Cry out and moan, son of man, for it is wielded against my people; against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered up to the sword, along with my people. Therefore, strike your thigh.

New Heart English Bible
Cry and wail, son of man; for it is on my people, it is on all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people; strike therefore on your thigh.

Webster's Bible Translation
Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.

World English Bible
Cry and wail, son of man; for it is on my people. It is on all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Therefore beat your thigh.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Cry and howl, son of man, "" For it has been among My people, "" It [is] among all the princes of Israel, "" My people have been cast to the sword. Therefore strike on your thigh,

Young's Literal Translation
Cry and howl, son of man, For it hath been among My people, It is among all the princes of Israel, Cast unto the sword have been My people. Therefore strike on thy thigh,

Smith's Literal Translation
Cry and wail, son of man, for it was upon my people, it was upon all the princes of Israel: terrors for the sword were upon my people: for this, strike upon thy thigh.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Cry, and howl, 0 son of man, for this sword is upon my people, it is upon all the princes of Israel, that are fled: they are delivered up to the sword with my people, strike therefore upon thy thigh,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Cry out and wail, O son of man! For this has been done among my people, this is among all the leaders of Israel, who have fled. They have been handed over to the sword, with my people. Therefore, slap your thigh,

New American Bible
Cry out and howl, son of man, for it is destined for my people, For all the princes of Israel, victims of the sword with my people. Therefore, slap your thigh,

New Revised Standard Version
Cry and wail, O mortal, for it is against my people; it is against all Israel’s princes; they are thrown to the sword, together with my people. Ah! Strike the thigh!

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Cry and wail, Son of man; for it is against my people and against all the princes of Israel;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Cry out and wail, son of man, because it is against my people and against all the Rulers of Israel!

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Cry and wail, son of man; for it is upon My people, it is upon all the princes of Israel; they are thrust down to the sword with My people; smite therefore upon thy thigh.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Cry out and howl, son of man: for this sword is come upon my people, this sword is come upon all the princes of Israel: they shall be as strangers: judgment with the sword is come upon my people: therefore clap thine hands, for sentence has been passed:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The LORD's Sword of Judgment
…11The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished, to be placed in the hand of the slayer. 12Cry out and wail, O son of man, for the sword is wielded against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel! They are tossed to the sword with My people; therefore strike your thigh. 13Surely testing will come! And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue?’ declares the Lord GOD.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 6:26
O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.

Isaiah 22:4
Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

Jeremiah 4:8
So put on sackcloth, mourn and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.”

Jeremiah 9:1
Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.

Lamentations 2:18-19
The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. O wall of the Daughter of Zion, let your tears run down like a river day and night. Give yourself no relief, and your eyes no rest. / Arise, cry out in the night from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are fainting from hunger on the corner of every street.

Joel 1:13
Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, because the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.

Amos 5:16-17
Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says: “There will be wailing in all the public squares and cries of ‘Alas! Alas!’ in all the streets. The farmer will be summoned to mourn, and the mourners to wail. / There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,” says the LORD.

Zephaniah 1:14-16
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

Matthew 24:30
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Luke 19:41-44
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. / For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. ...

Revelation 18:10
In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Revelation 18:19
Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”

Isaiah 15:2-3
Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off. / In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping.

Jeremiah 48:37-38
For every head is shaved and every beard is clipped; on every hand is a gash, and around every waist is sackcloth. / On all the rooftops of Moab and in the public squares, everyone is mourning; for I have shattered Moab like an unwanted jar,” declares the LORD.

Micah 1:8
Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.

Treasury of Scripture

Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be on my people, it shall be on all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be on my people: smite therefore on your thigh.

howl

Ezekiel 21:6
Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.

Ezekiel 9:8
And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

Ezekiel 30:2
Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!

smite.

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 6:11
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Jeremiah 31:12
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

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Ezekiel 21

1. Ezekiel prophesies against Jerusalem with a sign of sighing
8. The sharp and bright sword
18. against Jerusalem
25. against the kingdom
28. and against the Ammonites

Berean Study Bible

Cry out and wail
The phrase "Cry out and wail" in Ezekiel 21:12 is a call to express deep sorrow and lamentation. In the Hebrew text, the word for "cry out" is "za'aq," which conveys a loud, piercing cry, often associated with distress or a call for help. This is not a quiet or subdued expression but a public and intense outpouring of emotion. The word "wail" is "yalal," which is often used in the context of mourning or lamentation over a great loss or impending disaster. Historically, such expressions were common in ancient Near Eastern cultures during times of national calamity or personal grief. This call to lament is a prophetic act, urging the people to recognize the severity of their situation and the impending judgment of God.

for it is against My people
The phrase "for it is against My people" highlights the object of the impending judgment. The possessive "My" indicates God's covenant relationship with Israel. Despite their rebellion, they are still His people, which makes the judgment all the more poignant. The Hebrew word for "people" is "am," which refers to a community bound together by shared identity and covenant. This phrase underscores the gravity of the situation: the judgment is not against foreign nations but against God's own chosen people, emphasizing their accountability to the covenant they have broken.

it is against all the princes of Israel
Here, "it is against all the princes of Israel" specifies the leaders who are particularly targeted by the judgment. The term "princes" (Hebrew: "nasi") refers to the leaders or rulers of the people, those who held authority and were responsible for guiding the nation. Historically, the leaders of Israel were often held accountable for leading the people astray, failing to uphold justice, and neglecting the covenant with God. This phrase indicates that the judgment is not only communal but also directed at those in positions of power who have failed in their duties.

They are delivered over to the sword
The phrase "They are delivered over to the sword" is a vivid depiction of the coming destruction. The "sword" is a common biblical symbol for war and divine judgment. In Hebrew, the word "sword" is "chereb," which often signifies not just physical destruction but also the execution of divine justice. The phrase "delivered over" suggests a handing over or surrendering to this fate, indicating that it is God who allows or decrees this judgment as a consequence of their actions. This serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of turning away from God's commands.

along with My people
The inclusion of "along with My people" reiterates the communal aspect of the judgment. It is not only the leaders who will face the sword but the entire nation. This phrase emphasizes the collective responsibility and the shared consequences of the nation's sins. The use of "My people" again highlights the covenant relationship, reminding the audience of their identity and the expectations that come with it. It serves as a call to repentance and a return to faithfulness, even in the face of impending judgment.

Strike your thigh
Finally, "Strike your thigh" is an expression of deep grief and lamentation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, striking one's thigh was a gesture of mourning, regret, or intense emotional distress. This physical act symbolizes the internal anguish and recognition of the seriousness of the situation. It is a call to acknowledge the reality of the judgment and to respond with appropriate sorrow and repentance. This gesture serves as a powerful reminder of the need for genuine contrition and the hope for restoration through repentance.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Smite therefore upon thy thigh.--A mark of extreme grief, see Jeremiah 31:19. The connection of Ezekiel 21:11-12 with the objection in Ezekiel 21:10 is this: you think there is security for you in the promise to Judah; do not deceive yourselves, but prepare for sorrow and desolation.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - Terrors by reason of the sword; better, as in the Revised Version and margin of the Authorized Version, They (the princes of Judah, corresponding to the "rod" of ver. 10) are delivered over to the sword with my people. At this stage, in contemplating the destruction alike of princes and of people, the prophet is bidden to make his gestures of lamentation yet more expressive, "crying, howling, smiting on his thigh" (Jeremiah 31:19).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Cry out
זְעַ֤ק (zə·‘aq)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 2199: To shriek, to announce, convene publicly

and wail,
וְהֵילֵל֙ (wə·hê·lêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3213: To howl, make a howling

O son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of man,
אָדָ֔ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

it
הִיא֙ (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is
הָיתָ֣ה‪‬ (hāy·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

against My people;
בְעַמִּ֔י (ḇə·‘am·mî)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

it
הִ֖יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is against all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the princes
נְשִׂיאֵ֣י (nə·śî·’ê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist

of Israel!
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

They are
הָי֣וּ (hā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

tossed
מְגוּרֵ֤י (mə·ḡū·rê)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4048: To yield up, to precipitate

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the sword
חֶ֙רֶב֙ (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

My people;
עַמִּ֔י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

therefore
לָכֵ֖ן (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

strike
סְפֹ֥ק (sə·p̄ōq)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5606: To clap the hands, of satisfaction, to be enough, of excess, to vomit

your thigh.
יָרֵֽךְ׃ (yā·rêḵ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3409: Thigh,loin, flank, side

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 21:12 Cry and wail son of man (Ezek. Eze Ezk)