Ezekiel 21:14
New International Version
“So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times. It is a sword for slaughter— a sword for great slaughter, closing in on them from every side.

New Living Translation
“Son of man, prophesy to them and clap your hands. Then take the sword and brandish it twice, even three times, to symbolize the great massacre, the great massacre facing them on every side.

English Standard Version
“As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them,

Berean Standard Bible
‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side!

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“You therefore, son of man, prophesy, And strike your hands together. The third time let the sword do double damage. It is the sword that slays, The sword that slays the great men, That enters their private chambers.

New American Standard Bible
“You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them,

NASB 1995
“You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them,

NASB 1977
“You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and clap your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them,

Legacy Standard Bible
“You therefore, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them,

Amplified Bible
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time [in intensity], the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter which surrounds them [so that no one can escape, even by hiding in their inner rooms],

Christian Standard Bible
“So you, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together: Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword for massacre, a sword for great massacre — it surrounds them!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword for massacre, a sword for great massacre— it surrounds them!

American Standard Version
Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded, which entereth into their chambers.

Contemporary English Version
Ezekiel, warn my people, then celebrate my victory by clapping your hands. My vicious sword will attack again and again, killing my people with every stroke.

English Revised Version
Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded, which entereth into their chambers.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So prophesy, son of man. Clap your hands! Let the sword strike again and again. It's the sword for killing. It's the sword for killing many people. It's the sword that surrounds them.

Good News Translation
"Now, mortal man, prophesy. Clap your hands, and the sword will strike again and again. It is a sword that kills, a sword that terrifies and slaughters.

International Standard Version
"Now, Son of Man, prophesy as you strike your hands together. Let the sword that fatally wounds be doubled and tripled. That great, slaughtering sword closes in on them. I've set in place a slaughtering sword at the entrance to all their gates,

Majority Standard Bible
‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side!

NET Bible
"And you, son of man, prophesy, and clap your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times! It is a sword for slaughter, a sword for the great slaughter surrounding them.

New Heart English Bible
"You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and strike your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one who is deadly wounded, which enters into their rooms.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy 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 private chambers.

World English Bible
“You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and strike your hands together. Let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the fatally wounded. It is the sword of the great one who is fatally wounded, which enters into their rooms.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And you, son of man, prophesy, "" And strike hand on hand, "" And the sword is bent a third time, "" The sword of the wounded! It [is] the sword of the wounded—the great one, "" That is entering the inner chamber to them.

Young's Literal Translation
And thou, son of man, prophesy, And smite hand on hand, And bent is the sword a third time, The sword of the wounded! It is the sword of the wounded -- the great one, That is entering the inner chamber to them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou, son of man, prophesy, and strike hand to hand, and thou shalt double the sword the third time, the sword of the wounded: this the sword of the great wounded besieging them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou therefore, O son of man, prophesy, and strike thy hands together, and let the sword be doubled, and let the sword of the slain be tripled: this is the sword of a great slaughter, that maketh them stand amazed,

Catholic Public Domain Version
You therefore, O son of man, prophesy, and strike hand against hand, and let the sword be doubled, and let the sword of the slain be tripled. This is the sword of the great slaughter, which causes them to be utterly stupefied,

New American Bible
As for you, son of man, prophesy, and clap your hands! Let the sword strike twice, a third time. It is a sword of slaughter, A sword for slaughtering, whirling around them all,

New Revised Standard Version
And you, mortal, prophesy; strike hand to hand. Let the sword fall twice, thrice; it is a sword for killing. A sword for great slaughter— it surrounds them;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You therefore, Son of man, prophesy and clap your hands, and let the sword smite double, and the third stroke is the stroke of the slain; this is the sword for a great slaughter that causes them to tremble,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But you, son of man, prophesy and clap hands, hand on hand, and sword shall be doubled with sword, it is a third of the slain and the sword of the slain, for great is he who shakes them!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of those to be slain; it is the sword of the great one that is to be slain, which compasseth them about.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou, son of man, prophesy, and clap thine hands, and take a second sword: the third sword is the sword of the slain, the great sword of the slain: and thou shalt strike them with amazement, lest the heart should faint

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD's Sword of Judgment
13Surely testing will come! And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue?’ declares the Lord GOD. 14‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side! 15So 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.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 47:6-7
‘Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!’ / How can it rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has appointed it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland.”

Isaiah 34:5-6
When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Jeremiah 25:29-31
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’ / So you are to prophesy all these words against them and say to them: ‘The LORD will roar from on high; He will raise His voice from His holy habitation. He will roar loudly over His pasture; like those who tread the grapes, He will call out with a shout against all the inhabitants of the earth. / The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD.

Isaiah 66:16
For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.

Revelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Jeremiah 12:12
Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace.

Isaiah 31:8
“Then Assyria will fall, but not by the sword of man; a sword will devour them, but not one made by mortals. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor.

Revelation 1:16
He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.

Jeremiah 50:35-37
A sword is against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, against those who live in Babylon, and against her officials and wise men. / A sword is against her false prophets, and they will become fools. A sword is against her warriors, and they will be filled with terror. / A sword is against her horses and chariots and against all the foreigners in her midst, and they will become like women. A sword is against her treasuries, and they will be plundered.

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.

Revelation 2:12
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.

Jeremiah 9:16
I will scatter them among the nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them until I have finished them off.”

Isaiah 13:15
Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword.

Revelation 19:21
And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Jeremiah 46:10
For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.


Treasury of Scripture

You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite your 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 enters into their privy chambers.

smite

Ezekiel 21:17
I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.

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.

Numbers 24:10
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

hands together [heb] hand to hand

Leviticus 26:21,24
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins…

2 Kings 24:1,10-16
In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him…

2 Kings 25:1
And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

entereth

Ezekiel 8:12
Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

1 Kings 20:30
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

1 Kings 22:25
And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

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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














So then, son of man
The phrase "son of man" is a title used frequently in the book of Ezekiel, emphasizing the prophet's humanity and his role as a representative of the people. In Hebrew, "ben adam" underscores the connection between Ezekiel and the rest of humanity, highlighting his position as a mediator between God and Israel. This title reminds us of the humility required in service to God, as well as the responsibility to convey divine messages faithfully.

prophesy
The act of prophesying involves speaking forth the words of God, often with a focus on future events or divine judgment. In the Hebrew context, "naba" means to speak or sing by inspiration, indicating that Ezekiel's message is not his own but is divinely inspired. This command to prophesy underscores the importance of obedience to God's call, even when the message is difficult or unwelcome.

and clap your hands
Clapping hands in the ancient Near Eastern context can signify a range of emotions, from joy to derision. Here, it likely symbolizes the seriousness and urgency of the message. The physical act of clapping serves as a dramatic gesture to capture attention and emphasize the impending judgment. It reminds us that God's messages often require a response, not just in words but in actions.

let the sword strike
The sword is a common biblical symbol of judgment and warfare. In this context, it represents the impending judgment upon Israel. The Hebrew word "chereb" conveys the idea of a cutting instrument, emphasizing the severity and decisiveness of God's judgment. This imagery serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine justice.

two times, even three
The repetition of the sword striking "two times, even three" underscores the certainty and completeness of the coming judgment. In Hebrew literature, repetition is often used for emphasis, indicating that the judgment will be thorough and unavoidable. This phrase serves as a warning to the people of Israel, urging them to recognize the seriousness of their situation and to repent.

It is a sword for slaughter
The phrase "sword for slaughter" highlights the destructive purpose of the judgment. The Hebrew word "tebach" refers to a massacre or butchery, indicating the extent of the devastation that will occur. This stark imagery serves as a call to repentance, reminding the people of the dire consequences of their rebellion against God.

a sword for great slaughter
The repetition of "sword for great slaughter" further emphasizes the magnitude of the impending judgment. The use of "great" (Hebrew "gadol") amplifies the scale of the destruction, leaving no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. This serves as a powerful reminder of the holiness and justice of God, who cannot tolerate sin indefinitely.

closing in on them from every side
The phrase "closing in on them from every side" paints a picture of inescapable judgment. The imagery suggests that there will be no refuge or escape from the consequences of their actions. This serves as a sobering reminder of the comprehensive nature of God's judgment and the importance of seeking His mercy while there is still time.

(14) Smite thine hands together.--A gesture of strong emotion (see Ezekiel 21:17, Ezekiel 22:13, and comp. Note on Ezekiel 6:11; Numbers 24:10).

Let the sword be doubled the third time.--The exact translation is here also obscure and difficult, but the meaning is plain that the activity of the sword is to be intensified to the utmost.

The sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain.--Literally, the sword of the overthrown (plural), it is the sword of the overthrown (sing.), of the great one. The word translated slain does not necessarily mean actually killed, but is used in a moral as well as physical sense; and in Ezekiel 20:16; Ezekiel 20:21; Ezekiel 20:24, as often, the verb from which this adjective is formed is translated polluted. The sword is called "the sword of the overthrown" because it is the means of their overthrow, and "the sword of the great one overthrown," with especial reference to the king. . . .

Verse 14. - Smite thine hands together, etc. Another gesture follows, either of horror and lamentation, or perhaps, looking to ver. 17, of imperative command. The sword is to do its thrice-redoubled work (the words emphasize generally the intensity, and are scarcely to be taken numerically, of the repeated invasions of the Chaldeans); it is "the sword of the slain" (better, pierced ones, or, with Revised Version, the deadly wounded). The next clause should be taken, with the Revised Version, in the singular - the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded; sc. the sword should smite the king as well as the people. For entereth into their privy chambers, read, with the Revised Version (margin), Ewald, and Keil, it compasseth them about.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So then,
וְאַתָּ֣ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

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

prophesy
הִנָּבֵ֕א (hin·nā·ḇê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration

and strike
וְהַ֖ךְ (wə·haḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

your hands together.
כַּ֣ף (kap̄)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

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

strike two times,
וְתִכָּפֵ֞ל (wə·ṯik·kā·p̄êl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3717: To fold together, to repeat

even three.
שְׁלִישִׁ֙תָה֙ (šə·lî·ši·ṯāh)
Number - ordinal feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

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

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

[that] slays,
חֲלָלִ֔ים (ḥă·lā·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2491: Pierced, polluted

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

that slays
חָלָ֣ל (ḥā·lāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2491: Pierced, polluted

the great—
הַגָּד֔וֹל (hag·gā·ḏō·wl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

it surrounds them!
הַחֹדֶ֖רֶת (ha·ḥō·ḏe·reṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 2314: To inclose, to beset


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 21:14 You therefore son of man prophesy (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 21:13
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