Ezekiel 21:2
New International Version
“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel

New Living Translation
“Son of man, turn and face Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel and her sanctuaries.

English Standard Version
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel

Berean Standard Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel

King James Bible
Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

New King James Version
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;

New American Standard Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem, and speak prophetically against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel;

NASB 1995
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and speak against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel;

NASB 1977
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and speak against the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel;

Legacy Standard Bible
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and speak, dripping out words against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel

Amplified Bible
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and direct your [prophetic] word against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel

Christian Standard Bible
“Son of man, face Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Son of man, turn your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel,

American Standard Version
Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel;

Contemporary English Version
Ezekiel, son of man, condemn the places in Jerusalem where people worship. Warn everyone in Israel

English Revised Version
Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Son of man, turn to Jerusalem, preach against the holy places. Prophesy against the land of Israel.

Good News Translation
"Mortal man," he said, "denounce Jerusalem. Denounce the places where people worship. Warn the land of Israel

International Standard Version
"Son of Man, look toward Jerusalem, preach against its sanctuaries, and prophesy against Israel's land.

Majority Standard Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel

NET Bible
"Son of man, turn toward Jerusalem and speak out against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel

New Heart English Bible
"Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and speak against the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel;

Webster's Bible Translation
Son of man, set thy face towards Jerusalem, and drop thy word towards the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

World English Bible
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and preach toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and prophesy to the holy places, and prophesy to the ground of Israel;

Young's Literal Translation
'Son of man, set thy face unto Jerusalem, and prophesy unto the holy places, and prophesy unto the ground of Israel;

Smith's Literal Translation
Son of man, set thy face to Jerusalem, and drop to the holy places, and prophesy to the land of Israel;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and let thy speech flow towards the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel:

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and pour in drops toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the soil of Israel.

New American Bible
Son of man, turn your face toward Jerusalem: preach against its sanctuary, prophesy against the land of Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
Mortal, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and look at their holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and gaze at their holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and preach toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore prophesy, son of man, set thy face steadfastly toward Jerusalem, and look toward their holy places, and thou shalt prophesy against the land of Israel,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD's Sword of Judgment
1And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel 3and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 25:15-17
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it. / And they will drink and stagger and go out of their minds, because of the sword that I will send among them.” / So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me,

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 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.”

Lamentations 2:1-2
How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has cast the glory of Israel from heaven to earth. He has abandoned His footstool in the day of His anger. / Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob. In His wrath He has demolished the fortified cities of the Daughter of Judah. He brought to the ground and defiled her kingdom and its princes.

Amos 1:3-5
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron. / So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad. / I will break down the gates of Damascus; I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven and the one who wields the scepter in Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” says the LORD.

Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.

Matthew 10:34-36
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. / For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. / A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

Luke 12:49-53
I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! / But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! / Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. ...

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.

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.

Jeremiah 9:12-16
Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so no one can pass through it? / And the LORD answered, “It is because they have forsaken My law, which I set before them; they have not walked in it or obeyed My voice. / Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.” ...

Hosea 6:5
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.

Micah 5:15
I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed Me.”

Zephaniah 1:4-6
“I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests— / those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom, / and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”

Matthew 24:6-8
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. / Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. / All these are the beginning of birth pains.


Treasury of Scripture

Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and drop your word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

set

Ezekiel 4:3,7
Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel…

Ezekiel 20:46
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

Ezekiel 25:2
Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;

and drop

Deuteronomy 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Amos 7:16
Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

Micah 2:6,11
Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame…

against

Ezekiel 4:7
Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.

Ezekiel 6:2
Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

Ezekiel 20:46
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

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Direction Drop Dropped Face Ground Holy Israel Jerusalem Places Preach Prophesy Prophet Sanctuaries Sanctuary Speak Towards Turned Word Words
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Direction Drop Dropped Face Ground Holy Israel Jerusalem Places Preach Prophesy Prophet Sanctuaries Sanctuary Speak Towards Turned Word Words
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














Son of man
The phrase "Son of man" is a title frequently used in the book of Ezekiel, appearing over 90 times. In Hebrew, it is "ben adam," which literally means "son of Adam" or "son of humanity." This title emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity and his role as a representative of the people. It underscores the prophet's connection to the human condition, highlighting his role as a mediator between God and Israel. The use of this title also foreshadows the New Testament usage where Jesus frequently refers to Himself as the "Son of Man," linking the prophetic mission of Ezekiel to the ultimate mission of Christ.

set your face
The phrase "set your face" is a Hebrew idiom that implies determination and resolute focus. In the context of prophetic literature, it often signifies a divine command to confront or address a particular issue or people with unwavering resolve. This expression is used to convey the seriousness and intensity of the message that Ezekiel is to deliver. It suggests a posture of readiness and courage, as the prophet is called to deliver God's message without fear or hesitation.

against Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the holy city, is central to Jewish identity and worship. In this context, "against Jerusalem" indicates a prophetic message of judgment. Historically, Jerusalem was the political and spiritual heart of Israel, and its mention here signifies a direct confrontation with the sins and idolatry that had permeated the city. The phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God, as Jerusalem's impending judgment is a result of its persistent rebellion and unfaithfulness.

preach against the sanctuary
The "sanctuary" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, the sacred place where God's presence dwelt among His people. To "preach against the sanctuary" is to deliver a message of impending judgment upon the very heart of Israel's religious life. This phrase highlights the gravity of the situation, as the temple was considered inviolable and central to Jewish worship. The call to preach against it underscores the depth of Israel's apostasy and the seriousness of God's impending judgment due to their defilement of what was meant to be holy.

prophesy against the land of Israel
To "prophesy against the land of Israel" is to deliver a divine message of warning and judgment upon the entire nation. The "land of Israel" represents not just the physical territory but also the people and their covenant relationship with God. This phrase indicates that the message is comprehensive, addressing the collective sin of the nation. It serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the covenantal consequences of disobedience. The prophetic word is both a warning and an invitation to return to faithfulness, emphasizing God's desire for His people to turn back to Him.

(2) Set thy face . . . drop thy word . . . prophesy.--These expressions, with the "say to the land" of Ezekiel 21:3, connect this with 20:46, 47; but there they were followed by figurative terms, while here we have plainly "Jerusalem," "the holy places," and "the land of Israel."

Verses 2, 3. - The opening words, reproducing those of Ezekiel 20:46, indicate that the interpretation of that parable is coming. So the three variants of "south" are shown to mean respectively Jerusalem, the holy places, and the land of Israel. So, in ver. 3, the righteous and the wicked take the place of the "green" and the "dry" tree, and the fire is explained as meaning the sword of the invader. The teaching of ch. 18, had shown that Ezekiel had entered, as regards the ultimate judgment of individual men, into the spirit of Abram's words "That be far from thee to destroy the righteous with the wicked" (Genesis 18:25). But in regard to temporal judgments there would be in this case, as in the complaint of Job 9:22, no distinction. The sword went forth "against all flesh."

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

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

set
שִׂ֤ים (śîm)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

your face
פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ (pā·ne·ḵā)
Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

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

Jerusalem
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

and preach
וְהַטֵּ֖ף (wə·haṭ·ṭêp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5197: To ooze, distil gradually, to fall in drops, to speak by inspiration

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

the sanctuaries.
מִקְדָּשִׁ֑ים (miq·dā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum

Prophesy
וְהִנָּבֵ֖א (wə·hin·nā·ḇê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration

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

the land
אַדְמַ֥ת (’aḏ·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 127: Ground, land

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


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 21:2 Son of man set your face toward (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 21:1
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