Ezekiel 21:3 and 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.

◄ Ezekiel 21:3 ►

New International Version
and say to her: ‘This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.

New Living Translation
Tell her, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am your enemy, O Israel, and I am about to unsheath my sword to destroy your people—the righteous and the wicked alike.

English Standard Version
and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.

Berean Standard Bible
and 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.

King James Bible
And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.

New King James Version
and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you.

New American Standard Bible
and say to the land of Israel, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am against you; and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

NASB 1995
and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you; and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

NASB 1977
and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you; and I shall draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

Legacy Standard Bible
and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Behold, I am against you; and I will bring out My sword from its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

Amplified Bible
and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you and will draw My sword out of its sheath and I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.

Christian Standard Bible
and say to it, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and say to it: This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off both the righteous and the wicked from you.

American Standard Version
and say to the land of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.

Contemporary English Version
that I am about to punish them. I will pull out my sword and have it ready to kill everyone, whether good or evil.

English Revised Version
and say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Tell the land of Israel, 'This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will take my sword out of its scabbard and kill the righteous people and the wicked people among you.

Good News Translation
that I, the LORD, am saying: I am your enemy. I will draw my sword and kill all of you, good and evil alike.

International Standard Version
Declare to Israel, 'This is what the LORD says: "Watch out! I'm against you! I'm going to unsheathe my sword to kill both the righteous and the wicked among you.

Majority Standard Bible
and 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.

NET Bible
and say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: Look, I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.

New Heart English Bible
and tell the land of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD: "Look, I am against you, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

Webster's Bible Translation
And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.

World English Bible
Tell the land of Israel, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and you have said to the ground of Israel, Thus said YHWH: Behold, I [am] against you, "" And have brought out My sword from its scabbard, "" And have cut off righteous and wicked from you.

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast said unto the ground of Israel: Thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am against thee, And have brought out My sword from its scabbard, And have cut off from thee righteous and wicked.

Smith's Literal Translation
And say to the land of Israel, Thus said Jehovah: behold me against thee, and I brought forth my sword from its sheath, and I cut off from thee the just and the unjust.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And say to the land of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, and I will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off in thee the just, and the wicked.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall say to the land of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, and I will cast my sword from its sheath, and I will slay the just and the impious among you.

New American Bible
Say to the land of Israel: Thus says the LORD: See! I am coming against you; I will draw my sword from its scabbard and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

New Revised Standard Version
and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: I am coming against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD God: Behold, I am against you; I will draw my sword out of its sheath and will destroy from you the righteous and the sinner.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And say to the land of Israel: ’Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS, behold, I am against you, and I shall bring out my sword from its sheath and I shall destroy from you the righteous and the sinner

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
say to the land of Israel: Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and thou shalt say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, and I will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and I will destroy out of thee the transgressor and unrighteous.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The LORD's Sword of Judgment
…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. 4Because I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 21:5-7
And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. / I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’ / ‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’

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 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.

Lamentations 2:4
He has bent His bow like an enemy; His right hand is positioned. Like a foe He has killed all who were pleasing to the eye; He has poured out His wrath like fire on the tent of the Daughter of Zion.

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 25:29
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.’

Amos 9:4
Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”

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.

Matthew 10:34
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Luke 12:49-51
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 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.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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.

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.”

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.

Treasury of Scripture

And say to the land of Israel, Thus said the LORD; Behold, I am against you, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked.

Behold

Ezekiel 5:8
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.

Ezekiel 26:3
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.

Jeremiah 21:13
Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

will draw

Ezekiel 21:9-11,19
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished: …

Ezekiel 5:12
A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

Ezekiel 14:17,21
Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: …

the righteous

Ezekiel 9:5,6
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: …

Job 9:22
This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

Ecclesiastes 9:2
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

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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

And tell the land of Israel
This phrase sets the stage for a direct message from God to the nation of Israel. The Hebrew word for "land" is "eretz," which can mean earth, land, or country. In this context, it signifies the physical territory of Israel, but it also represents the people who inhabit it. Historically, Israel was chosen as God's covenant people, and the land was a significant part of that covenant. The phrase underscores the personal nature of God's communication with His people, emphasizing that the message is not just for the leaders or prophets but for the entire nation.

that this is what the LORD says
The phrase "this is what the LORD says" is a common prophetic formula used throughout the Old Testament. It asserts the divine authority behind the message. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "YHWH," the sacred name of God, which signifies His eternal and unchanging nature. This introduction serves as a reminder that the words to follow are not merely human opinions but are the authoritative declarations of the Creator Himself. It calls the audience to attention and demands a response of reverence and obedience.

Behold, I am against you
The word "Behold" is translated from the Hebrew "hinneh," which is an attention-grabbing term, urging the listener to pay close attention. The phrase "I am against you" is a sobering declaration of God's opposition. In the Hebrew, "against" is "el," indicating direction or motion towards something. This is a stark warning, as it signifies that God, who is usually the protector and provider, is now positioning Himself as an adversary due to Israel's disobedience. It serves as a call to repentance, highlighting the seriousness of their spiritual state.

I will draw My sword from its sheath
The imagery of God drawing a sword is powerful and evocative. The "sword" in Hebrew is "chereb," often symbolizing judgment and warfare. The act of drawing it "from its sheath" indicates readiness for action. In ancient times, a drawn sword was a clear sign of impending conflict or judgment. This metaphor communicates the imminent and active nature of God's judgment against Israel. It serves as a warning that divine patience has limits and that continued rebellion will lead to severe consequences.

and cut off both the righteous and the wicked from you
This phrase is particularly challenging, as it suggests that both the "righteous" and the "wicked" will face the consequences of the nation's sin. The Hebrew word for "righteous" is "tzaddik," and for "wicked," it is "rasha." This indicates a comprehensive judgment that affects all levels of society. Historically, this can be understood in the context of the Babylonian exile, where both the faithful and the unfaithful suffered. It serves as a reminder of the communal nature of sin and judgment, urging individuals to intercede for their nation and strive for collective righteousness.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3, 4) The righteous and the wicked.--This explains the green tree and the dry of Ezekiel 20:47; and "all flesh" of Ezekiel 21:4-5, corresponds to "all faces" of the same. These expressions are meant to show the universality of the approaching desolation. The actual separation in God's sight between the righteous and the wicked has already been plainly set forth in 9:4-6. But still in this, as in all national judgments, the innocent must of necessity be involved in the same temporal sufferings with the guilty. The general terms of this prophecy are to be limited by what is elsewhere said of the mercy which shall be shown to a remnant.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

and tell
וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

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

that this is what
כֹּ֚ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘I am against you,
אֵלַ֔יִךְ (’ê·la·yiḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

and I will draw
וְהוֹצֵאתִ֥י (wə·hō·w·ṣê·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

My sword
חַרְבִּ֖י (ḥar·bî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

from its sheath
מִתַּעְרָ֑הּ (mit·ta‘·rāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8593: A knife, razor, a scabbard

and cut off
וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י (wə·hiḵ·rat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

from you
מִמֵּ֖ךְ (mim·mêḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

both the righteous
צַדִּ֥יק (ṣad·dîq)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

and the wicked.
וְרָשָֽׁע׃ (wə·rā·šā‘)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 21:3 And tell the land of Israel Thus (Ezek. Eze Ezk)