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! Berean Literal Bible ‘And you, son of man, prophesy and strike together the palm, and let the sword come twice—a third time—the sword of the slain! It is the sword of great slaughter that is surrounding them, 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], Berean Annotated 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! 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, 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. Majority Text Translations 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! 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 VersionAnd 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. Berean Literal Bible ‘And you, son of man, prophesy and strike together the palm, and let the sword come twice—a third time—the sword of the slain! It is the sword of great slaughter that is surrounding 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 BibleThou 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 BibleYou 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 1917Thou 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 (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) 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 So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Ezekiel 22:13 Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst. Ezekiel 25:6 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you clapped your hands and stomped your feet and rejoiced over the land of Israel with a heart full of contempt, Ezekiel 6:11 This is what the Lord GOD says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and cry out “Alas!” because of all the wicked abominations of the house of Israel, who will fall by sword and famine and plague. Let the sword strike two times, even three. 1 Samuel 26:8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!” 2 Kings 13:18-19 Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped. / But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.” Amos 1:3 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. It is a sword that slays, Deuteronomy 32:41-42 when I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me. / I will make My arrows drunk with blood, while My sword devours flesh—the blood of the slain and captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.” 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 25:31 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. a sword of great slaughter 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. Ezekiel 32:10-12 I will cause many peoples to be appalled over you, and their kings will shudder in horror because of you when I brandish My sword before them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.’ / For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you! / I will make your hordes fall by the swords of the mighty, the most ruthless of all nations. They will ravage the pride of Egypt and all her multitudes will be destroyed. 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. closing in on every side! Jeremiah 6:25 Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side. Lamentations 2:22 You summoned my terrors on every side, as for the day of an appointed feast. In the day of the LORD’s anger no one escaped or survived; my enemy has destroyed those I nurtured and reared. Psalm 22:12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 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.” 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. Jump to Previous Chambers Deadly Doubled Entereth Enters Great Hands Private Privy Prophesy Slain Smite Strike Sword Third Time Together Twice WoundedJump to Next Chambers Deadly Doubled Entereth Enters Great Hands Private Privy Prophesy Slain Smite Strike Sword Third Time Together Twice WoundedEzekiel 21 1. Ezekiel prophesies against Jerusalem with a sign of sighing8. The sharp and bright sword 18. against Jerusalem 25. against the kingdom 28. and against the Ammonites ‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Ezekiel was to accompany his proclamation with a visible act of alarm, showing that the judgment he announced was certain and near. Ezk 22:13 Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust… Let the sword strike two times, even three. The repeated striking portrays Babylon’s coming attacks as relentless and complete, bringing disaster in successive waves upon Judah and Jerusalem. 1Sa 26:8 Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand.… It is a sword that slays, God’s judgment would be carried out through the Babylonian army. The threat was not symbolic alone; lives would be taken as Jerusalem fell. Deu 32:41-42 When I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it… a sword of great slaughter The coming invasion would bring widespread death, devastation, and the destruction of the city and temple in 586 BC. Jer 46:10 For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts,… closing in on every side! Jerusalem would be surrounded by Babylonian forces, cut off from help, and unable to escape the consequences of its rebellion against God. Jer 6:25 Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road.… Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon. Known for his vivid visions and symbolic actions. 2. Son of Man A title used frequently in Ezekiel, referring to the prophet himself. It emphasizes his humanity and role as a representative of God to the people. 3. Sword Symbolizes God's judgment and the impending destruction that will come upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants due to their persistent rebellion and sin. 4. Babylonian Exile The historical context of Ezekiel's prophecies, where the Israelites were taken captive by the Babylonians as a result of their disobedience to God. 5. Jerusalem The city facing imminent destruction as a consequence of its people's unfaithfulness and idolatry. Teaching Points The Certainty of God's JudgmentGod's judgment is inevitable for those who persist in sin. The repeated striking of the sword signifies the surety and completeness of His justice. The Role of the Prophet Ezekiel's task to prophesy and act out God's message underscores the responsibility of God's messengers to faithfully deliver His word, regardless of its reception. The Call to Repentance The impending judgment serves as a call to repentance. Believers are urged to examine their lives and turn away from sin before facing divine discipline. The Sovereignty of God The passage highlights God's control over nations and history. Believers can trust in His ultimate plan and justice, even amidst chaos and destruction. The Power of Symbolic Actions Ezekiel's actions, such as striking his hands, demonstrate the power of symbolism in conveying spiritual truths. Believers can use creative means to communicate God's message effectively. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 21:14?2. How does Ezekiel 21:14 illustrate God's judgment through the sword metaphor? 3. What is the significance of the repeated striking in Ezekiel 21:14? 4. How can we apply the warning in Ezekiel 21:14 to modern life? 5. How does Ezekiel 21:14 connect to God's justice in other Scriptures? 6. What lessons about obedience can we learn from Ezekiel 21:14's message? 7. What does Ezekiel 21:14 mean by "strike your hands together"? 8. How does Ezekiel 21:14 reflect God's judgment? 9. Why is the sword mentioned three times in Ezekiel 21:14? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 21? (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. Ezekiel 21:14 calls the prophet to dramatize an inescapable judgment: God’s sword will strike again and again until sin is answered. The vivid commands—clapping hands, announcing repeated blows—underscore the certainty, severity, and completeness of divine discipline. Historically fulfilled through Babylon, the passage also warns every generation that God’s holiness cannot be mocked. The only refuge from the encircling sword is repentance and faith in the One who bore its ultimate stroke on the cross.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 Additonal Resources Ezekiel 21:14 Blue Letter BibleEzekiel 21:14 Bible Gateway Ezekiel 21:14 Bible.com Ezekiel 21:14 NIV |
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