Ezekiel 21:15 So 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.

◄ Ezekiel 21:15 ►

New International Version
So that hearts may melt with fear and the fallen be many, I have stationed the sword for slaughter at all their gates. Look! It is forged to strike like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.

New Living Translation
Let their hearts melt with terror, for the sword glitters at every gate. It flashes like lightning and is polished for slaughter!

English Standard Version
that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter.

Berean Standard Bible
So 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.

King James Bible
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

New King James Version
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, That the heart may melt and many may stumble. Ah! It is made bright; It is grasped for slaughter:

New American Standard Bible
so that their hearts will waver, and many fall at all their gates. I have granted the slaughter of the sword. Oh! It is made for striking like lightning, it is sharpened in readiness for slaughter.

NASB 1995
that their hearts may melt, and many fall at all their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter.

NASB 1977
that their hearts may melt, and many fall at all their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter.

Legacy Standard Bible
that their hearts may melt, and many will be stumbling blocks at all their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter.

Amplified Bible
so that hearts may melt, and many will fall at their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made [to flash] like lightning; it is pointed and sharpened for slaughter.

Christian Standard Bible
I have appointed a sword for slaughter at all their gates, so that their hearts may melt and many may stumble. Yes! It is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I have appointed a sword for slaughter at all their gates, so that their hearts may melt and many may stumble. Yes! It is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter.

American Standard Version
I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.

Contemporary English Version
They will lose all courage and stumble with fear. My slaughtering sword is waiting at every gate, flashing and ready to kill.

English Revised Version
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I have appointed my sword to slaughter people at all their gates so that their hearts will sink and many will die. Yes! It's ready to flash like lightning. It's polished to kill.

Good News Translation
It makes my people lose courage and stumble. I am threatening their city with a sword that flashes like lightning and is ready to kill.

International Standard Version
so that their hearts melt and the number of those who stumble increase. I've set in place a slaughtering sword at the entrance to all their gates. Oh, no! It's made like lightning. It's drawn to slaughter.

Majority Standard Bible
So 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.

NET Bible
So hearts melt with fear and many stumble. At all their gates I have stationed the sword for slaughter. Ah! It is made to flash, it is drawn for slaughter!

New Heart English Bible
I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: Ah. It is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.

Webster's Bible Translation
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is sharpened for the slaughter.

World English Bible
I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied. Ah! It is made as lightning. It is pointed for slaughter.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
To melt the heart, and to multiply the ruins, "" I have set the point of a sword by all their gates. Aah! It is made for brightness, "" Wrapped up for slaughter.

Young's Literal Translation
To melt the heart, and to multiply the ruins, By all their gates I have set the point of a sword. Ah, it is made for brightness, Wrapped up for slaughter.

Smith's Literal Translation
In order to melt the heart and to multiply the ruins, I gave the turning of the sword against all their gates: Ah! it was made for lightnings, it was polished for slaughter.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And languish in heart, and that multiplieth ruins. In all their gates I have set the dread of the sharp sword, the sword that is furbished to glitter, that is made ready for slaughter.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and to waste away in heart, and which multiplies ruin. At all their gates, I have presented the consternation of the sword, which has been sharpened and polished so as to shine, which has been dressed for the slaughter.

New American Bible
That every heart may tremble; for many will be made to stumble. At all their gates I have stationed the sword for slaughter, Made it flash lightning, drawn for slaughter.

New Revised Standard Version
therefore hearts melt and many stumble. At all their gates I have set the point of the sword. Ah! It is made for flashing, it is polished for slaughter.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
That their hearts may faint and the sufferers be multiplied in all their gates, for I have delivered them to the sword which is sharpened, glittering and drawn for the slaughter.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
That their heart will be broken and sorrows be multiplied in all their gates, I have delivered them the sword that is sharpened, and shining, and ready for slaughter

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied; ah! it is made glittering, it is sharpened for slaughter.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and the weak ones be multiplied at every gate - they are given up to the slaughter of the sword: it is well fitted for slaughter, it is well fitted for glittering.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The LORD's Sword of Judgment
…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. 16Slash to the right; set your blade to the left—wherever your blade is directed.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

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 25:31-33
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. / This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.” / Those slain by the LORD on that day will be spread from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground.

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 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 2:16
Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.

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 6:4
Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword.

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

I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

point.

Ezekiel 21:22
At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.

Ezekiel 15:7
And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

Jeremiah 17:27
But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

that their

Ezekiel 21:7
And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 20:47
And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

it is made

Ezekiel 21:10,28
It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree…

wrapped up.

Jump to Previous

Ah Bright Brightness Death Doors Faint Fall Fallen Falling Flash Gates Glittering Grasped Heart Hearts Increased Lightning Melt Multiplied Multiply Order Point Pointed Polished Readiness Ruins Sharpened Slaughter Soft Stationed Striking Stumbling-Blocks Sword Threatening Whetted Wrapped Wrapt

Jump to Next

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

So that their hearts may melt
The phrase "their hearts may melt" conveys a vivid image of fear and despair. In Hebrew, the word for "melt" (מוּג, mug) often describes a state of emotional collapse or terror. This imagery is consistent with the prophetic warnings throughout the Old Testament, where the heart is seen as the center of emotion and will. The melting of hearts signifies a complete breakdown of courage and resolve, a common theme in prophetic literature when describing the judgment of God upon a disobedient people. Historically, this reflects the psychological impact of impending doom as the Babylonians approached Jerusalem, causing panic and fear among the inhabitants.

and many may stumble
The word "stumble" (כָּשַׁל, kashal) in Hebrew often implies a fall due to weakness or an obstacle. In the context of Ezekiel's prophecy, it suggests a spiritual and moral failing, as well as a physical one. The stumbling is not just a literal tripping but a metaphor for the failure to stand firm in faith and righteousness. This reflects the broader biblical narrative where those who turn away from God's path find themselves unable to stand in times of trial. The historical context here is the impending judgment on Jerusalem, where many would falter under the weight of their sins and the consequences thereof.

I have set the sword at every gate
The "sword" is a powerful symbol of divine judgment and warfare. In the Hebrew Bible, the sword often represents God's instrument of justice. The phrase "at every gate" suggests total and inescapable judgment, as gates were the points of entry and defense for a city. By placing the sword at every gate, God is indicating that no place is safe from His judgment. This imagery would resonate deeply with the original audience, who understood the strategic and symbolic importance of city gates. Archaeologically, city gates were often the first line of defense, and their breach signified the fall of the city.

Look! It is ready to strike
The command "Look!" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) is an attention-grabbing interjection, urging the listener to pay close attention to the imminent action. The readiness of the sword to strike emphasizes the immediacy and certainty of God's judgment. This phrase serves as a wake-up call to the people, highlighting the urgency of repentance and the seriousness of their situation. In the prophetic tradition, such calls to attention are meant to jolt the audience out of complacency and into awareness of their spiritual state.

it is sharpened for slaughter
The imagery of a "sharpened" sword underscores the precision and inevitability of the coming judgment. In Hebrew, the word for "sharpened" (לַטּוֹב, latov) implies preparation and readiness. The term "slaughter" (טֶבַח, tebach) is a stark and sobering reminder of the severity of God's judgment against sin. This reflects the biblical principle that God's justice is thorough and complete. The historical context here is the Babylonian siege, which would indeed result in great loss of life, fulfilling the prophetic warning. This serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's covenant and the need for repentance and faithfulness.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) The point.--The Hebrew word occurs only here. The marginal rendering comes nearer its sense, but the exact meaning is the glance or the whirl of the sword. The glancing or the whirling motion of the sword was to be everywhere, "against all their gates."

Their ruins be multiplied.--Literally, their stumbling blocks be multiplied. The thought is that in the coming desolation trouble shall be on every side and, in their perplexity, occasions for ill-advised action shall arise all around. "Bright" means "glittering." (Comp. Deuteronomy 32:41; Job 20:25; Nahum 3:3.)

It is wrapped.--The margin has sharpened, but the exact sense is drawn, "drawn out for the slaughter."

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - For their ruins shall be multiplied, read, with the Revised Version, that their stumblings; and for wrapped up, pointed, or sharpened.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So that
לְמַ֣עַן ׀ (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

their hearts
לֵ֗ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

may melt
לָמ֣וּג (lā·mūḡ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4127: To melt

and many
וְהַרְבֵּה֙ (wə·har·bêh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

may stumble,
הַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔ים (ham·miḵ·šō·lîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4383: A stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, a stumbling block

I have appointed
נָתַ֖תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

at
עַ֚ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

their gates
שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔ם (ša·‘ă·rê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

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

for slaughter.
אִבְחַת־ (’iḇ·ḥaṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 19: Brandishing of a, sword

Yes,
אָ֛ח (’āḥ)
Interjection
Strong's 253: Ah!, alas!

it is ready
עֲשׂוּיָ֥ה (‘ă·śū·yāh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to flash like lightning;
לְבָרָ֖ק (lə·ḇā·rāq)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1300: Lightning, a gleam, a flashing sword

it is drawn
מְעֻטָּ֥ה (mə·‘uṭ·ṭāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 4593: Thinned, sharp

for slaughter.
לְטָֽבַח׃ (lə·ṭā·ḇaḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2875: Tebah -- son of Nahor

Links

Ezekiel 21:15 NIV
Ezekiel 21:15 NLT
Ezekiel 21:15 ESV
Ezekiel 21:15 NASB
Ezekiel 21:15 KJV

Ezekiel 21:15 BibleApps.com
Ezekiel 21:15 Biblia Paralela
Ezekiel 21:15 Chinese Bible
Ezekiel 21:15 French Bible
Ezekiel 21:15 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Ezekiel 21:15 I have set the threatening sword against (Ezek. Eze Ezk)