Ezekiel 24:21
New International Version
Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.

New Living Translation
and I was told to give this message to the people of Israel. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will defile my Temple, the source of your security and pride, the place your heart delights in. Your sons and daughters whom you left behind in Judah will be slaughtered by the sword.

English Standard Version
‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

Berean Standard Bible
Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’

King James Bible
Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.

New King James Version
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, your arrogant boast, the desire of your eyes, the delight of your soul; and your sons and daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

New American Standard Bible
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, that which is precious in your eyes and the longing of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

NASB 1995
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes and the delight of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

NASB 1977
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Say to the house of Israel, “Thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

Amplified Bible
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind [in Jerusalem] will fall by the sword.

Christian Standard Bible
Say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your heart. Also, the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your heart. Also, the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.

American Standard Version
Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.

Contemporary English Version
he is ready to destroy the temple in which you take such pride and which makes you feel so safe. Your children who now live in Jerusalem will be killed.

English Revised Version
Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
'Tell the nation of Israel, "This is what the Almighty LORD says: I'm going to dishonor my holy place. You brag that my holy place gives you strength. It's the thing you love the most. It's your hearts' desire. So the sons and daughters that you left behind will die in battle.

Good News Translation
to give you Israelites this message: You are proud of the strength of the Temple. You like to look at it and to visit it, but the LORD is going to profane it. And the younger members of your families who are left in Jerusalem will be killed in war.

International Standard Version
Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: "Look! I'm about to profane my sanctuary, the source of your proud strength, the desire of your eyes, and the object of your affection. Your sons and daughters, whom you've left behind, will die by the sword.

Majority Standard Bible
Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ?I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.?

NET Bible
Say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Realize I am about to desecrate my sanctuary--the source of your confident pride, the object in which your eyes delight, and your life's passion. Your very own sons and daughters whom you have left behind will die by the sword.

New Heart English Bible
'Speak to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD: Look, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind shall fall by the sword.

Webster's Bible Translation
Speak to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellence of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.

World English Bible
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Say to the house of Israel, Thus said Lord YHWH: Behold, I am defiling My sanctuary, "" The excellence of your strength, "" The desire of your eyes, and the pitied of your soul, "" And your sons and your daughters whom you have left, fall by sword.

Young's Literal Translation
Say to the house of Israel: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am polluting My sanctuary, The excellency of your strength, The desire of your eyes, and the pitied of your soul, And your sons and your daughters whom ye have left, by sword they do fall.

Smith's Literal Translation
Say to the house of Israel, Thus said the Lord Jehovah, Behold me profaning my holy place, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and the pity of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom ye left, shall fall by the sword.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will profane my sanctuary, the glory of your realm, and the thing that your eyes de sire, and for which your soul feareth: your sons, and your daughters, whom you have left, shall fall by the sword.

Catholic Public Domain Version
‘Speak to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will defile my sanctuary, the pride of your realm, and the desire of your eyes, and the dread of your soul. Your sons and your daughters, whom you have forsaken, will fall by the sword.’

New American Bible
Say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the concern of your soul. The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword.

New Revised Standard Version
Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and your heart’s desire; and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Speak to the house of Israel, Thus says the LORD God: Behold, I will allow my sanctuary to be profaned, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, the cleanser of your souls; and your sons and your daughters whom you leave behind shall fall by the sword.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
‘Say to the house of Israel: thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: behold, I pollute my holy place, the glory of your strength and the lust of your eyes, and the Mercy Seat of your souls, and your sons and your daughters whom you leave shall fall by the sword
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Speak unto the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the longing of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the boast of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and for which your souls are concerned; and your sons and your daughters, whom ye have left, shall fall by the sword.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezekiel's Wife Dies
20So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying: 21Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’ 22Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.…

Cross References
2 Kings 25:8-10
On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. / He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. / And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 7:14
therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers.

Lamentations 2:1-7
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. / In fierce anger He has cut off every horn of Israel and withdrawn His right hand at the approach of the enemy. He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire that consumes everything around it. ...

2 Chronicles 36:17-19
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, / who carried off everything to Babylon—all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king and his officials. / Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.

Jeremiah 52:12-14
On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. / He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. / And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

Lamentations 1:10
The adversary has seized all her treasures. For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary—those You had forbidden to enter Your assembly.

Matthew 24:1-2
As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings. / “Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 21:5-6
As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said, / “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Mark 13:1-2
As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!” / “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Jeremiah 26:6
then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’”

1 Kings 9:7-9
then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples. / And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ / And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, the LORD has brought all this disaster upon them.’”

Micah 3:12
Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

Jeremiah 19:3-13
saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on this place that the ears of all who hear of it will ring, / because they have abandoned Me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in this place to other gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have ever known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. / They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind. ...

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.

Daniel 9:26
Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.


Treasury of Scripture

Speak to the house of Israel, Thus said the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left shall fall by the sword.

I will

Ezekiel 7:20-22
As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them…

Ezekiel 9:7
And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

Psalm 74:7
They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.

the excellency

Psalm 96:6
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Psalm 105:4
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Psalm 132:8
Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

the desire

Ezekiel 24:16
Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 84:1
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

Ezekiel 23:25,47
And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire…

Jeremiah 6:11
Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

Jeremiah 9:21
For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.

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Ezekiel 24
1. Under the parable of a boiling pot
6. is shown the irrevocable destruction of Jerusalem
15. By the sign of Ezekiel not mourning for the death of his wife
19. is shown the calamity of the Jews to be beyond all sorrow














Tell the house of Israel
This phrase indicates a direct command from God to Ezekiel to communicate a message to the people of Israel. The "house of Israel" refers to the collective nation, emphasizing their identity as God's chosen people. Historically, this was a time when Israel was in exile, and the message was meant to reach them in their state of disobedience and spiritual waywardness. The Hebrew root for "tell" (נָגַד, nagad) implies a declaration or announcement, often used for conveying important or divine messages.

this is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase underscores the authority and divine origin of the message. "Lord GOD" in Hebrew is "Adonai Yahweh," a combination that emphasizes both the sovereignty and the covenantal relationship God has with Israel. It is a reminder that the message is not from Ezekiel himself but from God, who is both their ruler and their covenant partner.

I am about to desecrate My sanctuary
The "sanctuary" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which was the center of Jewish worship and the symbol of God's presence among His people. The Hebrew word for "desecrate" (חָלַל, chalal) means to profane or defile, indicating a severe judgment. This was a shocking declaration, as the temple was considered holy and inviolable. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled when the Babylonians destroyed the temple in 586 BC, a pivotal event in Jewish history.

the stronghold in which you take pride
The temple was not only a religious center but also a source of national pride and identity for Israel. The term "stronghold" (מָעוֹז, ma'oz) suggests a place of refuge and security. However, the people's misplaced confidence in the physical structure rather than in God Himself is being addressed here. This serves as a warning against idolatry and false security.

the delight of your eyes
This phrase highlights the emotional and aesthetic attachment the Israelites had to the temple. The Hebrew word for "delight" (מַחְמָד, machmad) conveys something precious and desirable. The destruction of something so cherished would have been deeply distressing, symbolizing the loss of God's favor and presence due to their unfaithfulness.

and the desire of your soul
The "desire" (מִשְׁאָלָה, mish'alah) of the soul indicates a deep longing or yearning. The temple was central to their spiritual life and aspirations. Its desecration would signify a profound spiritual crisis, reflecting the broken relationship between God and His people.

The sons and daughters you left behind
This phrase refers to the family members who remained in Jerusalem while others were taken into exile. It underscores the personal and familial impact of the coming judgment. The Hebrew context suggests a sense of abandonment and loss, as families were torn apart by the exile and ensuing destruction.

will fall by the sword
This is a grim prophecy of the violence and death that would accompany the Babylonian invasion. The "sword" (חֶרֶב, cherev) is a common biblical symbol for war and divine judgment. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of Israel's persistent disobedience and rebellion against God.

(21) Profane my sanctuary.--Not merely by its destruction, but by the manner of its destruction, the Gentiles being allowed to enter its most sacred precincts, and carry off in triumph its sacred vessels and treasures. It was in the confidence that God would protect this that the last hope of the Jews lay; He tells them that He will Himself profane it.

Verse 21. - The desire of your eyes. There is something exquisitely pathetic in the iteration of the phrase of Ver. 17. To the priest Ezekiel himself, to the people whom he addressed, the temple was as dear as the wife to the husband. It was also "the pride of their power" (Revised Version), the "pity of their soul" (margin). The former phrase comes from Leviticus 26:19. When that temple should be profaned, when sons and daughters should fall by the sword, then they would do as the prophet had done. They would learn that there is a sorrow which is too deep for tears, something that passeth show. The state which the prophet describes is not one of callousness, or impenitence, or despair. The people shall mourn for their iniquities;" this will be the beginning of repentance. Leviticus 26:39, 40 was obviously in the prophet's thoughts. We note that Ver. 24 is the one solitary passage since Ezekiel 1:3 in which Ezekiel names himself. As single acts and gestures had before (Ezekiel 4:1-12) been a sign of what was coming, so now the man himself was to be in that hour of bereavement.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Tell
אֱמֹ֣ר ׀ (’ĕ·mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the house
לְבֵ֣ית (lə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Israel
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
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִה֒ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

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

‘I am about to desecrate
מְחַלֵּ֤ל (mə·ḥal·lêl)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

My sanctuary,
מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ (miq·dā·šî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum

the pride
גְּא֣וֹן (gə·’ō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1347: Arrogance, majesty, ornament

of your power,
עֻזְּכֶ֔ם (‘uz·zə·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5797: Strength, might

the desire
מַחְמַ֥ד (maḥ·maḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4261: Delightful, a delight, object of affection, desire

of your eyes,
עֵֽינֵיכֶ֖ם (‘ê·nê·ḵem)
Noun - cdc | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

and the delight
וּמַחְמַ֣ל (ū·maḥ·mal)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4263: A thing pitied, an object of compassion

of your soul.
נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם (nap̄·šə·ḵem)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

And the sons
וּבְנֵיכֶ֧ם (ū·ḇə·nê·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughters
וּבְנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם (ū·ḇə·nō·w·ṯê·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter

you left behind
עֲזַבְתֶּ֖ם (‘ă·zaḇ·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

will fall
יִפֹּֽלוּ׃ (yip·pō·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

by the sword.
בַּחֶ֥רֶב (ba·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 24:21 Speak to the house of Israel Thus (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 24:20
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