Ezekiel 21:1-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 21:1-7

The prophet had faithfully delivered the message he was entrusted with, in the close of the foregoing chapter, in the terms wherein he received it, not daring to add his own comment upon it; but, when he complained that the people found fault with him for speaking parables, the word of the Lord came to him again, and gave him a key to that figurative discourse, that with it he might let the people into the meaning of it and so silence that objection. For all men shall be rendered inexcusable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:1

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying. Upon the above excuse or complaint about speaking in parables; wherefore the prophet is ordered to speak in plainer language to the people. It is very probable that the prophet delivered the prophecy recorded in the latter part of the preceding chapter in the figurative terms in which he received it; and he here is bid to explain it to the people, or to repeat it to them in clearer expressions. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:2

Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem ,.... Which shows that this city was meant by "the south", Ezekiel 20:46 , and drop thy word toward the holy places ; which also are meant by the south in the passage referred to, even the holy land, holy city, and holy temple; or the temple itself is only meant, with the courts adjoining to it; or as consisting of three parts, as Kimchi, the porch, the temple, and the oracle; or the outward court, the holy place, and the holy of holies; and it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:3

And say to the land of Israel ,.... The inhabitants of it, signified by the "forest of the south field", Ezekiel 20:47 , thus saith the Lord, behold, I am against thee ; and sad it is to have the Lord against a people, a nation, a city, or a family, or a particular person; for there is no contending with him, or standing before him; there is always a reason for it, it is for sin when God is against a people, even his own professing people: and will draw forth my sword out of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:4

Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked ,.... Some by the sword, some by famine, some by pestilence, and others by captivity; and, upon the whole, none spared, but the land left desolate: therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh, from the south to the north ; the Chaldean army shall go out of their own land against all the inhabitants of Judea, from Beersheba to Dan; this explains what is meant by all faces being burnt from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:5

That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath ,.... The same with kindling a fire in Judea; see Gill on Ezekiel 20:48 , it shall not return any more ; that is, into its sheath, until it has done all its work; meaning that the Chaldean army should not return to their own land until they had executed the whole will of God upon the Jews; this is the fire that should not be quenched, Ezekiel 20:48 and here ends the explanation of the said prophecy. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:6

Sigh, therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins ,.... As if thy loins were broke, and go as if they were, and sigh as thou goest; or as a woman in travail, having her hands upon her loins as ready to break, and in the utmost distress; or heave, and groan, and sigh, till the girdle of the loins is broke, and by these motions and gesture show the miserable state of this people, and how much thou art affected with it: and with bitterness sigh before their eyes ; in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:7

And it shall be, when they say unto thee, wherefore sighest thou ?.... Which he was to do that purpose, that they might be put upon asking him the reason of it; whether it was on his own personal amount, or on account of his family or particular friends; or whether on a public account, either because of what should befall the captives there, or their countrymen in Judea and Jerusalem: that thou shalt answer, for the tidings , or, the "report" F16 אל שמועה , επι τη αγγελια ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 21:2

Set thy face toward Jerusalem - This is a continuation of the preceding prophecy; and in this chapter the prophet sets before them, in the plainest language, what the foregoing metaphors meant, so that they could not complain of his parables. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 21:3

Behold, I am against thee - Dismal news! When God is against us, who can be for us? And will draw forth my sword - War. And will cut off from thee - The land of Judea. The righteous and the wicked - All shall be removed from thee. Some shall be cut off - removed by the sword; shall be slain in battle, or by the pestilence; and some shall be cut off - die by the famine; and some shall be cut off - removed from the land by captivity. Now, among the two latter classes there might be... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 21:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 21:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 21:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 21:3

Group of Brands