Ezekiel 5:1

1. A sharp knife,… a barber’s razor The prophet uses a knife (literally, sword) as a razor or, less probably, his razor is called a sword (Ewald) to make the meaning more plain that the people are to be cut off by the sword, which Isaiah previously in this connection had actually called “a razor” (Isaiah 7:20). The hair in all oriental symbolism stands for the life. To sacrifice the hair is to symbolically sacrifice the life. (See note Ezekiel 16:21, and Oneil’s Night of the Gods, 1:312.) The priests were forbidden by law to shave (Leviticus 19:27; Leviticus 21:5); this therefore was another act which, when he saw it in the future, had made him “hot” and “bitter” (Ezekiel 3:14).

Balances to weigh No slightest inaccuracy is permitted. The exact judicial punishment must be executed (Deuteronomy 16:20; Daniel 5:27).