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.

EZEKIEL 21:15KJV
Know the Bible

Ezekiel 21:15 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 21:15 mean?

Ezekiel 21:15 describes God setting the sharp point of a sword against the gates of the people, causing their courage to fail and their destruction to increase; the sword is polished and prepared for slaughter. The verse uses vivid language to show the certainty and severity of the coming judgment.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to warn the people of Jerusalem about an approaching disaster, symbolized by a sword ready for battle. The mention of "gates" points to the city’s defenses, and the "faint" heart shows the terror that will grip the people. The verse emphasizes that the coming destruction is deliberate, unavoidable, and meant to humble those who have turned away from God.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 21:15

  • "Set" (נָתַן, nathan) means to place or appoint; here, it stresses that God is actively directing the threat, not just allowing it.
  • "Point" (חֶרֶב, chérev) refers to the sharp tip of the sword, highlighting the weapon’s readiness and danger.
  • "Ruins" (מַכְשׁוֹל, makhshol) means wreckage or destruction, underlining the extent of devastation that will follow.
  • "Bright" (בָּרוּר, barur) means polished or gleaming, suggesting the sword has been specially prepared for this purpose, not just any weapon but one made ready for judgment.

Why Ezekiel 21:15 matters

  • The verse makes clear that the coming disaster is not random but is portrayed as a direct act of judgment, with God setting events in motion.
  • The focus on the "gates" and the people’s "faint" hearts shows that even the strongest defenses and bravest people will not stand against what is coming.
  • This verse ties into the larger message of Ezekiel 21, where the sword is a symbol of Babylon’s invasion, showing that the warning is both immediate and specific to Jerusalem’s situation.

Where else these words appear

“ah” Hebrew H253 · used in 2 verses

  • 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.

“slaughter” Hebrew H2874 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 43:16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.
  • Isaiah 34:2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
  • Jeremiah 48:15 Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

“ruins” Hebrew H4383 · used in 14 verses

  • Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
  • Isaiah 57:14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
  • Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

“faint” Hebrew H4127 · used in 17 verses

  • Exodus 15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
  • Psalms 46:6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
  • Isaiah 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.