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 21:15KJVWhat 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.