And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

EZEKIEL 21:31KJV
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Ezekiel 21:31 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 21:31 mean?

Ezekiel 21:31 describes God declaring that He will unleash His anger on a people, using destructive forces against them and handing them over to violent and ruthless men who are skilled at causing destruction. The verse emphasizes the certainty and severity of the coming judgment.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to warn a nation (often understood as the kingdom of Judah or its enemies) about the consequences of their actions. The language paints a vivid picture of God's anger ("indignation") being poured out like fire, and the people being delivered into the hands of brutal, destructive men. This warning fits into a larger section where Ezekiel announces God's judgment against those who have turned away from Him.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 21:31

  • "Indignation" (זַעַם, zaʿam): This word means intense anger or fury, often used in the Hebrew Bible to describe God's righteous anger against sin. It highlights the seriousness of God's response.
  • "Brutish" (בַּעַר, baʿar): This word means someone who is senseless or lacking understanding, but here it is used to describe men who are fierce or violent, emphasizing the harshness of those who will carry out the destruction.
  • "Skilful to destroy" (חָרָשׁ, ḥārāsh): This phrase means being skilled or expert in causing ruin, not just random violence but calculated, effective destruction. It adds to the sense of inescapable, purposeful judgment.

Why Ezekiel 21:31 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the coming disaster is not random but is portrayed as a deliberate act of judgment from God, using even violent people as instruments of His will.
  • The strong language about being handed over to "brutish men, and skilful to destroy" warns that the judgment will be both severe and executed by those who are capable of thorough destruction.
  • Understanding the original words for "indignation" and "brutish" deepens the sense of how intense and frightening this warning would have sounded to Ezekiel’s original audience.

Where else these words appear

“destroy” Hebrew H4889 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
  • 2 Chronicles 22:4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.
  • Ezekiel 5:16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:

“blow” Hebrew H6315 · used in 14 verses

  • Psalms 10:5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
  • Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
  • Proverbs 29:8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

“indignation” Hebrew H2195 · used in 22 verses

  • Psalms 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
  • Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
  • Ezekiel 22:31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

“skilful” Hebrew H2796 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
  • 1 Chronicles 14:1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.
  • Isaiah 44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.