Ezekiel 21:13

New King James Version

"Because it is a testing, And what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter shall be no more," says the Lord GOD.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Surely it will be a trial! And what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter will not continue.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

Hebrew Names Version
For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that condemns shall be no more? says the Lord GOD.

King James Version
Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord God .

English Standard Version
For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise the rod?" declares the Lord God .

New American Standard Bible
"For there is a testing; and what if even the rod which despises will cease to be?" declares the Lord GOD.

New Century Version
"‘The test will come. And Judah, who is hated by the armies of Babylon, will not last, says the Lord God .'

Amplified Bible
"For this sword has been tested [on others]; and what if it views with contempt the scepter [of Judah]? The scepter shall be no more [but shall be swept away]," says the Lord GOD.

World English Bible
For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that condemns shall be no more? says the Lord Yahweh.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For it is a triall, and what shall this be, if the sworde contemne euen the rodde? It shall be no more, saith the Lord God.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For there is a testing; and what if even the rod which despises will be no more?" declares the Lord GOD.

Legacy Standard Bible
For there is a testing; and what if even the scepter which the sword despises will be no more?" declares Lord Yahweh.

Berean Standard Bible
Surely a trial will come! And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Lord GOD.

Contemporary English Version
I am testing my people, and they can do nothing to stop me. I, the Lord , have spoken.

Complete Jewish Bible
The word of Adonai came to me:

Darby Translation
For the trial [is made]; and what if even the contemning sceptre shall be no [more]? saith the Lord Jehovah.

Easy-to-Read Version
because it is not just a test. You refused to be punished with the wooden stick, so what else should I use to punish you? A sword? '" This is what the Lord God said.

George Lamsa Translation
Clap your hands because this calamity is justified; if the royal family is rejected, it shall be no more, says the LORD God.

Good News Translation
I am testing my people, and if they refuse to repent, all these things will happen to them.

Lexham English Bible
For examine! And what if also the rod will not be despising?' declares the Lord Yahweh.

Literal Translation
because it is a test. And what if even the despising rod shall not be? declares the Lord Jehovah.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Smyte thou vpo thy thee, for, wherfore shulde not the plage & staff of iudgmet come?

American Standard Version
For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that contemneth shall be no more? saith the Lord Jehovah.

Bible in Basic English
Three dots are used where it is no longer possible to be certain of the true sense of the Hebrew words, and for this reason no attempt has been made to put them into Basic English.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

King James Version (1611)
Because it is a tryall, and what if the sword contemne euen the rodde? it shall be no more, sayth the Lord God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Because it is a triall: and what if it contemne the rodde? It shalbe no more saith the Lorde.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
and what if even the tribe be rejected? it shall not be, saith the Lord God.

English Revised Version
For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that contemneth shall be no more? saith the Lord GOD.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and this whanne it hath distried the ceptre, and it schal not be, seith the Lord God.

Update Bible Version
For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that despises shall be no more? says the Lord Yahweh.

Webster's Bible Translation
Because [it is] a trial, and what if [the sword] contemneth even the rod? it shall be no [more], saith the Lord GOD.

New English Translation
"‘For testing will come, and what will happen when the scepter, which the sword despises, is no more? declares the sovereign Lord .'

New Living Translation
It will put them all to the test. What chance do they have? says the Sovereign Lord .

New Life Bible
They will be put to the test. If they do not turn from their sinful ways, these things will happen," says the Lord God.'

New Revised Standard
For consider: What! If you despise the rod, will it not happen? says the Lord God .

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For trial hath been made, What then, even though the royal rod despiseth, shall it not be? Demandeth My Lord. Yahweh.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Because it is tried: and that when it shall overthrow the sceptre, and it shall not be, saith the Lord God.

Revised Standard Version
For it will not be a testing--what could it do if you despise the rod?" says the Lord GOD.

Young's Literal Translation
Because [it is] a trier, And what if even the sceptre it is despising? It shall not be, an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

THE MESSAGE
"‘Testing comes. Why have you despised discipline? You can't get around it. Decree of God , the Master.'

Contextual Overview

⁸ Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ⁹ "Son of man, prophesy and say, "Thus says the LORD!' Say: "A sword, a sword is sharpened And also polished! ¹⁰ Sharpened to make a dreadful slaughter, Polished to flash like lightning! Should we then make mirth? It despises the scepter of My son, As it does all wood. ¹¹ And He has given it to be polished, That it may be handled; This sword is sharpened, and it is polished To be given into the hand of the slayer.' ¹² "Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh. ¹³ "Because it is a testing, And what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter shall be no more," says the Lord GOD. ¹⁴ "You therefore, son of man, prophesy, And strike your hands together. The third time let the sword do double damage. It is the sword that slays, The sword that slays the great men, That enters their private chambers. ¹⁵ I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, That the heart may melt and many may stumble. Ah! It is made bright; It is grasped for slaughter: ¹⁶ "Swords at the ready! Thrust right! Set your blade! Thrust left-- Wherever your edge is ordered! ¹⁷ "I also will beat My fists together, And I will cause My fury to rest; I, the LORD, have spoken."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Because: etc. or, When the trial hath been, what then, shall they not also belong to the despising rod? a trial. Job 9:23, 2 Corinthians 8:2

contemn: Ezekiel 21:10, Ezekiel 21:25

it shall: Ezekiel 21:27

Reciprocal: Numbers 17:2 - twelve rods 2 Chronicles 28:22 - in the Ezekiel 7:10 - the rod Ezekiel 19:11 - she had

Cross-References

Genesis 16:10
Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude."

Genesis 17:20
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.

Genesis 21:18
Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Because it is a trial,.... As all afflictions and calamities are, especially to the people of God they try their faith and patience, and every other grace; and also to wicked men, they try them, whether they will repent or not:

and what if the sword contemn even the rod? the sceptre: the king of Judah, and his family; not only come upon and cut off the people and the princes, but the royal family also; and even overturn the tribe of Judah, as the word also signifies; and subvert the government of it, of which the rod or sceptre is an ensign; this would be a sore trial indeed, and yet it is intimated that so it should be:

it shall be no more, saith the Lord God; the rod or sceptre shall be no more in one of David's line, of the tribe Judah, until the Messiah comes, Ezekiel 21:27. I should choose to render the words thus, "for it is a trial, but what?" w what an one is it? or for what is it? what will be the fruit, effect, and issue of it?

if also the sceptre despises; the king despises the trial, the affliction, the calamity, and is not brought to repentance by it:

it shall be no more, or "it shall not be" x,

saith the Lord God; it, the sceptre, shall be taken away, and not restored to the house of David, until the Messiah comes.

w כי בחן ומה "quum fuit probatio quid tandem fuit?" Junius & Tremellius, Polanus. x לא יהיה, "non erit", V. L. "scilicet sceptrum", Mariana.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The second word of judgment: the glittering and destroying sword. The passage may be called the “Lay of the Sword;” it is written in the form of Hebrew poetry, with its characteristic parallelism.

Ezekiel 21:10

It contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree - The rod is the scepter of dominion, assigned to Judah Genesis 49:10. The destroying sword of Babylon despises the scepter of Judah; it despises every tree. Others render the verse, “Shall we make mirth” (saying), “the rod of my son,” (the rod which corrects my people) “contemneth” (treats with scorn, utterly confounds) “every tree” (every other nation); or, the scepter of my people “contemneth” (proudly despises) every other nation. Proud as the people are, they shall be brought to sorrow.

Ezekiel 21:12

Terrors - Better as in the margin.

Smite upon thy thigh - A token of mourning (compare the marginal reference note).

Ezekiel 21:13

Or,

For it is put to the proof, and if it contemneth even the rod, What shall not be? saith the Lord

i. e., What horrors will not arise when the sword shall cut down without regard the ruling scepter of Judah!

Ezekiel 21:14

Doubled the third time - i. e., “thrice doubled” to express its violence and force.

The sword of the slain - The sword whereby men are to be slain.

Of the great men ... - Or, The sword of the mighty slain, which presseth hard upon them.

Ezekiel 21:15

The point of the sword - The threatening sword or terror; as in Genesis 3:24, “the flaming sword.”

And their ruins be multiplied - literally, “to the multiplication of stumblingblocks,” that is, so that the causes of their fall may be more numerous. Compare Jeremiah 46:16.

Made bright ... - Or,

Ah! It is prepared for a lightning-flash, Drawn for slaughter.

Ezekiel 21:16

The prophet addresses the sword,

Gather thyself up, O sword, to the right or to the left.

Another rendering is: “Turn thee backwards! get thee to the right! Set thee forwards (?)!get thee to the left! O whither is thy face appointed?

Ezekiel 21:17

The Lord smites together His hands in anger (marginal reference), man in consternation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 21:13. Because it is a trial — This will be a trial of strength and skill between the Chaldeans and the Jews; and a trial of faith and patience to the righteous.

And what if the sword, (Nebuchadnezzar,) contemn even the rod? — Overthrow Zedekiah? It will do so; for the regal government of Judea shall be no more. Or, it is tried; that is, the sword. Nebuchadnezzar has already shown himself strong and skilful.