Ezekiel 21:11

New Living Translation

Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished; it is being prepared for the executioner.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The sword is given to be polished,to be grasped in the hand.It is sharpened, and it is polished,to be put in the hand of the slayer.’

Hebrew Names Version
It is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yes, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the killer.

King James Version
And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

English Standard Version
So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.

New American Standard Bible
"And it is given to be polished, so that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to hand it over to the slaughterer.

New Century Version
The sword should be polished. It is meant to be held in the hand. It is made sharp and polished, ready for the hand of a killer.

Amplified Bible
"The sword [of Babylon] is ready to be polished so that it may be handled and put to use; the sword is sharpened and polished to be put in the hand of the slayer (Nebuchadnezzar).

World English Bible
It is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yes, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the killer.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And he hath giuen it to be fourbished, that he may handle it: this sword is sharpe, & is fourbished, that he may giue it into ye hand of the slayer.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"It is given to be polished, that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is given to be polished, that it may be seized by the hand; the sword is sharpened and polished, to give it into the hand of the one who kills.

Berean Standard Bible
The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished, to be placed in the hand of the slayer.

Contemporary English Version
My sword has been polished; it's sharp and ready to kill.

Complete Jewish Bible
"Therefore, human being, groan! Groan bitterly, as if your heart would break, as they watch.

Darby Translation
And he hath given it to be furbished that it may be handled. The sword,—it is sharpened, and it is furbished to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Easy-to-Read Version
So the sword has been polished. Now it can be used. The sword was sharpened and polished. Now it can be put in the hand of the killer.

George Lamsa Translation
I have given it to be burnished, that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished to deliver it into the hand of the slayer.

Good News Translation
The sword is being polished, to make it ready for use. It is sharpened and polished, to be put in the hands of a killer.

Lexham English Bible
And he gives it to be polished, to be seized by the hand. It is sharpened—a sword—and it is polished to give it into the hand of the killer.

Literal Translation
And He has given it to be polished, to be taken by the hand. The sword, it is sharpened, and it is polished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He hath put his swearde to ye dightinge, yt good holde maye be take of it. This swearde is sharpened & dight, yt it maye be geuen in to the honde of the manslayer.

American Standard Version
And it is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yea, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Bible in Basic English
And I have given it to the polisher so that it may be taken in the hand: he has made the sword sharp, he has had it polished, to put it into the hand of him who gives death.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Sigh therefore, thou son of man; with the breaking of thy loins and with bitterness shalt thou sigh before their eyes.

King James Version (1611)
And he hath giuen it to be fourbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is fourbished to giue it into the hand of the slayer.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He hath geuen it to be furbished, to holde it in the hande: this sworde is sharpened, and furbished, to geue it into the hande of the slayer.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he made it ready for his hand to hold: the sword is sharpened, it is ready to put into the hand of the slayer.

English Revised Version
And it is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yea, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y yaf it to be forbischid, that it be holdun with hond; this swerd is maad scharp, and this is maad briyt, that it be in the hond of the sleere.

Update Bible Version
And it is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yes, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

New English Translation
"‘He gave it to be polished, to be grasped in the hand— the sword is sharpened, it is polished— giving it into the hand of the executioner.

New King James Version
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.'

New Life Bible
The sword is being shined to make it ready to use. It is made sharp and shiny, to be put into the hand of the killer.

New Revised Standard
The sword is given to be polished, to be grasped in the hand; it is sharpened, the sword is polished, to be placed in the slayer's hand.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
It hath. however been given to be furbished that it may be grasped by the hand:The same is a sword sharpened. Yea the same, is furbished, Ready to be given into the hand of the slayer.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I have given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, that it may be in the hand of the slayer.

Revised Standard Version
So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be handled; it is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.

Young's Literal Translation
And he giveth it for polishing, For laying hold of by the hand. It is sharpened -- the sword -- and polished, To give it into the hand of a slayer.

THE MESSAGE
"‘The sword is made to glisten, to be held and brandished. It's sharpened and polished, ready to be brandished by the killer.'

Contextual Overview

⁸ Then the Lord said to me, ⁹ "Son of man, give the people this message from the Lord: "A sword, a sword is being sharpened and polished. ¹⁰ It is sharpened for terrible slaughter and polished to flash like lightning! Now will you laugh? Those far stronger than you have fallen beneath its power! ¹¹ Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished; it is being prepared for the executioner. ¹² "Son of man, cry out and wail; pound your thighs in anguish, for that sword will slaughter my people and their leaders— everyone will die! ¹³ It will put them all to the test. What chance do they have? says the Sovereign Lord . ¹⁴ "Son of man, prophesy to them and clap your hands. Then take the sword and brandish it twice, even three times, to symbolize the great massacre, the great massacre facing them on every side. ¹⁵ Let their hearts melt with terror, for the sword glitters at every gate. It flashes like lightning and is polished for slaughter! ¹⁶ O sword, slash to the right, then slash to the left, wherever you will, wherever you want. ¹⁷ I, too, will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury. I, the Lord , have spoken!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to give: Ezekiel 21:19, Jeremiah 25:9, Jeremiah 25:33, Jeremiah 51:20-23

Cross-References

Genesis 17:18
So Abraham said to God, "May Ishmael live under your special blessing!"

Genesis 21:1
The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.

Genesis 21:2
She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.

2 Samuel 18:33
The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son."

Matthew 10:37
"If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.

Hebrews 12:11
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he hath given it to be furbished, that it might be handled,.... Either Nebuchadnezzar, or rather God, or the Son of God, prepared and brightened the sword, that it might be handled and made use of, either by the Chaldeans or Romans, to the destruction of the Jews. The Targum is,

"he gave their vengeance to be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.''

The sword is sharpened and furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer; either the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar; or the Roman emperor, Titus Vespasian.

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 21:11. This sword is sharpened — It is prepared for the slaughter, it is furbished; from the French, foubir, to polish, brighten. He shall have splendid victories every where. Some complain of corruption in the original in this place; but I think without sufficient reason.