Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Both his ears shall tingle - תצלנה titstsalnah ; something expressive of the sound in what we call, from the same sensation, the tingling of the ears. This is the consequence of having the ears suddenly pierced with a loud and shrill noise; the ears seem to ring for some time after. The prophets spoke to them vehemently, so that the sound seemed to be continued even when they had left off speaking. This was a faithful and solemn testimony.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel,.... Who, though kind and gracious to Israel as their covenant God, is yet just and righteous, as well as he is a sovereign Being and Lord of all:

behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle; it will make such a noise in the world, and be so horrible and terrible; and if, he report of it would be so dreadful as to make a man's ears tingle, and his heart tremble, what must it be to endure it! Ezekiel 22:14.

Geneva Study Bible

(c) Meaning, that whoever hears of this great plague, will be astonished.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle — a strong metaphorical form of announcing an extraordinary and appalling event (see 1 Samuel 3:11; Jeremiah 19:3; also Habakkuk 1:5).

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 21:12 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I [am] bringing [such] evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

Ver. 12. Therefore thus saith the Lord.] God loveth to signify beforehand, saith the historian, and he therefore threateneth that he may not punish, saith a father.

Both his ears shall tingle.] He shall fall into a swoon through horror and dolor. See 1 Samuel 3:11.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

By the great commotion which such terrible reports shall cause in the hearts and heads of the hearers. See Poole "1 Samuel 3:11"; See Poole "Jeremiah 19:3".

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

12.Ears shall tingle — So amazed shall he be at the terrible tidings. Compare 1 Samuel 3:11, note.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Tingle, through astonishment, as if he had been stunned with too loud a noise, 1 Kings iii. 11. (Calmet)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Behold Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

both his ears, &c. Compare 1 Samuel 3:11.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

Whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle - a strong metaphorical form of announcing an extraordinary and appalling event (see 1 Samuel 3:11; Jeremiah 19:3; also Habakkuk 1:5).

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Whosoever heareth of it.—Literally, his hearers. Many MSS. And the Heb. margin read her (i.e., its) hearer.

Both his ears shall tingle.—The dreadful news shall affect him like a sharp piercing sound. (See the same metaphor in 1 Samuel 3:11; Jeremiah 19:3.)

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I am bringing

22:16; Daniel 9:12; Micah 3:12

whosoever

1 Samuel 3:11; Isaiah 28:16; Jeremiah 19:3; Amos 3:2; Matthew 24:21,22; Luke 23:28,29; Revelation 6:15-17