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Ezekiel 21:7

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 21:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt say, Because of the tidings, for it cometh; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, saith the Lord Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt say, Because of the tidings, for it cometh; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, saith the Lord Jehovah.
Ezekiel 21:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
5and all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, have drawn forth my sword out of its sheath; it shall not return any more.
6Sigh therefore, thou son of man; with the breaking of thy loins and with bitterness shalt thou sigh before their eyes.
7And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt say, Because of the tidings, for it cometh; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, saith the Lord Jehovah.
8And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
9Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah: Say, A sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and also furbished;
10it is sharpened that it may make a slaughter; it is furbished that it may be as lightning: shall we then make mirth? the rod of my son, it contemneth every tree.
← Ezekiel 21:6Ezekiel 21:8 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it shall be, when they say unto thee, wherefore sighest thou? &c.] Which he was to do that purpose, that they might be put upon asking him the reason of it; whether it was on his own personal amount, or on account of his family or particular friends; or whether on a public account, either because of what should befall the captives there, or their countrymen in Judea and Jerusalem: that thou shalt answer, for the tidings, or, the “report”f299, because it cometh; the report of the Chaldean army approaching and invading Judea, and besieging Jerusalem, which he had from the Lord; and the thing itself was just at hand, and would shortly and certainly be; and that was the thing that affected…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The abrupt sentences and mournful repetitions imply violent emotions.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Because - The saddest news you ever heard is coming. Ezekiel 21:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Wherefore: Eze 12:9-11, Eze 20:49, Eze 24:19 For the: Eze 7:26; Kg2 21:12; Isa 7:2, Isa 28:19; Jer 6:22-24, Jer 49:23 and every: Exo 15:15; Deu 20:8 \*marg. Jos 2:9-11, Jos 5:1; Sa2 17:10; Nah 2:10 all hands: Job 4:3, Job 4:4; Isa 35:3; Jer 50:43; Luk 21:26; Heb 12:12 faint: Lev 26:36; Isa 13:7; Jer 8:18; Lam 5:17 weak as water: Heb. go into water, Eze 7:17 \*marg. it cometh: Eze 7:2-12, Eze 12:22-28; Pe1 4:7 Ezekiel 21:9”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification