Eze 21:3-4 | NETfull | STEP | and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.

Ezekiel 21:3-4

3 and say to them, ^{▼▼ Heb “the land of Israel.”} ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, ^{▼▼ The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) draws attention to something and has been translated here as a verb.} I am against you. ^{▼▼ Or “I challenge you.” The phrase “I am against you” may be a formula for challenging someone to combat or a duel. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:201–2, and P. Humbert, “Die Herausforderungsformel ‘hinnenî êlêkâ,’” ZAW 45 (1933): 101-8.} I will draw my sword ^{▼▼ This is the sword of judgment, see Isa 31:8; 34:6; 66:16.} from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. ^{▼▼ Ezekiel elsewhere pictures the Lord’s judgment as discriminating between the righteous and the wicked (9:4–6; 18:1–20; see as well Pss 1 and 11) and speaks of the preservation of a remnant (3:21; 6:8; 12:16). Perhaps here he exaggerates for rhetorical effect in an effort to subdue any false optimism. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:25–26; D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:669–70; and W. Zimmerli, Ezekiel (Hermeneia), 1:424–25.} 4 Because I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked, my sword will go out from its sheath against everyone ^{▼▼ Heb “all flesh” (also in the following verse).} from the south ^{▼▼ Heb “Negev.” The Negev is the south country.} to the north.