Ezekiel 21:7 - Summary and Commentary

Ezekiel 21:7 states: "And it shall be when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because 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 shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God." This powerful verse conveys a profound and somber message about impending judgment and the distress it brings.

Understanding Ezekiel 21:7

This verse occurs in a context where God, through the prophet Ezekiel, is delivering a message of impending doom to the people of Israel. The reference to sighing indicates deep sorrow and foreboding concerning the judgments that are about to fall.

Key Insights from Commentaries

• Matthew Henry:

  Henry emphasizes the emotional turmoil that leads to physical manifestations of fear in the people. The sighing in this verse is not merely an expression of sorrow but accompanies prophetic warning about the calamities approaching Israel. It represents the gravity of the situation, implying that the people are being called to anxiety over their impending fate.

• Albert Barnes:

  Barnes points out that the message relayed through Ezekiel serves to alert and prepare the Israelites for the imminent judgment that they can neither avoid nor escape. The prophetic sigh symbolizes a divine warning that must be heeded. His commentary describes how the realization of the forthcoming events leads to a state of weakness and fear among the people.

• Adam Clarke:

  Clarke highlights the psychological impact on the people when faced with divine judgment. He reflects on the symbolism of sighing as an expression of both human emotion and prophetic foresight. This emotion indicates the seriousness of the impending doom and serves as a call to the people for self-reflection and acknowledgment of their misdeeds.

Cross-References to Ezekiel 21:7

Several other passages throughout the Bible resonate with the themes expressed in Ezekiel 21:7, enhancing our understanding of the scriptures:

• Jeremiah 30:6-7: This passage speaks of anguish and the day of the Lord's vengeance, echoing the same sense of impending judgment.
• Isaiah 19:1: This verse describes a distressful vision of Egypt where the idols tremble, aligning with the theme of fear in judgment.
• Lamentations 3:48-49: Here, the weeping prophet expresses sorrow similar to Ezekiel's sighing in anticipation of calamity.
• Revelation 1:7: This New Testament verse reminds us that every eye will see Him, establishing links of divine judgment across both Testaments.
• Luke 21:26: It speaks of men's hearts failing them for fear, connecting with the emotional despair Ezekiel mentions.
• Matthew 24:21: This reference talks about great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world, mirroring the urgency in Ezekiel's prophecy.
• Amos 8:3: It discusses the mourning in the streets at the advent of the day of the Lord, which parallels the emotional weight carried in Ezekiel's message.

Thematic Connections

The thematic connections between Ezekiel 21:7 and other biblical texts offer a broader understanding of judgment and its implications in scripture. These parallels demonstrate a continual dialogue on God's justice and the human response to divine declarations:

• Fear of Judgement: Several verses—like Matthew 10:28 and Romans 2:6-11—remind us of the expectations and consequences of divine judgment.
• Call to Repentance: Scriptures such as 2 Chronicles 7:14 urge a return to God, paralleling the need for repentance seen in Ezekiel.
• Divine Justice: Passages like Psalm 9:8 bolster the theme of God as a righteous judge, reinforcing the core message of Ezekiel’s prophecy.

Concluding Thoughts

Ezekiel 21:7 serves as a critical reminder of the seriousness of divine pronouncements and the emotional and spiritual responses they invoke. The themes of impending judgment, repentance, and the human condition are interwoven throughout Scripture, signaling the need for awareness and action among the faithful. The connections between Bible verses reveal the cohesive nature of God's message across the ages, allowing modern readers to have a foundational understanding of scripture's relevance.