Ezekiel 21:10 Meaning and Explanation
“It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The sword is prepared for terrible bloodshed; it is too severe for celebration or the discipline of a rod.
The Context of Ezekiel 21:10
The prophecy emphasizes the severity and scope of coming destruction.
What Does Ezekiel 21:10 Mean?
The sharpness serves 'sore slaughter'—extreme, extensive killing. The brightness ('that it may glitter') makes the sword visible as an instrument of terror. These details paint a picture of overwhelming, unavoidable destruction.
The rhetorical question 'should we then make mirth?' challenges any thought of celebration. The final clause compares the sword to something far more severe than a rod used for discipline—this is not correction but annihilation of a completely different order.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 21:10
What does Ezekiel 21:10 mean?
The sword is prepared for terrible bloodshed; it is too severe for celebration or the discipline of a rod.
What is the context of Ezekiel 21:10?
The prophecy emphasizes the severity and scope of coming destruction.