King James Version

Ezekiel 21:15

I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Ezekiel 21:20.

לְמַ֣עַןlemaanthatמַעַןpreposition — “that”H4616properly, heed, i.e. purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order thatbecause of, to the end (intent) that, for (to,... 's sake), [phrase] lest, that, to.לָמ֣וּגlamugto faintמוּגpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “to faint”, the to-form of the verbH4127to melt, i.e. literally (to soften, flow down, disappear), or figuratively (to fear, faint)consume, dissolve, (be) faint(-hearted), melt (away), make soft.לֵ֗בlevcomfortablyלֵבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “comfortably”, the ordinary formH3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything[phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom]…וְהַרְבֵּה֙veharbehand increaseרָבָהconjunction, verb, hiphil, infinitive absolute — “and increase”, the verb used for emphasisH7235to increase (in whatever respect)(bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for H7232 (רָבַב)), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, incre…הַמִּכְשֹׁלִ֔יםhamikhsholimthe caused to fallמִכְשׁוֹלdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the caused to fall”, the ordinary formH4383a stumbling-block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol), scruple)caused to fall, offence, [idiom] (no-) thing offered, ruin, stumbling-block.עַ֚לalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…כָּלkalallכֹּלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).שַׁ֣עֲרֵיהֶ֔םshaareyhemdoorשַׁעַרnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “door”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH8179an opening, i.e. door or gatecity, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er).נָתַ֖תִּיnatatigiveנָתַןverb, qal, perfect, 1st person, common, singular — “give”, a completed actionH5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] wi…אִבְחַתivchatpointאִבְחָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “point”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH19brandishing of a swordpoint.חָ֑רֶבcharevknifeחֶרֶבnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “knife”, the ordinary formH2719drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implementaxe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.אָ֛חachalasאָחparticle, interjection — “alas”H253Oh! (expressive of grief or surprise)ah, alas.עֲשׂוּיָ֥הasuyahdoעָשָׂהverb, qal, passive participle, absolute — “do”, a verb used as a describing wordH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…לְבָרָ֖קlevaraqto lightningבָּרָקpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “to lightning”, the ordinary formH1300lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a flashing swordbright, glitter(-ing sword), lightning.מְעֻטָּ֥הmeutahwrapped upמָעֹטadjective, adjective, feminine, singular, absolute — “wrapped up”, the ordinary formH4593thinned (as to the edge), i.e. sharpwrapped up.לְטָֽבַחletavachto slaughterטֶבַחpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “to slaughter”, the ordinary formH2874properly, something slaughtered; hence, a beast (or meat, as butchered); abstractly butchery (or concretely, a place of slaughter)[idiom] beast, slaughter, [idiom] slay, [idiom] sore.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(21-20) I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied; ah! it is made glittering, it is sharpened for slaughter.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.

Young’s Literal Translation

To melt the heart, and to multiply the ruins, By all their gates I have set the point of a sword. Ah, it is made for brightness, Wrapped up for slaughter.

World English Bible

I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied. Ah! It is made as lightning. It is pointed for slaughter.

Darby Translation

In order that the heart may melt, and the stumbling-blocks be multiplied, I have set the threatening sword against all their gates: ah! it is made glittering, it is whetted for the slaughter.

Douay-Rheims

And languish in heart, and that multiplieth ruins. In all their gates I have set the dread of the sharp sword, the sword that is furbished to glitter, that is made ready for slaughter.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(21-20) I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied; ah! it is made glittering, it is sharpened for slaughter.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

and the weak ones be multiplied at every gate—they are given up to the slaughter of the sword: it is well fitted for slaughter, it is well fitted for glittering.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

ὅπως μὴ θραυσθῇ ἡ καρδία, καὶ πληθυνθῶσιν οἱ ἀσθενοῦντες ἐπὶ πᾶσαν πύλην, παραδέδονται εἰς σφάγια ῥομφαίας· εὖ γέγονεν εἰς σφαγὴν, εὖ γέγονεν εἰς στίλβωσιν.