Ezekiel 21:28

“And thou, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering.”

Context:To understand the verse better, we need to consider its context within the book of Ezekiel. In this chapter, Ezekiel receives a message from the Lord to prophesy against various nations, including the Ammonites, who were enemies of Israel. The prophet is tasked with delivering a warning of impending judgment and destruction.

Addressing the “son of man”: The phrase “son of man” is a term frequently used in the book of Ezekiel to refer to the prophet himself. It highlights Ezekiel’s humanity while emphasising his role as a messenger of God. This phrase appears over 90 times in the book, emphasising Ezekiel’s connection to his audience.

The message to the Ammonites: God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy specifically to the Ammonites, addressing their reproach. The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Genesis 19:37). They had become hostile towards Israel and were guilty of various offences, including rejoicing over Israel’s downfall and taking advantage of their vulnerable state.

The drawn sword: The verse depicts the Lord’s judgment against the Ammonites as a drawn sword, symbolising impending destruction and slaughter. The repetition of the phrase “the sword, the sword is drawn” emphasises the certainty and severity of the impending judgment. It signifies the readiness of God’s judgment to fall upon the Ammonites for their actions.

Furbished sword: The phrase “to consume because of the glittering” or “to devour while it is flashing like lightning” (NIV) refers to the sharpened and polished state of the sword. The sword’s glittering symbolises its preparedness for warfare and its destructive power.