Ezekiel 21:17

I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.

Ezekiel 21:17 (KJV)

Context

The book of Ezekiel contains messages from God to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. In Ezekiel 21, God declares judgment upon Jerusalem and the house of Israel through the Babylonian invasion. The chapter includes symbolic actions commanded of Ezekiel, such as smiting his hands together (Ezekiel 21:14) and the sharpening and pointing of the sword of judgment.

Meaning

In this verse, God says He will smite His hands together. This action symbolises a decisive and firm judgment, expressing God’s anger and fury against the people for their persistent disobedience and idolatry. The gesture is applied to God as a token of His righteous indignation.

God declares that He will cause His fury to rest. This means that God’s wrath will be fully satisfied and will subside after the judgment is executed; it is not an endless rage but a measured, righteous response that accomplishes its purpose. This theme appears elsewhere in Ezekiel, where God’s fury is said to rest upon the people when judgment is accomplished (Ezekiel 5:13, 16:42).

The verse concludes with the declaration that it is the Lord who has spoken these words. This emphasises the authority and power of God. He alone has the ability to bring about the judgments He has pronounced, and His word is certain and unchanging. The judgment is not arbitrary but is a response to the people’s rebellion against God’s covenant.

Application

The verse reminds us of the righteous and just nature of God. It warns us that disobedience and rebellion against God’s commands have consequences. However, it also serves as a reminder that God’s judgments are not carried out without warning. Throughout the book of Ezekiel, God repeatedly calls His people to repentance and offers the opportunity for them to turn back to Him. This verse serves as a reminder of the urgency to heed God’s warnings and respond to His call for repentance.