Ezekiel 21

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of…” Naming Israel and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD ; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.” Naming Sigh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” Naming Again keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD ; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:” Naming Say and Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it…” The line’s distinctive content terms include furbished, hand, handled. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD .” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bright, faint, gates. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cause, fury, hands. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.” Naming Ammonites and Appoint keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their…” Naming Ammonites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blow, brutish, deliver. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.