That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.
Parallel translations
- WEB All flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword out of its sheath. It will not return any more.”’
- BSB Then all flesh will know that I, the LORD, have taken My sword from its sheath, not to return it again.’
- NKJV that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore.” ’
- NASB So humanity will know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword from its sheath. It will not return to its sheath again.” ’
- NLT Everyone in the world will know that I am the Lord. My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
All flesh will know that the Lord has drawn His sword, and it will not return to its sheath. The judgment is certain and will not be recalled.
Overview
God declares that this act of judgment is unmistakably His and will accomplish its purpose before it is sheathed. The image of the sword not returning stresses the irreversible certainty of the coming destruction. As with the unquenchable fire, the goal is that all may know the Lord through His righteous judgments.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ezek 21:30Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
- Nah 1:9What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
- 1 Sam 3:12In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
- Jer 23:20The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
- Ezek 20:48And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
- 1 Kgs 9:7–9Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
- Isa 45:23I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
- Deut 29:24–28Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?
- Isa 55:11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
- Num 14:21–23But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 21:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.