that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore.” ’
Parallel translations
- WEB All flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword out of its sheath. It will not return any more.”’
- KJV That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall 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.’
- 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 21:30Cause it to return into its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your birth, will I judge you.
- Nah 1:9What do you plot against Yahweh? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.
- 1 Sam 3:12In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.
- Jer 23:20Yahweh’s anger shall not return, until he has executed, and until he has performed the intents of his heart. In the latter days, you will understand it perfectly.
- Ezek 20:48All flesh shall see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.”’”
- 1 Kgs 9:7–9then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and I will cast this house, which I have made holy for my name, out of my sight; and Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
- Isa 45:23I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.
- Deut 29:24–28even all the nations will say, “Why has Yahweh done thus to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?”
- Isa 55:11so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.
- Num 14:21–23but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with Yahweh’s glory;
Resources, by level
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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.