Ezekiel 21:19

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

18 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.

20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

21 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 arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Now you, son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same land. And make a signpost where the road branches off to each city.
KJV
Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
WEB
“Also, you son of man, appoint two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come. They both will come out of one land, and mark out a place. Mark it out at the head of the way to the city.
ASV
Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come; they twain shall come forth out of one land: and mark out a place, mark it out at the head of the way to the city.
DARBY
And thou, son of man, set thee two ways, by which the sword of the king of Babylon may come out of one land shall they both come and make thee a signpost, make it at the head of the way to the city.
BLB
“And you, son of man, set for yourself two ways to go for the sword of the king of Babylon! From one land they will come forth, the two of them, and create a signpost—at the head of the way to the city create [it].
ÅB
Og du menneskesønn, gjør deg to veier, som kongen av Babels sverd kan fare fram på! Fra ett land skal de begge gå ut, og du skal risse en hånd[^5] - risse den ved begynnelsen av veien til hver by!
OTB
"Menneskesønn, merk ut to veier for sverdet til kongen av Babylon å ta, begge som starter fra det samme landet. Lag et veiskilt ved veikrysset til byen.
B1930
Og du menneskesønn, gjør dig to veier, som kongen av Babels sverd kan fare frem på! Fra ett land skal de begge gå ut, og du skal risse en hånd - risse den ved begynnelsen av veien til hver by! / < som veiviser.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 1:10

    See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 4:1–3

    Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 5:1–17

    And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.

    Read in context