Ezekiel 21:23

Judgment

²¹ For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver.

²² In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall.

It will seem like a false omen to the eyes of those who have sworn allegiance to him, but it will draw attention to their guilt and take them captive.

²⁴ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds—because you have come to remembrance—you shall be taken in hand.

²⁵ And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel, the day has come for your final punishment.’

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: It will seem like a false omen to the eyes of those who have sworn allegiance to him, but it will draw attention to their guilt and take them captive.
KJV: And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
WEB: It will be to them as a false divination in their sight, who have sworn oaths to them; but he brings iniquity to memory, that they may be taken.
ASV: And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, who have sworn oaths unto them; but he bringeth iniquity to remembrance, that they may be taken.
DARBY: And this shall be a false divination in their sight, for them that have sworn oaths; but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
BLB: And it will be to them like an empty divination in their eyes, those having sworn oaths with them; and he will call to remembrance their guilt, to take them captive.

ÅB: Men dette er i deres[^6] øyne bare en tom spådom; de har jo de helligste dere[^7]. Men han[^8] minner om deres misgjerning, for at de skal gripes.
OTB: Det vil virke som en falsk spådom for dem som har sverget eder til ham, men han vil minne dem om deres skyld og fange dem.
B1930: Men dette er i deres øine bare en tom spådom; de har jo de helligste eder. Men han minner om deres misgjerning, forat de skal gripes. / < jødenes.> / < de mener sig på grunn av Herrens eder sikre; MIK 3, 11. JER 7, 4.> / < Herren.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 5:15
then he is to bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering of memorial as a reminder of iniquity.
Read in context
Ezekiel 21:24
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds—because you have come to remembrance—you shall be taken in hand.
Read in context
Ezekiel 29:16
Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”
Read in context
Ezekiel 17:13–19
He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land,
Read in context
Jeremiah 52:3–11
For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Read in context
1 Kings 17:18
“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
Read in context
Revelation 16:19
The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.
Read in context
2 Kings 24:20–25:7
For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Read in context