and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse declares God's sword will cut off "both righteous and wicked," which might seem to contradict earlier promises of His people's protection. However, it highlights that even the innocent will suffer in the sweeping temporal judgment, not for their own sins, but as part of a wider, unavoidable national calamity. This shows God's justice involves communal consequences, while still preserving His ultimate care for the truly righteous.
and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God declares His intention to unleash judgment upon the land of Israel, a consequence of their deep-seated sin. This isn't a selective purging but a widespread devastation, signified by the drawing of a sword from its sheath, which will indiscriminately affect both the righteous and the wicked. While God's justice separates those who follow Him from those who don't, this impending national calamity will sweep up innocent and guilty alike in its temporal wrath, though not in eternal doom.
What happens when the Almighty God says, 'I am against you'? This isn't just a statement; it's a pronouncement of impending judgment with devastating consequences.
The opening words, 'Behold, I am against you,' carry immense weight. When God is against a people, it signifies that their sin has reached a point where His judgment is now actively engaged. This isn't about God being arbitrary, but about His righteous opposition to persistent rebellion. His 'sword,' drawn from its sheath, represents the instrument of His judgment—in this context, the invading Babylonian army. This imagery highlights that the coming destruction is not accidental but divinely ordained and actively pursued.
God's judgment on a nation seems indiscriminate, cutting down both the good and the bad. How can this be reconciled with His justice?
Ezekiel's message reveals a harsh reality of national judgment: the innocent often suffer alongside the guilty. The prophecy states God will 'cut off from you both righteous and wicked.' This doesn't contradict God's justice, as seen in chapter 18 where individuals are responsible for their own sin. Instead, it describes the temporal consequences of a nation's collective sin. The righteous might face exile, hardship, or even death not as punishment for their own deeds, but as part of a wider calamity. However, their ultimate destiny is secure. For the wicked, this judgment is a deserved punishment. This universal sweep highlights the pervasive nature of sin's consequences within a community and God’s determination to purge it.
Ask a follow-up
Can God's judgment, even when it sweeps up the righteous, ultimately serve a redemptive purpose?
While the immediate picture is one of devastating loss, the commentary points to a profound truth: the 'cutting off' of the righteous was not solely punitive. For figures like Ezekiel and Daniel, exile meant being carried into a pagan land where they would become channels of God's truth and influence. Their presence in Babylon, their prophecies, and their godly examples, sown amidst a hostile culture, bore incredible fruit. This included the preservation of Scripture, the rise of prophetic books, and even decrees from pagan kings that favored God's people. The righteous shared in the calamity, but their removal became a strategic means for God's global purposes and the eventual salvation of a remnant.
Understand the original words
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A figure of speech representing divine judgment, war, or the execution of justice against the enemies of God or a rebellious nation.
tsaddiyq · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are morally upright in their standing before God, often characterized by obedience to His law and faith in His promises; they are distinct from the wicked in heart and action.
rasha' · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who live in open rebellion against God, ignoring His moral order and pursuing their own sinful desires; they stand in opposition to the ways of God.
This prophecy from Ezekiel comes during the final, desperate siege of Jerusalem, a time when God's judgment falls indiscriminately on both the guilty and the few righteous within the doomed city. While innocent lives are lost or disrupted, the exile also becomes a catalyst for preserving God's people and His word for future generations.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon captures Jerusalem and deports a portion of the population, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. Jerusalem's temple is plundered and King Zedekiah is installed as a puppet ruler.
c. 589-587 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
After Zedekiah rebels again, Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem. The city endures a brutal siege, leading to widespread famine and suffering.
587 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces breach Jerusalem's walls, destroy the city, and raze Solomon's Temple. A final wave of exiles is taken to Babylon.
c. 586 BC onwards
Babylonian Exile
The majority of the remaining Jewish population is exiled to Babylon, where they live in communities for decades. This period profoundly shapes Jewish identity and theology.
This passage shows God's willingness to spare a city for the sake of a few righteous individuals, highlighting the tension with Ezekiel's prophecy of judgment falling on both righteous and wicked.
Jeremiah 15:2This verse echoes Ezekiel's message of impending doom, stating that even those destined for destruction by sword, famine, or captivity will come upon Jerusalem, including the righteous who will face similar fates.
Ezekiel 9:4-6This earlier passage describes a mark being placed on the foreheads of those who grieve over the city's abominations, suggesting a divine protection or distinction for the righteous even amidst a sweeping judgment that affects everyone.
Romans 8:28This New Testament verse offers a profound theological perspective, asserting that God works all things, even calamities that affect the righteous, for their ultimate good, which can bring comfort when facing indiscriminate judgment.
Lamentations 4:10This passage from Lamentations vividly describes the suffering during the siege of Jerusalem, where mothers boiled their own children, underscoring the horrifying reality of both the righteous and the wicked sharing in extreme temporal devastation.
ellicottEzekiel 21:3: "And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked."
(3, 4) The righteous and the wicked. —This explains the green tree and the dry of Ezekiel 20:47 ; and “all flesh” of Ezekiel 21:4-5 , corresponds to “all faces” of the same. These expressions are meant to show the universality of the approaching desolation. The actual separation in God’s sight betw…
clarkeEzekiel 21:3: "And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked."
Behold, I am against thee - Dismal news! When God is against us, who can be for us? And will draw forth my sword - War. And will cut off from thee - The land of Judea. The righteous and the wicked - All shall be removed from thee. Some shall be cut off - removed by the sword; shall be slain in batt…
The verse declares God's sword will cut off "both righteous and wicked," which might seem to contradict earlier promises of His people's protection. However, it highlights that even the innocent will suffer in the sweeping temporal judgment, not for their own sins, but as part of a wider, unavoidable national calamity. This shows God's justice involves communal consequences, while still preserving His ultimate care for the truly righteous.
God declares His intention to unleash judgment upon the land of Israel, a consequence of their deep-seated sin. This isn't a selective purging but a widespread devastation, signified by the drawing of a sword from its sheath, which will indiscriminately affect both the righteous and the wicked. While God's justice separates those who follow Him from those who don't, this impending national calamity will sweep up innocent and guilty alike in its temporal wrath, though not in eternal doom.
God declares His intention to unleash judgment upon the land of Israel, a consequence of their deep-seated sin. This isn't a selective purging but a widespread devastation, signified by the drawing of a sword from its sheath, which will indiscriminately affect both the righteous and the wicked. While God's justice separates those who follow Him from those who don't, this impending national calamity will sweep up innocent and guilty alike in its temporal wrath, though not in eternal doom.
"and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked." — The verse declares God's sword will cut off "both righteous and wicked," which might seem to contradict earlier promises of His people's protection. However, it highlights that even the innocent will…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026