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Ezekiel 14:21

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For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

For thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; How much more when I send {H7971} my four {H702} sore {H7451} judgments {H8201} upon Jerusalem {H3389}, the sword {H2719}, and the famine {H7458}, and the noisome {H7451} beast {H2416}, and the pestilence {H1698}, to cut off {H3772} from it man {H120} and beast {H929}?

For here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: "Even if I inflict my four dreadful judgments on Yerushalayim - sword, famine, wild animals and plagues - to eliminate both its humans and its animals;

For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast?

For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the evil beasts, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast!

Commentary

Ezekiel 14:21 KJV is a powerful and sobering verse that speaks directly about the severity of God's impending judgment upon Jerusalem during the time leading up to the Babylonian exile.

Context

This verse is found within a chapter where the prophet Ezekiel confronts the elders of Israel who have come to inquire of the Lord, yet harbor idols in their hearts (Ezekiel 14:3). God declares that He will answer them according to their idolatry, not their words. The chapter emphasizes that even the presence of righteous individuals like Noah, Daniel, and Job would not be able to save the nation from the decreed punishment, only themselves (Ezekiel 14:14). Verse 21 escalates this message, detailing the specific instruments of divine wrath.

Key Themes

  • The Severity of Divine Judgment: The phrase "How much more" highlights that if lesser judgments or the presence of righteous people couldn't avert disaster, the combination of these four specific judgments guarantees total devastation.
  • The Four Sore Judgments: God explicitly lists the four primary means of His punishment: the sword (representing war and violence), the famine (lack of food, starvation), the noisome beast (predatory animals, lack of safety), and the pestilence (widespread disease). These were common forms of divine judgment mentioned elsewhere in scripture, such as in Leviticus 26 and Jeremiah 14:12.
  • Comprehensive Destruction: The purpose of sending these judgments together is "to cut off from it man and beast." This signifies a judgment so complete that it devastates all life within the city, leaving it desolate.
  • Consequences of Sin: The ultimate message is that persistent sin and idolatry, especially among God's chosen people, lead to inevitable and severe consequences from a just God.

Linguistic Insights

The King James rendering "sore judgments" comes from the Hebrew word ra'iym (רָעִים), which means evil, wicked, calamitous, or grievous. It emphasizes the destructive and terrible nature of the punishments God is sending.

Reflection

Ezekiel 14:21 serves as a powerful reminder that God takes sin seriously and that unrepentant rebellion leads to severe consequences. While we live under the new covenant established through Christ (Hebrews 8:6), this verse still teaches us about the holiness and justice of God. It underscores the importance of genuine repentance and turning away from anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts. The historical judgment on Jerusalem serves as a solemn warning about the reality of God's wrath against sin, ultimately pointing us to the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 33:27 (7 votes)

    Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; [As] I live, surely they that [are] in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that [is] in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that [be] in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.

  • Ezekiel 5:17 (7 votes)

    So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken [it].

  • Ezekiel 14:15 (4 votes)

    If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

  • Ezekiel 14:19 (4 votes)

    Or [if] I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

  • Ezekiel 14:13 (4 votes)

    Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

  • Ezekiel 14:17 (4 votes)

    Or [if] I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

  • Ezekiel 6:11 (3 votes)

    ¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.