The Meaning of Ezekiel 24:21 Explained

Ezekiel 24:21

KJV: Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.

YLT: Say to the house of Israel: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am polluting My sanctuary, The excellency of your strength, The desire of your eyes, and the pitied of your soul, And your sons and your daughters whom ye have left, by sword they do fall.

Darby: Say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and your soul's longing; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.

ASV: Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Speak  unto the house  of Israel,  Thus saith  the Lord  GOD;  Behold, I will profane  my sanctuary,  the excellency  of your strength,  the desire  of your eyes,  and that which your soul  pitieth;  and your sons  and your daughters  whom ye have left  shall fall  by the sword. 

What does Ezekiel 24:21 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 24

1  Under the parable of a boiling pot
6  is shown the irrevocable destruction of Jerusalem
15  By the sign of Ezekiel not mourning for the death of his wife
19  is shown the calamity of the Jews to be beyond all sorrow

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 24:21 mean?

Speak to the house of Israel thus says the Lord GOD behold I will profane - My sanctuary arrogant your boast the desire of your eyes and the delight of your soul and your sons and daughters whom you left behind by the sword shall fall
אֱמֹ֣ר ׀ לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּֽה־ אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנְנִ֨י מְחַלֵּ֤ל אֶת־ מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ גְּא֣וֹן עֻזְּכֶ֔ם מַחְמַ֥ד עֵֽינֵיכֶ֖ם וּמַחְמַ֣ל נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וּבְנֵיכֶ֧ם וּבְנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲזַבְתֶּ֖ם בַּחֶ֥רֶב יִפֹּֽלוּ

אֱמֹ֣ר ׀  Speak 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְבֵ֣ית  to  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
כֹּֽה־  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַר֮  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲדֹנָ֣י  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יְהוִה֒  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
הִנְנִ֨י  behold  I 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
מְחַלֵּ֤ל  will  profane 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָלַל 
Sense: to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִקְדָּשִׁי֙  My  sanctuary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִקְדָּשׁ  
Sense: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.
גְּא֣וֹן  arrogant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גָּאֹון  
Sense: exaltation, majesty, pride.
עֻזְּכֶ֔ם  your  boast 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: עֹז  
Sense: might, strength.
מַחְמַ֥ד  the  desire 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַחְמָד  
Sense: desire, desirable thing, pleasant thing.
עֵֽינֵיכֶ֖ם  of  your  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, second person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וּמַחְמַ֣ל  and  the  delight 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַחְמָל  
Sense: object of compassion or pity, thing pitied.
נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם  of  your  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
וּבְנֵיכֶ֧ם  and  your  sons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וּבְנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם  and  daughters 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עֲזַבְתֶּ֖ם  you  left  behind 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
בַּחֶ֥רֶב  by  the  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
יִפֹּֽלוּ  shall  fall 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.