Ezekiel 21:7 “And when they ask, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of…”

Ezekiel 21:7

And when they ask, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, and every hand will go limp. Every spirit will faint, and every knee will turn to water.’ Yes, it is coming and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.

World English Bible

It shall be, when they ask you, ‘Why do you sigh?’ that you shall say, ‘Because of the news, for it comes! Every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord GOD.’”

American Standard Version

And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt say, Because of the tidings, for it cometh; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, saith the Lord Jehovah.

Geneva Bible 1599

And if they say vnto thee, Wherefore mournest thou? then answere, Because of the bruite: for it commeth, and euery heart shall melt, and all handes shall be weake, and all mindes shall faint, and all knees shall fall away as water: beholde, it commeth, and shall be done, saith the Lord God.

Darby Translation

And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore dost thou sigh? that thou shalt say, Because of the tidings, for it cometh; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall languish, and all knees shall melt into water: behold, it cometh; it is here, saith the Lord Jehovah.

Young's Literal Translation

and it hath come to pass, when they say unto thee, For what art thou sighing? that thou hast said: Because of the report, for it is coming, And melted hath every heart, And feeble hath been all hands, And weak is every spirit, And all knees go — waters, Lo, it is coming, yea, it hath been, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.'

Bible in Basic English

And when they say to you, Why are you making sounds of grief? then say, Because of the news, for it is coming: and every heart will become soft, and all hands will be feeble, and every spirit will be burning low, and all knees will be turned to water: see, it is coming and it will be done, says the Lord.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“Wherefore”

Ezekiel 12:9–11 Ezekiel 20:49 Ezekiel 24:19

Ezekiel 12:9–11 · BSB

“Son of man, hasn’t the rebellious house of Israel asked you, ‘What are you doing?’

Ezekiel 20:49 · BSB

Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

Ezekiel 24:19 · BSB

Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”

“For the”

Ezekiel 7:26 2 Kings 21:12 Isaiah 7:2 Isaiah 28:19 Jeremiah 6:22–24 Jeremiah 49:23

Ezekiel 7:26 · BSB

Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders.

2 Kings 21:12 · BSB

this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah that the news will reverberate in the ears of all who hear it.

Isaiah 7:2 · BSB

When it was reported to the house of David that Aram was in league with Ephraim, the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.

Isaiah 28:19 · BSB

As often as it passes through, it will carry you away; it will sweep through morning after morning, by day and by night.” The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.

Jeremiah 6:22–24 · BSB

This is what the LORD says: “Behold, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is stirred up from the ends of the earth.

Jeremiah 49:23 · BSB

Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed.

“and every”

Nahum 2:10 Exodus 15:15 Deuteronomy 20:8 Joshua 2:9–11 Joshua 5:1 2 Samuel 17:10

Nahum 2:10 · BSB

She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!

Exodus 15:15 · BSB

Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,

Deuteronomy 20:8 · BSB

Then the officers shall speak further to the army, saying, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him return home, so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own.”

Joshua 2:9–11 · BSB

and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.

Joshua 5:1 · BSB

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melte…

2 Samuel 17:10 · BSB

Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.

“all hands”

Jeremiah 50:43 Hebrews 12:12 Isaiah 35:3 Luke 21:26 Job 4:3 Job 4:4

Jeremiah 50:43 · BSB

The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.

Hebrews 12:12 · BSB

Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.

Isaiah 35:3 · BSB

Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!

Luke 21:26 · BSB

Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Job 4:3 · BSB

Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.

Job 4:4 · BSB

Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have braced the knees that were buckling.

“faint”

Isaiah 13:7 Jeremiah 8:18 Lamentations 5:17 Leviticus 26:36

Isaiah 13:7 · BSB

Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt.

Jeremiah 8:18 · BSB

My sorrow is beyond healing; my heart is faint within me.

Lamentations 5:17 · BSB

Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—

Leviticus 26:36 · BSB

As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and…

“weak as water”

Ezekiel 7:17

Ezekiel 7:17 · BSB

Every hand will go limp, and every knee will turn to water.

“it cometh”

Ezekiel 7:2–12 Ezekiel 12:22–28 1 Peter 4:7

Ezekiel 7:2–12 · BSB

“O son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel: ‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.

Ezekiel 12:22–28 · BSB

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?

1 Peter 4:7 · BSB

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

6But you, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief.

8Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Read Ezekiel 21