17 I too will strike my hands together, and my wrath will subside. I the Lord have spoken."
17 I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it.
17 I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the Lord have spoken."
17 Then I'll clap my hands, a signal that my anger is spent. I, God, have spoken."
17 "I also will beat My fists together, And I will cause My fury to rest; I, the Lord, have spoken."
17 I, too, will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury. I, the Lord, have spoken!"
13 " 'I will surely strike my hands together at the unjust gain you have made and at the blood you have shed in your midst.
13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
13 "Behold, I strike my hand at the dishonest gain that you have made, and at the blood that has been in your midst.
13 "'Now look! I've clapped my hands, calling everyone's attention to your rapacious greed and your bloody brutalities.
13 "Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst.
13 "But now I clap my hands in indignation over your dishonest gain and bloodshed.
(Read Ezekiel 22:1-16)
The prophet is to judge the bloody city; the city of bloods. Jerusalem is so called, because of her crimes. The sins which Jerusalem stands charged with, are exceeding sinful. Murder, idolatry, disobedience to parents, oppression and extortion, profanation of the sabbath and holy things, seventh commandment sins, lewdness and adultery. Unmindfulness of God was at the bottom of all this wickedness. Sinners provoke God because they forget him. Jerusalem has filled the measure of her sins. Those who give up themselves to be ruled by their lusts, will justly be given up to be portioned by them. Those who resolve to be their own masters, let them expect no other happiness than their own hands can furnish; and a miserable portion it will prove.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 21:17
Commentary on Ezekiel 21:1-17
(Read Ezekiel 21:1-17)
Here is an explanation of the parable in the last chapter. It is declared that the Lord was about to cut off Jerusalem and the whole land, that all might know it was his decree against a wicked and rebellious people. It behoves those who denounce the awful wrath of God against sinners, to show that they do not desire the woful day. The example of Christ teaches us to lament over those whose ruin we declare. Whatever instruments God uses in executing his judgments, he will strengthen them according to the service they are employed in. The sword glitters to the terror of those against whom it is drawn. It is a sword to others, a rod to the people of the Lord. God is in earnest in pronouncing this sentence, and the prophet must show himself in earnest in publishing it.