Question 1

How does Ezekiel 28:20–21 frame this message as a distinct oracle, and what does that framing suggest about its authority and focus?

Accepted Answer

The passage begins with the standard report that “the word of Yahweh came” to Ezekiel, which signals a new unit and claims divine origin for what follows. Then Ezekiel is told to “set your face toward Sidon” and “prophesy against it,” which narrows the focus to a specific city and makes the stance adversarial, not neutral reporting. The combination of a fresh “word came” introduction and the directed posture indicates this is presented as an authorized announcement aimed at Sidon, not merely a reflection on regional politics.

Question 2

What are the explicit actions Yahweh says he will take against Sidon, and how are those actions described?

Accepted Answer

Yahweh explicitly says he is “against” Sidon and will “execute judgments” in her. The actions are then specified: he will send “pestilence” into the city, and “blood” will be in its streets. People will fall wounded “in the midst” of Sidon, while “the sword” is on her “on every side.” The language paints a picture of an urban crisis with both disease and violence, emphasizing that the judgment is experienced inside the city and also comes from hostile forces surrounding it.

Question 3

What purpose does the text give for the judgment, and how is that purpose repeated?

Accepted Answer

The stated purpose is that Yahweh will be “glorified in the midst” of Sidon and “sanctified in her,” leading to recognition: “they shall know that I am Yahweh.” This recognition outcome appears twice (vv. 22 and 23), bracketing the description of calamity. The repetition shows the oracle is not only predicting suffering; it interprets the event as revelatory. The judgment is presented as the means by which Yahweh’s identity and holiness become publicly undeniable in connection with Sidon.

Question 4

In verse 22, how are “glorified,” “executed judgments,” and “sanctified” connected, and what sequence is implied?

Accepted Answer

Verse 22 links these ideas in a tight chain: Yahweh will be “glorified” in Sidon’s midst, and “they shall know” him when he has “executed judgments” and “been sanctified” in her. The implied sequence is that judgments occur in history, and the result is a public display of Yahweh’s distinctness and honor. Whether one emphasizes moral holiness or public reputation, the verse connects God’s self-display directly to concrete acts of judgment, not to abstract teaching or private spiritual experience.

Question 5

What does the repeated phrase “in the midst of her/you” contribute to the meaning of the oracle?

Accepted Answer

The repeated “in the midst” language keeps the focus on location and visibility. Yahweh does not say his honor will be shown at a distance or only among Israel; he says it will happen within Sidon itself. That makes the oracle a claim about Yahweh’s reach and presence: his authority can be displayed in a foreign, coastal city, and the evidence will be found in what occurs there. It also sharpens the impact of the images—pestilence, blood, and falling wounded are all described as happening inside the city’s own streets and center.

Question 6

Who might “they” be in “they shall know that I am Yahweh,” and what clues in the passage support each possibility?

Accepted Answer

The most immediate candidate is Sidon’s population, since the message is addressed to Sidon and the disasters occur within her streets; those experiencing them would “know” Yahweh through the event. Another possibility is a wider audience: surrounding peoples or nations who observe Sidon’s downfall, since Ezekiel’s oracles against nations often have an international horizon and public outcomes. A third possibility is that Israel in exile is included as an observer learning that Yahweh acts beyond Israel’s borders. The passage itself does not specify, which is why multiple readings remain plausible.

Question 7

How does the pairing of pestilence and sword shape the picture of judgment in verse 23?

Accepted Answer

By pairing pestilence (disease) with sword (violent attack), the oracle portrays judgment as comprehensive rather than one-dimensional. Pestilence suggests internal breakdown and widespread vulnerability within the city. The sword “on every side” adds external pressure and lethal force, implying that danger is not limited to a single front. Together they depict a layered catastrophe typical of ancient urban disasters during wartime—illness and violence reinforcing each other—so the judgment is experienced as unavoidable and city-wide, strengthening the text’s claim that the outcome will lead to recognition of Yahweh.

Oracle against Sidon and its blow

Oracle against Sidon and its blow

Oracle against Sidon and its blow

Scripture

What this passage is saying

Oracle against Sidon and its blow

Scripture

What this passage is saying