The Meaning of Ezekiel 5:2 Explained

Ezekiel 5:2

KJV: Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.

YLT: A third part with fire thou dost burn in the midst of the city, at the fulness of the days of the siege; and thou hast taken the third part, thou dost smite with a weapon round about it; and the third part thou dost scatter to the wind, and a weapon I draw out after them.

Darby: A third part shalt thou burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife; and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.

ASV: A third part shalt thou burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and smite with the sword round about it; and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt burn  with fire  a third part  in the midst  of the city,  when the days  of the siege  are fulfilled:  and thou shalt take  a third part,  [and] smite  about  it with a knife:  and a third part  thou shalt scatter  in the wind;  and I will draw out  a sword  after  them. 

What does Ezekiel 5:2 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 5

1  Under the type of hair
5  is shown the judgment of Jerusalem for their rebellion
12  by famine, sword, and dispersion

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 5:2 mean?

A third with fire You shall burn in the midst of the city when are finished The days of the siege then you shall take - a third and strike with the sword around [it] and a third you shall scatter in the wind and a sword I will draw out after them
שְׁלִשִׁ֗ית בָּא֤וּר תַּבְעִיר֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר כִּמְלֹ֖את יְמֵ֣י הַמָּצ֑וֹר וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֣ אֶת־ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֗ית תַּכֶּ֤ה בַחֶ֙רֶב֙ סְבִ֣יבוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ תִּזְרֶ֣ה לָר֔וּחַ וְחֶ֖רֶב אָרִ֥יק אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם

שְׁלִשִׁ֗ית  A  third 
Parse: Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: שְׁלִישִׁי 
Sense: third, one third, third part, third time.
בָּא֤וּר  with  fire 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אוּר  
Sense: flame, light of fire.
תַּבְעִיר֙  You  shall  burn 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּעַר 
Sense: to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled.
בְּת֣וֹךְ  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
הָעִ֔יר  of  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
כִּמְלֹ֖את  when  are  finished 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
יְמֵ֣י  The  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַמָּצ֑וֹר  of  the  siege 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָצֹור 
Sense: siege-enclosure, siege, entrenchment, siege works.
וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֣  then  you  shall  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
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.
הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֗ית  a  third 
Parse: Article, Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: שְׁלִישִׁי 
Sense: third, one third, third part, third time.
תַּכֶּ֤ה  and  strike 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
בַחֶ֙רֶב֙  with  the  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
סְבִ֣יבוֹתֶ֔יהָ  around  [it] 
Parse: Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙  and  a  third 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: שְׁלִישִׁי 
Sense: third, one third, third part, third time.
תִּזְרֶ֣ה  you  shall  scatter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: זָרָה 
Sense: to scatter, fan, cast away, winnow, disperse, compass, spread, be scattered, be dispersed.
לָר֔וּחַ  in  the  wind 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
וְחֶ֖רֶב  and  a  sword 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
אָרִ֥יק  I  will  draw  out 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רִיק  
Sense: to make empty, empty out.
אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם  after  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).