“Say to the land of Israel!

Thus says Yahweh!

‘I am coming

Against you!

I will draw

My sword

Out of its sheath!

I will cut off

From you

Both the righteous

With the wicked!

Because I will cut off

From you

Both the righteous

With the wicked,

Therefore my sword

Shall go

Out of its sheath

Against all flesh,

From south to north.

All flesh

Shall know

That I,

Yahweh,

Have drawn my sword

Out of its sheath.

It shall not be

Sheathed again.”

Yahweh told Ezekiel to tell the land of Israel that he was going to go against them with a drawn sword. He was going to take his sword out of its sheath or holder against both the righteous and the wicked. His sword was not going to go back into that sheath or holder. He was going to raise his sword against everyone from south to north. They all would know that Yahweh had drawn his sword from his sheath. Thus it would not be returned to its sheath again.