Ezekiel 28:20-24·~1 min

A Prophecy against Sidon

The word of the LORD directs Ezekiel to set his face against Sidon and prophesy. God declares Himself against her, promising to gain glory in her through pestilence, bloodshed, and the sword, so that Sidon will know that He is the LORD. This judgment also serves Israel, removing one more scornful neighbor so that the house of Israel will no longer suffer from the pricking briars and painful thorns around them.

T²⁰hen the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ²¹“Son of man, set your face against Sidon and prophesy against her. ²²And you are to declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ²³I will send a plague against her ²⁴For the people of Israel will no longer face a pricking brier or a painful thorn from all around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.’

Verse 20The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel again.

This verse opens the Sidon oracle.

Verse 21Ezekiel is told to set his face against Sidon and prophesy against it.

This verse directs judgment toward Sidon.

Verse 22God says He is against Sidon and will manifest His glory in her midst through judgment.

This verse states the aim of the oracle.

Verse 23He will send pestilence and bloodshed into her, and the slain will fall by the sword all around.

This verse describes the concrete forms of Sidon's judgment.

Verse 24Then there will no longer be for Israel a pricking brier or painful thorn among mocking neighbors, and they will know that He is the Lord GOD.

This verse links neighboring judgment to Israel's relief.

Passage shape

A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.

vv. 20-24
The word of the LORD directs Ezekiel to set his face against Sidon and prophesy. God declares Himself against her, promising to gain glory in her through pestilence, bloodshed, and the sword, so that Sidon will know that He is the LORD. This judgment also serves Israel, removing one more scornful neighbor so that the house of Israel will no longer suffer from the pricking briars and painful thorns around them.
This paragraph joins Sidon's judgment to God's holiness and to relief for Israel from hostile neighbors.
20 21 22 23 24

Section summaryThe LORD turns next to Sidon, setting Himself against the city so that His holiness will be known in her midst. Through pestilence, bloodshed, and the sword, Sidon will come under judgment. The oracle is brief, but its point is clear: Sidon, like Tyre, cannot shelter itself from the revelation of the LORD through judgment.

Role in the chapterThis section broadens the coastal judgments from Tyre to Sidon and emphasizes divine self-vindication in the nations.