What Does Ezekiel 21:16 Mean in the King James?
Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The face is “appointed”: the violence is directed, not wandering.
THE MEANING
This verse speaks of force given a direction: the blade turns right or left toward where its face is appointed. Its violence is plain, and its movement is deliberate.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that this violence is stray or uncontrolled: the blade is being directed.
THE ROOT
מוּעָדִים
mo'adim
GROWS FROM
יעד
y-ʿ-d
to appoint, designate, or set for an encounter
The word rendered “set” is מוּעָדִים (mo’adim), “appointed” or “directed,” from יעד (ya’ad). The same root appears in מוֹעֵד (mo’ed), an appointed time or meeting place: this face is not merely pointed somewhere, but fixed toward an encounter.
ALSO GROWS
ya'ad: appoint, designate, or set to meet
יָעַד
The blade’s direction is assigned; its movement is not accidental.
mo'ed: appointed time or meeting place
מוֹעֵד
This branch links a set direction with a fixed encounter.
THE PATTERN
A face fixed toward an end gives movement a defined direction.
For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,THE THREAD
Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.“Set” in Ezekiel and “appointed” in Genesis draw on the root יעד (ya’ad). In Ezekiel the appointment directs a face; in Genesis it fixes a time for return.
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