'By the Sword' in the Bible
You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword.
Five of you will pursue 100, and 100 of you will pursue 10,000; your enemies will fall before you by the sword.
Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and little children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
The Amalekites and Canaanites are right in front of you, and you will fall by the sword. The Lord won’t be with you, since you have turned from following Him.”
Anyone in the open field who touches a person who has been killed by the sword or has died, or who even touches a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.
When Israel had finished killing everyone living in Ai who had pursued them into the open country, and when every last one of them had fallen by the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the sword.
Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth of the Nations, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.
They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died by the sword—for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel.
May it hang over Joab’s head and his father’s whole house, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves.”
Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in the Lord’s temple.”
All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.
I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”
Then Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds, those in charge of the army, saying, “Take her out between the ranks, and put anyone who follows her to death by the sword,” for the priest had said, “Don’t put her to death in the Lord’s temple.”
All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword.
Our fathers fell by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity because of this.
then be afraid of the sword,because wrath brings punishment by the sword,so that you may know there is a judgment.
His priests fell by the sword,but the widows could not lament.
But if you refuse and rebel,you will be devoured by the sword.”For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Your men will fall by the sword,your warriors in battle.
Whoever is found will be stabbed,and whoever is caught will die by the sword.
The noisy city, the jubilant town,is filled with revelry.Your dead did not die by the sword;they were not killed in battle.
I am about to put a spirit in him and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”
Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says: “I am about to punish them. The young men will die by the sword; their sons and daughters will die by famine.
If I go out to the field,look—those slain by the sword!If I enter the city,look—those ill from famine!For both prophet and priesttravel to a land they do not know.
Therefore, hand their children over to famine,and pour the sword’s power on them.Let their wives become childless and widowed,their husbands slain by deadly disease,their young men struck down by the sword in battle.
I will spoil the plans of Judah and Jerusalem in this place. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, by the hand of those who want to take their life. I will provide their corpses as food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land.
for this is what the Lord says, ‘I am about to make you a terror to both yourself and those you love. They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will deport them to Babylon and put them to the sword.
Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live and will retain his life like the spoils of war.
Why should you and your people die by the sword, famine, or plague as the Lord has threatened against any nation that does not serve the king of Babylon?
“Yet hear the Lord’s word, Zedekiah, king of Judah. This is what the Lord says concerning you: You will not die by the sword;
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live. He will keep his life like the spoils of war and will live.’
Indeed, I will certainly deliver you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in Me, you will keep your life like the spoils of war.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
All who resolve to go to Egypt to live there for a while will die by the sword, famine, and plague. They will have no one escape or survive from the disaster I will bring on them.’
Now therefore, know for certain that by the sword, famine, and plague you will die in the place where you desired to go to live for a while.”
And I will take away the remnant of Judah, those who have resolved to go to the land of Egypt to live there for a while; they will meet their end. All of them in the land of Egypt will fall by the sword; they will meet their end by famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by the sword and by famine. Then they will become an object of cursing, scorn, execration, and disgrace.
שׁ ShinBoth young and oldare lying on the ground in the streets.My young men and womenhave fallen by the sword.You have killed them in the day of Your anger,slaughtering without compassion.
ט TetThose slain by the sword are better offthan those slain by hunger,who waste away, pierced with painbecause the fields lack produce.
A third of your people will die by plague and be consumed by famine within you; a third will fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter a third to every direction of the wind, and I will draw a sword to chase after them.
“This is what the Lord God says: Clap your hands, stamp your feet, and cry out over all the evil and detestable practices of the house of Israel, who will fall by the sword, famine, and plague.
The one who is far off will die by plague; the one who is near will fall by the sword; and the one who remains and is spared will die of famine. In this way I will exhaust My wrath on them.
The sword is on the outside;plague and famine are on the inside.Whoever is in the field will die by the sword,and famine and plague will devourwhoever is in the city.
You will fall by the sword, and I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
All the fugitives among his troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every direction of the wind. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken.”
When I vent My jealous rage on you, they will deal with you in wrath. They will cut off your nose and ears, and your descendants will fall by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your descendants will be consumed by fire.
‘Say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your heart. Also, the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.
therefore this is what the Lord God says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off both man and animal from it. I will make it a wasteland; they will fall by the sword from Teman to Dedan.
and her villages on the mainland will be slaughtered by the sword. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”
Cush, Put, and Lud,and all the various foreign troops,plus Libya and the men of the covenant landwill fall by the sword along with them.
This is what the Lord says:Those who support Egypt will fall,and its proud strength will collapse.From Migdol to Syenethey will fall within it by the sword.This is the declaration of the Lord God.
The young men of On and Pi-besethwill fall by the sword,and those cities will go into captivity.
They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies they had lived in its shade among the nations.
“Who then are you like in glory and greatness among Eden’s trees? You also will be brought down to the underworld to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his hordes”—the declaration of the Lord God.
I will make your hordes fallby the swords of warriors,all of them ruthless men from the nations.They will ravage Egypt’s pride,and all its hordes will be destroyed.
They will fall among those slain by the sword.A sword is appointed!They drag her and all her hordes away.
Warrior leaders will speakfrom the middle of Sheolabout him and his allies:They have come down;the uncircumcised lieslain by the sword.
Assyria is there with all her company;her graves are all around her.All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.
Her graves are set in the deepest regions of the Pit,and her company is all around her burial place.All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—those who once spread terrorin the land of the living.
Elam is therewith all her hordes around her grave.All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—those who went down to the underworld uncircumcised,who once spread their terrorin the land of the living.They bear their disgracewith those who descend to the Pit.
Among the slainthey prepare a resting place for Elamwith all her hordes.Her graves are all around her.All of them are uncircumcised,slain by the sword,although their terror was once spreadin the land of the living.They bear their disgracewith those who descend to the Pit.They are placed among the slain.
Meshech and Tubal are there,with all their hordes.Their graves are all around them.All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword,although their terror was once spreadin the land of the living.
But you will be shatteredand will lie down among the uncircumcised,with those slain by the sword.
Edom is there, her kings and all her princes,who, despite their strength, have been placedamong those slain by the sword.They lie down with the uncircumcised,with those who descend to the Pit.
All the leaders of the northand all the Sidonians are there.They went down in shame with the slain,despite the terror their strength inspired.They lie down uncircumcisedwith those slain by the sword.They bear their disgracewith those who descend to the Pit.
Pharaoh will see themand be comforted over all his hordes—Pharaoh and all his army,slain by the sword.This is the declaration of the Lord God.
For I will spread My terrorin the land of the living,so Pharaoh and all his hordeswill be laid to rest among the uncircumcised,with those slain by the sword.”This is the declaration of the Lord God.
“Tell them this: This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, those who are in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I have given to wild animals to be devoured, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague.
I will fill its mountains with the slain; those slain by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines.
And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile on account of their iniquity, because they dealt unfaithfully with Me. Therefore, I hid My face from them and handed them over to their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword.
They turn, but not to what is above;they are like a faulty bow.Their leaders will fall by the swordbecause of the cursing of their tongue.They will be ridiculed for this in the land of Egypt.
Samaria will bear her guiltbecause she has rebelled against her God.They will fall by the sword;their little ones will be dashed to pieces,and their pregnant women ripped open.
for Amos has said this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go into exile from its homeland.’”
Therefore, this is what the Lord says:Your wife will be a prostitute in the city,your sons and daughters will fall by the sword,and your land will be divided upwith a measuring line.You yourself will die on pagan soil,and Israel will certainly go into exilefrom its homeland.
All the sinners among My peoplewho say: “Disaster will never overtakeor confront us,”will die by the sword.