Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 21:14

"Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded, which entereth into their chambers." — Ezekiel 21:14 (ASV)

Smite thine hands together. —A gesture of strong emotion (see Ezekiel 21:17, Ezekiel 22:13, and compare Note on Ezekiel 6:11; Numbers 24:10).

Let the sword be doubled the third time. —The exact translation is also obscure and difficult here, but the meaning is clear that the activity of the sword is to be intensified to the utmost.

The sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain. —Literally, the sword of the overthrown (plural), it is the sword of the overthrown (singular), of the great one.

The word translated slain does not necessarily mean actually killed but is used in a moral as well as a physical sense. In Ezekiel 20:16, Ezekiel 20:21, and Ezekiel 20:24, the verb from which this adjective is formed is often translated polluted.

The sword is called “the sword of the overthrown” because it is the means of their overthrow, and “the sword of the great one overthrown,” with special reference to the king.

Which entereth into their privy chambers. —Rather, which encircles them round about, so that none can escape.