# Connecting Statement:

Yahweh continues to describe the sword of Yahweh which is a metaphor for the enemy army that Yahweh will use to attack Jerusalem. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# hit your two hands together

This means for him to clap his hands as a sign of his grief. Alternate translation: "clap your hands to show that you are very sad" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction]])

# even a third time

This is an idiom that means multiple times. Alternate translation: "again and again" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom]])

# A sword for the ones to be slaughtered

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "It is a sword for slaughtering people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive]])

# It is a sword for the many to be slaughtered

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "It is a sword for slaughtering many people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive]])

# piercing them everywhere

"attacking them from every side." Some Bibles translate this as "which enters into their rooms." This means no matter where they hide, the sword will kill them.

# piercing them

The word "them" refers to the people of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel.

