Ezekiel 4:16 - Moreover he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem. They will eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness. They will drink water by measure, and in dismay;
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What does "Ezekiel 4:16" mean?
This verse from Ezekiel 4:16 is a prophetic declaration of severe famine that will strike Jerusalem. Let's break down the meaning:
"Moreover he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem."
"Son of man": This is how God frequently addresses Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a messenger.
"I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem": This is the core of the verse. "Staff of bread" is a metaphor for the basic provision of food, the essential sustenance of life. God declaring He will "break" it signifies He will cut off the normal supply of food to Jerusalem. This means there will be a terrible famine. The "staff of bread" is like a crutch - without it, people struggle to stand and survive.
"They will eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness."
"They will eat bread by weight": Indicates extreme scarcity. Instead of freely eating until satisfied, people will have to carefully ration every ounce of bread to make it last. This suggests bread will be so limited that it must be meticulously measured.
"and with fearfulness": The famine will not only cause physical suffering but also profound anxiety. People will be fearful about when their next meager ration will come, fearful of starvation, and fearful of violence and desperation that often accompanies extreme scarcity. They will eat with a sense of dread and worry.
"They will drink water by measure, and in dismay;"
"They will drink water by measure": Like bread, water will also be scarce and carefully rationed. Access to clean water would be greatly reduced, leading to a need to carefully measure it.
"and in dismay": Adds to the picture of utter hopelessness and despair. People will be utterly discouraged and filled with sadness and hopelessness because their basic needs of food and water will not be met. They will be shattered and overwhelmed by the severity of the situation.
Overall Meaning:
The verse paints a vivid picture of a devastating famine in Jerusalem. The city will be reduced to a state of extreme scarcity, where even basic necessities like bread and water are strictly rationed and consumed with fear and dismay. This is not just a physical hardship but also a psychological and emotional trauma.
Context within Ezekiel:
This prophecy is part of Ezekiel's dramatic and symbolic acts intended to warn the people of Judah of the impending judgment of God due to their sins. The famine is a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness. Ezekiel is called to act out these scenarios to communicate the gravity of the situation and the coming destruction of Jerusalem. This is a message of impending doom if the people do not repent. The scarcity of food is a sign of God's withdrawal of blessing and provision.
Ezekiel 4:16 - Moreover he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem. They will eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness. They will drink water by measure, and in dismay;
What does "Ezekiel 4:16" mean?
This verse from Ezekiel 4:16 is a prophetic declaration of severe famine that will strike Jerusalem. Let's break down the meaning:
"Moreover he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem."
"Son of man": This is how God frequently addresses Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a messenger.
"I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem": This is the core of the verse. "Staff of bread" is a metaphor for the basic provision of food, the essential sustenance of life. God declaring He will "break" it signifies He will cut off the normal supply of food to Jerusalem. This means there will be a terrible famine. The "staff of bread" is like a crutch - without it, people struggle to stand and survive.
"They will eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness."
"They will eat bread by weight": Indicates extreme scarcity. Instead of freely eating until satisfied, people will have to carefully ration every ounce of bread to make it last. This suggests bread will be so limited that it must be meticulously measured.
"and with fearfulness": The famine will not only cause physical suffering but also profound anxiety. People will be fearful about when their next meager ration will come, fearful of starvation, and fearful of violence and desperation that often accompanies extreme scarcity. They will eat with a sense of dread and worry.
"They will drink water by measure, and in dismay;"
"They will drink water by measure": Like bread, water will also be scarce and carefully rationed. Access to clean water would be greatly reduced, leading to a need to carefully measure it.
"and in dismay": Adds to the picture of utter hopelessness and despair. People will be utterly discouraged and filled with sadness and hopelessness because their basic needs of food and water will not be met. They will be shattered and overwhelmed by the severity of the situation.
Overall Meaning:
The verse paints a vivid picture of a devastating famine in Jerusalem. The city will be reduced to a state of extreme scarcity, where even basic necessities like bread and water are strictly rationed and consumed with fear and dismay. This is not just a physical hardship but also a psychological and emotional trauma.
Context within Ezekiel:
This prophecy is part of Ezekiel's dramatic and symbolic acts intended to warn the people of Judah of the impending judgment of God due to their sins. The famine is a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness. Ezekiel is called to act out these scenarios to communicate the gravity of the situation and the coming destruction of Jerusalem. This is a message of impending doom if the people do not repent. The scarcity of food is a sign of God's withdrawal of blessing and provision.