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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 4:16 Then He told me, "Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/4-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/26_Ezk_04_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 4:16 - The Defiled Bread" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then He told me, Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. 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The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then he told me, “Son of man, I will make food very scarce in Jerusalem. It will be weighed out with great care and eaten fearfully. The water will be rationed out drop by drop, and the people will drink it with dismay.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, surely I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and shall drink water by measure and with dread,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, behold, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and drink water by measure and in horror,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Moreover, He said to me, &#8220Son of man, behold, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and drink water by measure and in horror,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, behold, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and drink water by measure and in horror,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, behold, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they will drink water by measure and in desolation<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, behold (listen carefully), I am going to break the staff of bread [that supports life] in Jerusalem; and they shall eat bread [rationed] by weight and [eat it] with anxiety <i>and</i> fear, and drink water by measure and [drink it] in horror [of the impending starvation],<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He said to me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat food they have weighed out and in dread drink rationed water<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then He said to me, &#8220Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight and in dread drink water by measure.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness; and they shall drink water by measure, and in dismay:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Ezekiel, the people of Jerusalem will starve. They will have so little food and water that they will be afraid and hopeless. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with carefulness; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He also said to me, "Son of man, I am going to cut off the bread supply in Jerusalem. People will anxiously eat rationed bread and fearfully drink rationed water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />And he added, "Mortal man, I am going to cut off the supply of bread for Jerusalem. The people there will be distressed and anxious as they measure out the food they eat and the water they drink. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He also told me, "Son of Man, look! I'm about to disrupt the source of bread in Jerusalem. As a result, they'll ration bread by weight while their terror continues to grow and they'll ration drinking water while their horror continues to mount! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then he said to me, "Son of man, I am about to remove the bread supply in Jerusalem. They will eat their bread ration anxiously, and they will drink their water ration in terror<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Moreover he said to me, "Son of man, look, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness; and they shall drink water by measure, and in dismay:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Moreover he said to me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />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; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And He says to me, “Son of man, behold, I am breaking the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they have eaten bread by weight and with fear; and water by measure and with astonishment, they drink;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And He saith unto me, 'Son of man, lo, I am breaking the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they have eaten bread by weight and with fear; and water by measure and with astonishment, they do drink;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say to me, Son of man, behold me breaking the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they ate bread by weight and with fear; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he said to me: Son of man: Behold, I will break in pieces the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care: and they shall drink water by measure, and in distress. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he said to me: “Son of man, behold: I will crush the staff of bread in Jerusalem. And they will eat bread by weight and with anxiety. And they will drink water by measure and with anguish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then he said to me: Son of man, I am about to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem so they shall eat bread which they have weighed out anxiously and drink water which they have measured out fearfully.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then he said to me, Mortal, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with fearfulness; and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Moreover, he said to me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem; and they shall eat bread by weight; and when thirsty, they shall drink water by measure;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he said to me: “Son of man, behold, I break the staff of grain in Jerusalem and they shall eat bread by the shekel, and they shall drink water in thirst by measure<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Moreover He said unto me: 'Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they shall eat bread by weight, and with anxiety; and they shall drink water by measure, and in appalment;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he said to me, Son of man, behold, I break the support of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight and in want; and shall drink water by measure, and in a state of ruin:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=862" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/4.htm">The Defiled Bread</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">15</span>“Look,” He replied, “I will let you use cow dung instead of human excrement, and you may bake your bread over that.” <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Then He told</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lay (Prep:: 1cs) -- To, into, towards. ">me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ben- (N-msc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">“Son</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">of man,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2005.htm" title="2005: hin·nî (Interjection:: 1cs) -- Lo! behold! A primitive particle; lo!; also if."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7665.htm" title="7665: šō·ḇêr (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To break, break in pieces. A primitive root; to burst.">I am going to cut off</a> <a href="/hebrew/4294.htm" title="4294: maṭ·ṭêh- (N-msc) -- Or mattah; from natah; a branch; figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising, ruling, throwing, or walking.">the supply</a> <a href="/hebrew/3899.htm" title="3899: le·ḥem (N-ms) -- Bread, food. From lacham; food, especially bread, or grain.">of food</a> <a href="/hebrew/3389.htm" title="3389: bî·rū·šā·lim (Prep-b:: N-proper-fs) -- Probably foundation of peace, capital city of all Isr. ">in Jerusalem.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1674.htm" title="1674: ū·ḇiḏ·’ā·ḡāh (Conj-w, Prep-b:: N-fs) -- Anxiety, anxious care. From da'ag; anxiety.">They will anxiously</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: wə·’ā·ḵə·lū- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/3899.htm" title="3899: le·ḥem (N-ms) -- Bread, food. From lacham; food, especially bread, or grain.">bread</a> <a href="/hebrew/4948.htm" title="4948: bə·miš·qāl (Prep-b:: N-ms) -- Weight. From shaqal; weight; hence, weighing.">rationed by weight,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8078.htm" title="8078: ū·ḇə·šim·mā·mō·wn (Conj-w, Prep-b:: N-ms) -- Horror. From shamem; stupefaction.">and in despair</a> <a href="/hebrew/8354.htm" title="8354: yiš·tū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To drink. A primitive root; to imbibe.">they will drink</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: ū·ma·yim (Conj-w:: N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">water</a> <a href="/hebrew/4884.htm" title="4884: bim·śū·rāh (Prep-b:: N-fs) -- A measure. From an unused root meaning apparently to divide; a measure.">by measure.</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled at the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-26.htm">Leviticus 26:26</a></span><br />When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/3-1.htm">Isaiah 3:1</a></span><br />For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/14-1.htm">Jeremiah 14:1-4</a></span><br />This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: / “Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. / The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/4-4.htm">Lamentations 4:4-10</a></span><br />The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. / Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. / The punishment of the daughter of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant without a hand turned to help her. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/4-6.htm">Amos 4:6</a></span><br />“I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/6-14.htm">Micah 6:14</a></span><br />You will eat but not be satisfied, and your hunger will remain with you. What you acquire, you will not preserve; and what you save, I will give to the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-48.htm">Deuteronomy 28:48</a></span><br />you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/25-3.htm">2 Kings 25:3</a></span><br />By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/52-6.htm">Jeremiah 52:6</a></span><br />By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/5-10.htm">Lamentations 5:10</a></span><br />Our skin is as hot as an oven with fever from our hunger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-7.htm">Matthew 24:7</a></span><br />Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-11.htm">Luke 21:11</a></span><br />There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-5.htm">Revelation 6:5-6</a></span><br />And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. / And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Mark 13:8</a></span><br />Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/11-28.htm">Acts 11:28</a></span><br />One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Moreover he said to me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:</p><p class="hdg">I will</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/5-16.htm">Ezekiel 5:16</a></b></br> When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for <i>their</i> destruction, <i>and</i> which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/14-13.htm">Ezekiel 14:13</a></b></br> Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/26-26.htm">Leviticus 26:26</a></b></br> <i>And</i> when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver <i>you</i> your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.</p><p class="hdg">eat </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/4-10.htm">Ezekiel 4:10,11</a></b></br> And thy meat which thou shalt eat <i>shall be</i> by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/12-18.htm">Ezekiel 12:18,19</a></b></br> Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/60-3.htm">Psalm 60:3</a></b></br> Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/49-23.htm">Anxiety</a> <a href="/jeremiah/25-18.htm">Appalment</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-15.htm">Astonishment</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-15.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/jeremiah/52-17.htm">Break</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-20.htm">Care</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-54.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-39.htm">Dismay</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-11.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/numbers/33-14.htm">Drinking-Water</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-13.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-9.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-14.htm">Fearfulness</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-13.htm">Food</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-43.htm">Horror</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-7.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-11.htm">Measure</a> <a href="/jeremiah/31-39.htm">Measuring</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-4.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/job/23-12.htm">Necessary</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-26.htm">Rationed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-59.htm">Staff</a> <a href="/isaiah/23-18.htm">Supply</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-11.htm">Water</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-10.htm">Weight</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-9.htm">Wonder</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/12-18.htm">Anxiety</a> <a href="/ezekiel/7-27.htm">Appalment</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-15.htm">Astonishment</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-17.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-16.htm">Break</a> <a href="/ezekiel/12-18.htm">Care</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-16.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-17.htm">Dismay</a> <a href="/ezekiel/12-18.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/exodus/7-24.htm">Drinking-Water</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-10.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/ezekiel/7-18.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/ezekiel/12-18.htm">Fearfulness</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-17.htm">Food</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-15.htm">Horror</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-5.htm">Jerusalem</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-28.htm">Measure</a> <a href="/ezekiel/40-3.htm">Measuring</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-14.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-16.htm">Necessary</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-26.htm">Rationed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-16.htm">Staff</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-16.htm">Supply</a> <a href="/ezekiel/4-17.htm">Water</a> <a href="/ezekiel/24-2.htm">Weight</a> <a href="/ezekiel/5-15.htm">Wonder</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/4-1.htm">Under type of a siege is shown the time from the defection of Jeroboam to captivity</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/4-9.htm">By the provision of the siege, is shown the hardness of the famine</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/ezekiel/4.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Then He said to me</b><br />This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to the prophet Ezekiel. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is often used in the Old Testament to denote divine speech. This highlights the authority and seriousness of the message being conveyed. In the context of Ezekiel, a prophet during the Babylonian exile, this divine communication underscores the importance of the prophetic role as a mouthpiece for God's will and judgment.<p><b>Son of man</b><br />This title, "בֶּן־אָדָם" (ben-adam) in Hebrew, is used frequently in Ezekiel, emphasizing the humanity and humility of the prophet in contrast to the divine majesty of God. It serves as a reminder of Ezekiel's role as a representative of the people, sharing in their human frailty and yet called to deliver God's message. This term also foreshadows the New Testament use of "Son of Man" as a title for Jesus, linking the prophetic mission of Ezekiel to the ultimate mission of Christ.<p><b>I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem</b><br />The phrase "cut off" comes from the Hebrew "שָׁבַר" (shabar), meaning to break or destroy. This indicates a severe judgment, as bread was a staple of life in ancient Israel. The historical context here is the impending siege of Jerusalem by Babylon, which would lead to famine and suffering. Bread symbolizes sustenance and life, and its removal signifies God's judgment and the dire consequences of the people's disobedience.<p><b>The people will eat bread by weight and in anxiety</b><br />Eating "by weight" suggests rationing, a common practice during sieges when food was scarce. The Hebrew word for "anxiety" is "דְּאָגָה" (de'agah), reflecting the fear and uncertainty that accompany such dire circumstances. This phrase paints a vivid picture of the desperation and fear that would grip Jerusalem during the siege, serving as a warning of the physical and emotional toll of turning away from God.<p><b>and drink water by measure and in dread</b><br />Similar to the rationing of bread, "by measure" indicates a limited supply of water, a critical resource in the arid climate of the Middle East. The word "dread" translates from the Hebrew "שִׁמָּמוֹן" (shimmamon), conveying a sense of horror and panic. This reflects the extreme conditions the people would face, emphasizing the severity of God's judgment and the need for repentance and reliance on Him for true sustenance and peace.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) <span class= "bld">I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem.</span>--In <a href="/context/ezekiel/4-16.htm" title="Moreover he said to me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:">Ezekiel 4:16-17</a>, the meaning of the foregoing symbolism is declared in plain language. Bread, as the chief article of food is put for all food, the specific for the general. There shall be extreme suffering and distress, as a part of the punishment for their long-continued sins.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 16.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The staff of bread</span>. The phrase occurs again in <a href="/ezekiel/5-16.htm">Ezekiel 5:16</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/14-13.htm">Ezekiel 14:13</a>, and also in <a href="/leviticus/26-26.htm">Leviticus 26:26</a>; <a href="/psalms/105-16.htm">Psalm 105:16</a>. In <a href="/isaiah/3-1.htm">Isaiah 3:1</a> the thought is the same, but the Hebrew word is different. <span class="cmt_word">They shall eat bread by weight,</span> etc. The phrase occurs, it may be noted, in <a href="/leviticus/26-26.htm">Leviticus 26:26</a>, one of the verses above referred to. The <span class="cmt_word">care</span> and <span class="cmt_word">astonishment</span>, implying that the wonted cheerfulness of meals would have departed, meet us again in <a href="/ezekiel/12-19.htm">Ezekiel 12:19</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then He told</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">me,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלַ֗י</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Son</span><br /><span class="heb">בֶּן־</span> <span class="translit">(ben-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of man,</span><br /><span class="heb">אָדָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I am going to cut off</span><br /><span class="heb">שֹׁבֵ֤ר</span> <span class="translit">(šō·ḇêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7665.htm">Strong's 7665: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break, break in pieces</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the supply</span><br /><span class="heb">מַטֵּה־</span> <span class="translit">(maṭ·ṭêh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4294.htm">Strong's 4294: </a> </span><span class="str2">A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of food</span><br /><span class="heb">לֶ֙חֶם֙</span> <span class="translit">(le·ḥem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3899.htm">Strong's 3899: </a> </span><span class="str2">Food, bread, grain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in Jerusalem.</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(bî·rū·šā·lim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3389.htm">Strong's 3389: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">They will anxiously</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבִדְאָגָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇiḏ·’ā·ḡāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1674.htm">Strong's 1674: </a> </span><span class="str2">Anxiety, anxious care</span><br /><br /><span class="word">eat</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאָכְלוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ā·ḵə·lū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bread</span><br /><span class="heb">לֶ֥חֶם</span> <span class="translit">(le·ḥem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3899.htm">Strong's 3899: </a> </span><span class="str2">Food, bread, grain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">rationed by weight,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(bə·miš·qāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4948.htm">Strong's 4948: </a> </span><span class="str2">Weight, weighing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and in despair</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבְשִׁמָּמ֖וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇə·šim·mā·mō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8078.htm">Strong's 8078: </a> </span><span class="str2">Stupefaction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they will drink</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׁתּֽוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiš·tū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8354.htm">Strong's 8354: </a> </span><span class="str2">To imbibe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">water</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמַ֕יִם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by measure.</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּמְשׂוּרָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(bim·śū·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4884.htm">Strong's 4884: </a> </span><span class="str2">A measure</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/4-16.htm">Ezekiel 4:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/4-16.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 4:16 Moreover he said to me Son (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/4-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 4:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 4:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/4-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 4:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 4:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>