“Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text doesn't just say "a land" sins; it specifically notes "trespassing grievously," hinting that this isn't a minor slip but a deep, persistent faithlessness that breaks the very support system of life, God's provision. This severe consequence is tied directly to that profound betrayal.
“Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast,
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is about to explain the severe consequences of a land's persistent sinfulness, especially when its people have grown faithless and treacherous. This passage is a hypothetical scenario, laying the groundwork for God to reveal that even the prayers of the most righteous—like Noah, Daniel, and Job—won't be able to avert judgment from a land that has filled the measure of its iniquity.
What does it mean for an entire 'land' to sin? It's not just about individual choices, but a collective turning away from God.
This passage describes a land sinning "against me by acting faithlessly." This isn't about a geographic location, but the people inhabiting it. The Hebrew word for 'faithless' or 'treacherously' implies a betrayal, like breaking a solemn promise or covenant. It's a profound concept: when a whole society or nation abandons its loyalty to God, their Creator and Sustainer, they are acting in treachery against Him.
This collective sin can manifest in various ways, such as widespread idolatry, injustice, or a rejection of God's laws and ways. When a land's dominant culture and actions are characterized by this faithlessness, it grieves and angers God.
When a nation's actions betray God, He doesn't remain passive. One of His most severe responses is to withdraw the very necessities of life.
The verse vividly illustrates God's direct response to a land's grievous sin: 'I will stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it.'
God's 'hand' signifies His active power and authority. When He 'breaks the staff of bread,' it means He removes the fundamental support of life. Bread was the staple, the very foundation of sustenance. Famine, therefore, is not merely a natural disaster but a targeted judgment from God, a consequence of His displeasure with pervasive faithlessness.
This judgment is comprehensive: it affects 'man and beast,' signifying that the entire creation suffers when humanity sins against its Creator.
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Understand the original words
ben adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title used frequently for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and his role as a messenger of God, highlighting the contrast between the glory of God and the frailty of man.
chata · Hebrew Verb
To miss the mark of God's standard; to act in opposition to His will, whether through rebellion, ignorance, or apathy.
ma'al · Hebrew Verb
To act treacherously or unfaithfully, often used of breaking a covenant or trust, specifically applied to idolatry in the Old Testament.
ra'av · Hebrew Noun
A state of severe shortage of food; in the Bible, it is often a covenantal judgment from God designed to bring a nation to repentance.
Ezekiel delivers this message during the Babylonian exile, a direct consequence of Judah's repeated faithlessness and idolatry, underscoring God's judgment as a response to grievous sin.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah's Call to Prophecy
Jeremiah is called to prophesy in Judah during a time of spiritual and political decline, preceding Ezekiel's ministry. He warns of coming judgment, including exile.
609 BC
Josiah's Reforms End
King Josiah, a reformer, is killed in battle at Megiddo, leading to a period of political instability and a return to idolatry in Judah.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah, initiating the first wave of exiles, including young nobles like Daniel. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Jerusalem is besieged and conquered again. King Jehoiachin and many more prominent citizens, including the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The final Babylonian siege results in the complete destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population.
This passage directly echoes Ezekiel's prophecy, detailing famine as a consequence of disobedience, showing it's a recurring theme of divine discipline throughout Scripture.
Deuteronomy 28:38-40Here, famine and the loss of crops and livestock are explicitly listed as curses for breaking God's covenant, reinforcing the idea that such judgments are a direct result of a land's sin.
Jeremiah 15:1-2This prophecy parallels Ezekiel's by presenting a scenario where even the intercession of exceptionally righteous figures like Moses would be insufficient if God's decree of judgment has been finalized due to persistent sin.
Psalm 107:33-34This Psalm describes God turning a fruitful land into a barren wasteland due to the wickedness of its inhabitants, mirroring the concept of God withdrawing His provision ('staff of bread') as a consequence of sin.
cambridgeEzekiel 14:13: "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:"
13 . when the land ] Rather: a land. The whole of Ezekiel 14:13 is supposition: when a land sinneth … and I stretch … and break … and send … and cut off.
calvinEzekiel 14:12-13: "The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,"
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:
Fili hominis terra cum scelerate egerit erga me, [46] et extendero manum meam super eam, et confregero in ipsa baculum panis, et immisero in ipsam famem, et excidero ex ipsa hominem et jument…
The text doesn't just say "a land" sins; it specifically notes "trespassing grievously," hinting that this isn't a minor slip but a deep, persistent faithlessness that breaks the very support system of life, God's provision. This severe consequence is tied directly to that profound betrayal.
God is about to explain the severe consequences of a land's persistent sinfulness, especially when its people have grown faithless and treacherous. This passage is a hypothetical scenario, laying the groundwork for God to reveal that even the prayers of the most righteous—like Noah, Daniel, and Job—won't be able to avert judgment from a land that has filled the measure of its iniquity.
God is about to explain the severe consequences of a land's persistent sinfulness, especially when its people have grown faithless and treacherous. This passage is a hypothetical scenario, laying the groundwork for God to reveal that even the prayers of the most righteous—like Noah, Daniel, and Job—won't be able to avert judgment from a land that has filled the measure of its iniquity.
"“Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast," — The text doesn't just say "a land" sins; it specifically notes "trespassing grievously," hinting that this isn't a minor slip but a deep, persistent faithlessness that breaks the very support system…
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Last reviewed October 2026