Ezekiel 4:16
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "break the staff of bread" isn't just about removing food; it signifies God withdrawing the very nourishing power from the food itself, meaning even the little they might find wouldn't sustain them. This highlights that true sustenance and life come from God's blessing, not just the physical provisions.
God commands Ezekiel to enact symbols of a coming siege, and now He explicitly explains the meaning: the supply of bread will be broken, meaning they'll face severe famine, rationing every bite with anxiety and dismay as their city suffers. This detailed description of scarcity and its emotional toll follows Ezekiel's symbolic preparation of food, highlighting the dire consequences of Jerusalem's sin.
What does it mean for God to 'break the staff of bread'? It's not just about a lack of food, but a deeper loss of God's blessing.
The phrase 'staff of bread' is a powerful metaphor. Bread is the fundamental sustenance for life – the very thing that supports us. When God says He will 'break the staff of bread,' He's declaring He will remove His sustaining power from their food.
Beyond just hunger, this verse paints a picture of the profound emotional distress that famine brings. What does 'anxiety' and 'astonishment' reveal about their condition?
The verse describes the people eating bread 'by weight and with care' and drinking water 'by measure and with astonishment.' This reveals the deep emotional and psychological impact of scarcity.
Understand the original words
ben ’āḏām · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title frequently used for the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and humility in contrast to the majesty of God. It highlights the vast gulf between the Creator and the created being who receives divine revelation.
leḥem · Hebrew Noun
The basic sustenance of life, frequently used metaphorically in Scripture to represent God’s provision, spiritual nourishment, and the fellowship of the covenant community. In the context of judgment, its removal signifies the withdrawal of divine blessing and physical famine.
də’āgâ · Hebrew Noun
A state of mental distress, trembling, or agitation, often resulting from fear of impending judgment or catastrophe. It reflects the internal instability of those who have lost their sense of security in God.
This prophecy vividly depicts the horrors of a prolonged siege, where even basic necessities like bread and water become scarce and cause immense anxiety. It wasn't just about physical hunger, but the psychological toll of desperation and the loss of hope, all as a consequence of Jerusalem's deep-seated iniquity.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation of Jews to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and begins deporting skilled workers and nobility, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the start of Judah's subjugation.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation and Siege
Another deportation occurs, including Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin. Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, a precursor to its final destruction.
589-587 BC— this verse
Siege of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem for an extended period. This event directly leads to the severe famine and despair described in Ezekiel's prophecy.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians breach Jerusalem's walls, destroy Solomon's Temple, and deport most of the remaining population, ending the Davidic monarchy.
This passage directly parallels Ezekiel's prophecy, stating that if Israel disobeys, God will 'break the staff of bread,' leading to extreme scarcity and desperation where ten women share one oven. It highlights the theme of God withdrawing the very sustenance of life as a consequence of sin.
Psalm 105:16This verse speaks of God calling 'a famine on the land and breaking all supply of bread,' connecting divine action to the severe disruption of food sources. It reinforces the idea that famine is not accidental but a deliberate act of God's judgment.
Jeremiah 52:6This historical account describes the dire conditions during the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, stating that 'a great famine prevailed throughout the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.' It provides a real-world fulfillment of the prophecy Ezekiel is enacting.
Matthew 4:4Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, emphasizing that 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' This offers a contrast to Ezekiel's prophecy: while the people in Jerusalem will have bread (by weight and measure), its life-sustaining power will be broken, illustrating that true sustenance comes from God's word, not just physical food.
Lamentations 4:4pooleEzekiel 4:16: "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:"
Here the Lord confirms his threat of famine by a solemn protestation that he would break the staff of bread; either take their, harvests away, and deny them bread, or withhold his blessing, the strength of bread, that it should not nourish and refresh, as Leviticus 26:26 . In J…
barnesEzekiel 4:16: "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:"
The staff of bread - Bread is so called because it is that on which the support of life mainly depends. With astonishment - With dismay and anxiety at the calamities which are befalling them.
The phrase "break the staff of bread" isn't just about removing food; it signifies God withdrawing the very nourishing power from the food itself, meaning even the little they might find wouldn't sustain them. This highlights that true sustenance and life come from God's blessing, not just the physical provisions.
God commands Ezekiel to enact symbols of a coming siege, and now He explicitly explains the meaning: the supply of bread will be broken, meaning they'll face severe famine, rationing every bite with anxiety and dismay as their city suffers. This detailed description of scarcity and its emotional toll follows Ezekiel's symbolic preparation of food, highlighting the dire consequences of Jerusalem's sin.
God commands Ezekiel to enact symbols of a coming siege, and now He explicitly explains the meaning: the supply of bread will be broken, meaning they'll face severe famine, rationing every bite with anxiety and dismay as their city suffers. This detailed description of scarcity and its emotional toll follows Ezekiel's symbolic preparation of food, highlighting the dire consequences of Jerusalem's sin.
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šimmāmôn · Hebrew Noun
A state of mental and spiritual confusion, astonishment, or horror. It is often used to describe the reaction of those who witness or experience the devastating consequences of divine judgment.
c. 586 BC onwards
Exile in Babylon
The majority of the Jewish population lives in exile in Babylon, facing hardship and maintaining their identity amidst a foreign culture.
This passage describes the aftermath of the siege, 'The tongues of infants ask for food, and fathers faint because there is no bread.' It echoes the profound despair and physical depletion that arises when the 'staff of bread' is broken, as prophesied in Ezekiel.
"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." — The phrase "break the staff of bread" isn't just about removing food; it signifies God withdrawing the very nourishing power from the food itself, meaning even the little they might find wouldn't s…
