I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you of your children. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I am the LORD; I have spoken.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
While listing the classic "four sore judgments," this verse ominously adds the specific consequence of losing children to wild beasts, highlighting the intimate devastation accompanying God's judgment. The phrase "pestilence and blood shall pass through you" paints a vivid picture of the land becoming a thoroughfare for death, not just a place where it lingers.
I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you of your children. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I am the LORD; I have spoken.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel has just described how Jerusalem will be judged as worse than the surrounding nations due to its profound sinfulness, leading to its destruction and scattering. This verse lays out the specific, devastating consequences of God's judgment, detailing a brutal onslaught of famine, wild beasts, and deadly plagues that will strip the city bare and leave it soaked in blood. It concludes with God's emphatic declaration that these dire pronouncements are His own spoken word, leaving no room for doubt about their certainty.
When God speaks, judgment comes in terrifying waves. Ezekiel's prophecy unleashes a torrent of devastation, revealing a terrifying combination of destructive forces.
This verse presents what are often called God's 'four sore judgments': famine, wild beasts, pestilence, and the sword (often represented by 'blood' due to the bloodshed involved). These aren't random calamities; they are divine instruments of discipline.
A Divine Arsenal
These aren't just abstract threats. They are tangible forces that God directly sends to bring about His declared purposes. Notice how the verse emphasizes their totality – they will 'rob you of your children' and 'pass through you.' Nothing will be spared.
Who is in control when disaster strikes? Ezekiel's message is stark: the Lord Himself is the orchestrator of these terrible events.
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The ultimate power behind these devastating plagues is none other than the LORD. The verse concludes with a powerful declaration: 'I am the LORD; I have spoken.' This isn't a passive observation of destruction; it's an active pronouncement by God.
The Divine Decree
The prophets often used the phrase 'Thus says the LORD' to convey divine authority. Here, it’s even stronger: 'I have spoken it.' This signifies that God's word is final and His actions are purposeful.
This emphasizes that even in the midst of horrific suffering, there is a sovereign God who is ultimately in control.
Understand the original words
ḥayyâ rā‘â · Hebrew Noun phrase
Untamed animals of the field; in the biblical worldview, they represent an instrument of divine judgment against rebellious people, illustrating the reversal of the creation order where humanity loses its dominion.
deḇer · Hebrew Noun
A widespread, lethal epidemic; in the Old Testament, it is consistently presented as a divine plague or visitation, reflecting the holiness of God in response to corporate sin.
dām · Hebrew Noun
The vital life force of a creature; in a judgment context, it represents slaughter, warfare, and the shedding of life due to divine wrath.
ḥereḇ · Hebrew Noun
A weapon of war, often used metaphorically in Scripture to signify war, divine judgment, or the execution of justice against enemies.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenant name of God (Yahweh); it signifies His self-existence, eternal faithfulness to His promises, and supreme authority as the Creator and Redeemer of Israel.
Ezekiel's words paint a terrifying picture of God's judgment, specifically foretelling the devastating consequences of Jerusalem's impending destruction and exile. The combination of famine, wild beasts, pestilence, and the sword were not abstract threats, but the very real instruments of divine justice that befell Judah during the Babylonian conquests, culminating in the fall of the city and the desecration of the Temple.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Conquest of Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its people and the introduction of foreign settlers. This event foreshadows the judgment to come upon Judah.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Judah and deports a group of its elite, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's Babylonian exile.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. Jerusalem's temple is plundered.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
After a prolonged siege, Nebuchadnezzar's armies breach Jerusalem's walls, destroy the city and Solomon's Temple, and deport the remaining population to Babylon. This fulfills the dire prophecies of judgment.
c. 571 BC
Ezekiel's Final Prophecy Recorded
Ezekiel delivers his final recorded prophecy, bringing closure to his prophetic ministry in exile. The destruction of Jerusalem and its aftermath have unfolded as he foretold.
This passage in Leviticus lists 'wild beasts' as one of God's judgments against Israel for disobedience, echoing the specific threat of 'evil beasts' in Ezekiel 5:17.
Jeremiah 15:3Jeremiah also pronounces judgment involving four kinds of destruction: sword, dogs, birds of the air, and beasts of the field, mirroring the comprehensive devastation described in Ezekiel.
2 Kings 17:25This historical account describes how wild beasts were sent against the northern kingdom of Israel when they turned from the Lord, providing a real-world example of the judgment Ezekiel prophesied.
Ezekiel 14:21This verse further emphasizes God's 'four severe judgments' – the sword, famine, evil beasts, and pestilence – as tools He uses to bring destruction, reinforcing the severe pronouncement in chapter 5.
Deuteronomy 32:24In Moses' song, he forewarns Israel that they will be afflicted by 'the teeth of beasts' and 'venom of creatures that crawl on the ground,' linking the threat of wild animals to divine punishment for unfaithfulness.
pooleEzekiel 5:17: "So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it."
Evil beasts; Heb. evil beast : either the king of Babylon, which, like a ravenous and insatiable beast, tore and devoured all. Or, literally, lions, bears, &c., which are one of his four sore judgments, Ezekiel 14:21 . Bereave thee, of your children, friends, and your own life; when you fle…
clarkeEzekiel 5:17: "So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it."
So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee - Wild beasts always multiply in depopulated countries. In England, wolves abounded when the country was thinly peopled, it is now full of inhabitants, and there is not one wolf in the land. Nebuchadnezzar and his C…
While listing the classic "four sore judgments," this verse ominously adds the specific consequence of losing children to wild beasts, highlighting the intimate devastation accompanying God's judgment. The phrase "pestilence and blood shall pass through you" paints a vivid picture of the land becoming a thoroughfare for death, not just a place where it lingers.
Ezekiel has just described how Jerusalem will be judged as worse than the surrounding nations due to its profound sinfulness, leading to its destruction and scattering. This verse lays out the specific, devastating consequences of God's judgment, detailing a brutal onslaught of famine, wild beasts, and deadly plagues that will strip the city bare and leave it soaked in blood. It concludes with God's emphatic declaration that these dire pronouncements are His own spoken word, leaving no room for doubt about their certainty.
Ezekiel has just described how Jerusalem will be judged as worse than the surrounding nations due to its profound sinfulness, leading to its destruction and scattering. This verse lays out the specific, devastating consequences of God's judgment, detailing a brutal onslaught of famine, wild beasts, and deadly plagues that will strip the city bare and leave it soaked in blood. It concludes with God's emphatic declaration that these dire pronouncements are His own spoken word, leaving no room for doubt about their certainty.
"I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you of your children. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I am the LORD; I have spoken.”" — While listing the classic "four sore judgments," this verse ominously adds the specific consequence of losing children to wild beasts, highlighting the intimate devastation accompanying God's judgmen…
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Last reviewed October 2026