Ezekiel 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:
Original Language Analysis
בֶּן
Son
H1121
בֶּן
Son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֥ם
man
H120
אָדָ֥ם
man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 22
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
תֶחֱטָא
sinneth
H2398
תֶחֱטָא
sinneth
Strong's:
H2398
Word #:
5 of 22
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
לִמְעָל
against me by trespassing
H4603
לִמְעָל
against me by trespassing
Strong's:
H4603
Word #:
7 of 22
properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e., treacherously
וְנָטִ֤יתִי
then will I stretch out
H5186
וְנָטִ֤יתִי
then will I stretch out
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
9 of 22
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
יָדִי֙
mine hand
H3027
יָדִי֙
mine hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
10 of 22
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עָלֶ֔יהָ
H5921
עָלֶ֔יהָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
11 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְשָׁבַ֥רְתִּי
upon it and will break
H7665
וְשָׁבַ֥רְתִּי
upon it and will break
Strong's:
H7665
Word #:
12 of 22
to burst (literally or figuratively)
מַטֵּה
the staff
H4294
מַטֵּה
the staff
Strong's:
H4294
Word #:
14 of 22
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),
לָ֑חֶם
of the bread
H3899
לָ֑חֶם
of the bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
15 of 22
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי
thereof and will send
H7971
וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי
thereof and will send
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
16 of 22
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י
upon it and will cut off
H3772
וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י
upon it and will cut off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
19 of 22
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
מִמֶּ֖נָּה
H4480
מִמֶּ֖נָּה
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
20 of 22
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
Ezekiel 4:16Moreover 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:Leviticus 26:26And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.Isaiah 24:20The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.Isaiah 3:1For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,Jeremiah 32:43And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.Ezekiel 15:8And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.Ezekiel 5:16When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:Ezekiel 14:21For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?Ezekiel 14:19Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:Ezekiel 14:17Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
Historical Context
The elders coming to Ezekiel (v. 1) represented Jerusalem's leadership or fellow exiles seeking prophetic guidance. However, God revealed their secret idolatry—they maintained household gods or idolatrous practices while outwardly seeking Yahweh. This duplicity characterized pre-exilic Israel and necessitated judgment. Corporate guilt brings corporate judgment within this context of widespread syncretism where people attempted to hedge spiritual bets by worshiping both Yahweh and other deities. Archaeological discoveries of household figurines and foreign cult objects in Israelite homes confirm this pattern. The practice violated the Shema's demand for exclusive love and loyalty to Yahweh (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
Questions for Reflection
- How does this passage expose the futility of religious practices divorced from heart reality?
- What modern idols do people attempt to maintain while still seeking God's blessing?
- In what ways does Land sins against me illustrate the necessity of genuine conversion versus mere external religion?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
God addresses Land sins against me in this verse. Corporate guilt brings corporate judgment, demonstrating that God sees hearts and motives, not just external religious practices. The scenario reveals the futility of seeking God while maintaining idolatry—true inquiry requires undivided allegiance. Attempting to consult God while harboring idols represents the divided heart God rejects.
The passage illustrates that religious externals without heart reality constitute hypocrisy God abhors. Mere consultation of prophets, attendance at worship, or performance of rituals means nothing if the heart remains idolatrous. God demands total allegiance, not partial commitment combined with idolatrous hedging. The call is to genuine repentance involving both turning from sin and turning to God.
From a Reformed perspective, this passage teaches the doctrine of regeneration's necessity. External religion without heart transformation cannot save. Only the Spirit's work creating new hearts produces genuine faith and repentance. Attempts to maintain both God and idols reveal unregenerate hearts needing divine recreation, not mere moral reformation.