Ezekiel 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:
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The siege of Jerusalem (589-586 BC) produced exactly these conditions. Jeremiah records: "The famine was severe in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land" (Jeremiah 52:6). Lamentations graphically describes the horror: "Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those who were brought up in scarlet embrace ash heaps...The tongue of the nursing infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives to them" (Lamentations 4:5, 4).
Archaeological evidence from the destruction layer in Jerusalem reveals grinding stones, cooking pots, and food storage jars, many broken or burnt. The sudden, violent end to normal life is evident in these artifacts. Human remains from this period show signs of malnutrition and disease consistent with prolonged famine.
The measured rations and anxious eating Ezekiel prophesied became daily reality for 18 months. Each day brought new desperation as food reserves dwindled. The astonishment came from watching an apparently unassailable city—protected by walls, David's legacy, and God's temple—reduced to starvation and eventual destruction. What seemed impossible happened because God's word always proves true, whether blessing or curse.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the 'breaking of the staff of bread' illustrate the removal of basic provisions we take for granted?
- What does eating 'with care' and 'with astonishment' teach about the psychological trauma of judgment and scarcity?
- In what ways does this passage challenge us to depend on God's word even more than daily bread?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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: God now explicitly interprets the sign-act's meaning for Jerusalem. "Break the staff of bread" (shover matteh-lechem, שֹׁבֵר מַטֵּה־לֶחֶם) is a powerful metaphor—bread as a "staff" or support that sustains life (Leviticus 26:26; Psalm 105:16). Breaking this staff means removing the foundational provision that supports existence. The passive population will "eat bread by weight" (be-mishqal, בְּמִשְׁקָל), exactly as Ezekiel has been doing (verse 10).
"With care" (uvid'agah, וּבִדְאָגָה) means anxiety, worry, or distress—every morsel consumed with agonizing awareness of scarcity and uncertainty about tomorrow's provision. "Drink water by measure" (be-messurah, בִּמְסוּרָה) parallels the bread rationing. "With astonishment" (uveshimamon, וּבְשִׁמָּמוֹן) conveys horror, desolation, or stupefaction—people will be stunned by the unprecedented suffering and desperate conditions.
This verse fulfills covenant curses promised in Leviticus 26:26 and Deuteronomy 28:48-57 for covenant violation. God's blessings included abundant provision; His curses included famine and scarcity. The fulfillment demonstrates God's faithfulness to His word—both promises and threats. Spiritually, this reminds us that humans cannot live by bread alone but by every word from God's mouth (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). When people reject God's word, even physical bread becomes uncertain.