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Commentary on Ezekiel 12 verses 17–20
Here again the prophet is made a sign to them of the desolations that were coming on Judah and Jerusalem. 1. He must himself eat and drink in care and fear, especially when he was in company, Eze 12:17, Eze 12:18. Though he was under no apprehension of danger to himself, but lived in safety and plenty, yet he must eat his bread with quaking (the bread of sorrows, Psa 127:2) and drink his water with trembling and with carefulness, that he might express the calamitous condition of those that should be in Jerusalem during the siege; not that he must dissemble and pretend to be in fear and care when really he was not; but having to foretel this judgment, to show that he firmly believed it himself, and yet was far from desiring it, in the prospect of it he was himself affected with grief and fear. Note, When ministers speak of the ruin coming upon impenitent sinners they must endeavour to speak feelingly, as those that know the terrors of the Lord; and they must be content to endure hardness, so that they may but do good. 2. He must tell them that the inhabitants of Jerusalem should in like manner eat and drink with care and fear, Eze 12:19, Eze 12:20. Both those that have their home in Jerusalem and those of the land of Israel that come to shelter themselves there, shall eat their bread with carefulness and drink their water with astonishment, either because they are afraid it will not hold out, but they shall want shortly, or because they are continually expecting the alarms of the enemy, their life hanging in doubt before them (Deu 28:66), so that what they have they shall have no enjoyment of nor will it do them any good. Note, Care and fear, if they prevail, are enough to embitter all our comforts and are themselves very sore judgments. They shall be reduced to these straits that thus by degrees, and by the hand of those that thus straiten them, both city and country may be laid in ruins; for it is no less than an utter destruction of both that is aimed at in these judgments - that her land may be desolate from all the fulness thereof, may be stripped of all its ornaments and robbed of all its fruits, and then of course the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, for they are served by the field. This universal desolation was coming upon them, and then no wonder that they eat their bread with care and fear. Now we are here told, (1.) How bad the cause of this judgment was; it is because of the violence of all those that dwell therein, their injustice and oppression, and the mischief they did one another, for which God would reckon with them, as well as for the affronts put upon him in his worship. Note, The decay of virtue in a nation brings on a decay of every thing else; and when neighbours devour one another it is just with God to bring enemies upon them to devour them all. (2.) How good the effect of this judgment should be: You shall know that I am the Lord; and if, by these judgments, they learn to know him aright, that will make up the loss of all they are deprived of by these desolations. Those are happy afflictions, how grievous soever to flesh and blood, that help to introduce us into and improve us in an acquaintance with God.
(Verse 17 and following) And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, eat your bread with agitation (Vulgate adds but); and drink your water with haste and sorrow. And say (Vulgate says you shall say) to the people of the land: Thus says the Lord God to those who dwell in Jerusalem, in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with solicitude, and drink their water in desolation, so that the land may be desolate because of the multitude of its inhabitants, because of the wickedness of all who dwell in it. And the cities that are now inhabited shall be desolate, and the land shall be a desert: and you shall know that I am the Lord. LXX: And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, you shall eat your bread with sorrow, and your water with torment and distress. And you shall say to the people of the land: Thus says the Lord God to the inhabitants of Jerusalem concerning the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with scarcity and drink their water with dismay, so that the land may be desolate and its fullness be destroyed. For in impiety all who dwell in it and their cities which are inhabited shall be desolated, and the land shall be scattered, and you shall know that I am the Lord. After the prophecy of the prince and his companions, which was shown under a bodily image, came to the people: and whatever is said by the prophets is referred by the prophet to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that in the evil of the siege, they eat their bread in distress and poverty, and drink their water with torment and tribulation. But these things, says the prophet, are spoken to you, that you may speak to the people of your land and say: Thus says the Lord to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who are in the land of Israel: You will endure the evil of being besieged by Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans, famine and thirst; so that all the land with its abundance may be destroyed, indicating by it those who inhabit it. And lest they think that this happens to them without cause: Say to them that because of their crimes and impiety, all the cities of Judah will be reduced to solitude, and all cultivation of the land will perish, so that they may know the wrathful God, whom they did not want to recognize as merciful. Can we, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who believe in Christ, say, those who dwell in the Church. And if they have deserved by his sins the offense, let them eat bread with poverty, and drink water with mourning and distress: not food of bread, nor drink of water, but hunger, supporting the word and doctrine of God (Amos 8). For when, either by the fault of princes, who are to be captured and delivered to the Babylonians, or by our own hardness, we have lost the word of God, and have not deserved to have useful waters: then in sorrow and scarcity, we shall take our food, and the earth will lose the multitude of believers, and the cities, which are understood in the whole world as the Church, will be desolated, and the land will be deserted, so that all may know that the Lord has been offended. And indeed we can understand this even in times of persecution.
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SUMMARY
Ezekiel 12:20 pronounces a severe judgment of desolation upon the inhabited cities and land of Judah, serving as an undeniable demonstration of God's sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant warnings. This verse underscores the certainty of divine retribution for persistent rebellion, culminating in an experiential revelation of the Lord's true identity and authority to a people who had largely forgotten Him.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Ezekiel 12:20 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. Hyperbole is evident in the sweeping declaration that "the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate." While the destruction was indeed severe, the language emphasizes the totality and overwhelming nature of the judgment, leaving no room for escape or preservation. This serves to shock the audience into recognizing the gravity of their situation. The phrase "ye shall know that I am the LORD" functions as a Divine Oracle and a Leitmotif throughout the book of Ezekiel. Its repetition (over 70 times) underscores its central importance, serving as a theological anchor that grounds all judgment and restoration in God's sovereign self-revelation. The parallelism between the desolation of cities and land creates a sense of Climax, building from specific urban destruction to the broader ruin of the entire territory, intensifying the impact of the prophecy.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 12:20 profoundly illustrates God's unyielding commitment to His covenant and His absolute sovereignty over history. The desolation of the land and cities is not arbitrary but a just consequence of Israel's persistent rebellion and idolatry, fulfilling the covenant curses warned about in the Law. This severe judgment serves a revelatory purpose: to force an experiential knowledge of Yahweh, revealing Him as the true, living God who keeps His word, unlike the powerless idols they had pursued. It demonstrates that God's character encompasses both righteous wrath against sin and a foundational desire to be known by His creation, even if that knowledge comes through painful discipline. The "knowing" of God here is a recognition of His power, justice, and faithfulness, leading to the ultimate understanding that He alone is worthy of worship and obedience.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 12:20 serves as a stark reminder that God's word is not to be trifled with, whether in warning or in promise. For the ancient Israelites, it was a call to repentance in the face of imminent judgment; for us today, it underscores the seriousness of sin and the unwavering nature of God's character. We are invited to reflect on the consequences of spiritual complacency and disobedience, recognizing that God's justice is as true as His mercy. This verse also highlights God's ultimate purpose in all circumstances, even those that are painful: to reveal Himself. Through life's trials and the consequences of our choices, God desires that we come to "know" Him experientially – not just intellectually, but through a deep, transformative encounter with His power, justice, and unfailing faithfulness. This should lead us to greater reverence, trust, and obedience, understanding that true peace and security are found only in acknowledging and submitting to the sovereign Lord.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God allow such severe destruction and desolation?
Answer: God allowed such severe destruction as a direct consequence of Judah's persistent and egregious sin, including widespread idolatry, injustice, and a rejection of His covenant. This judgment, though harsh, was not arbitrary but a fulfillment of the curses explicitly warned about in the Mosaic Law for disobedience (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The ultimate purpose was revelatory: to demonstrate God's absolute sovereignty, His justice, and His faithfulness to His word, so that both Israel and the surrounding nations would "know that I am the LORD." It was a painful but necessary discipline to lead His people to repentance and a proper understanding of His identity.
What does it mean to "know that I am the LORD" in this context?
Answer: In this context, "knowing" God (Hebrew: yâdaʻ) signifies far more than intellectual understanding. It refers to an experiential, undeniable recognition of God's true identity, power, and authority, brought about through His actions. The people of Judah had intellectual knowledge of Yahweh, but they did not truly "know" Him in a way that led to faithful obedience and worship. The desolation and judgment would strip away their illusions and false gods, forcing them to confront the reality of Yahweh's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His word. This "knowing" is a profound, transformative acknowledgment that God is who He says He is, and He does what He says He will do.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 12:20, with its pronouncement of judgment and the ultimate purpose of revealing God's sovereignty, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. While the desolation of Judah was a physical manifestation of God's wrath against sin, Christ Himself became the ultimate recipient of that wrath, bearing the full weight of humanity's rebellion on the cross. The judgment due to us was "laid waste" upon Him, so that we might be spared (Isaiah 53:5). Furthermore, the declaration "ye shall know that I am the LORD" is most perfectly realized in Jesus. He is the complete and final revelation of God, the one through whom we truly "know" the Father (John 14:9). In Christ, God's character—His justice, holiness, and unfathomable love—is fully displayed. Through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, He establishes a new covenant, enabling a spiritual "knowing" of God that leads not to desolation but to eternal life and reconciliation (John 17:3). The physical desolation in Ezekiel pointed to the spiritual desolation of a people separated from God by sin; Christ's work reverses this, offering spiritual renewal and a restored relationship where we can truly know and worship the living Lord.