Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
Therefore the fathers {H1} shall eat {H398} the sons {H1121} in the midst {H8432} of thee, and the sons {H1121} shall eat {H398} their fathers {H1}; and I will execute {H6213} judgments {H8201} in thee, and the whole remnant {H7611} of thee will I scatter {H2219} into all the winds {H7307}.
Parents among you will eat their children, and children will eat their parents! I will execute judgments among you and scatter to all the winds those of you who remain.
As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’
Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments on thee; and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter unto all the winds.
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Zechariah 2:6
¶ Ho, ho, [come forth], and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. -
Leviticus 26:29
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. -
Jeremiah 19:9
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them. -
Deuteronomy 28:64
And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, [even] wood and stone. -
Ezekiel 12:14
And I will scatter toward every wind all that [are] about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them. -
Ezekiel 36:19
And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. -
Ezekiel 5:2
Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, [and] smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
Ezekiel 5:10 (KJV) delivers a terrifying prophecy of the extreme judgments God would bring upon Jerusalem due to its profound unfaithfulness. The verse describes unimaginable suffering, including cannibalism, and the complete dispersion of the surviving remnant.
Context
This verse is part of a powerful prophetic enactment and message in Ezekiel Chapter 5. God commanded Ezekiel to shave his hair and beard, dividing it into three parts to symbolize the different fates awaiting the inhabitants of Jerusalem: a third would die by plague and famine, a third by the sword, and a third would be scattered. Verse 10 specifically details the horrific severity of the famine and the widespread scattering as a direct consequence of Jerusalem's rebellion and idolatry against the Lord.
Key Themes
Historical and Cultural Significance
The prophecy of cannibalism was a deeply disturbing but historically attested consequence of prolonged sieges in the ancient Near East, particularly when food supplies were exhausted. This dreadful curse was specifically warned about in the Mosaic Law for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:53). The fulfillment of such prophecies is tragically recorded during the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, as lamented in Lamentations 4:10, where women are described as eating their own children.
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase "scatter into all the winds" (כָּל־רוּחַ, kol ruach) vividly portrays a total and widespread dispersion, leaving no place untouched by the scattering. The term "judgments" (מִשְׁפָּטִים, mishpatim) here refers to God's righteous decrees and punishments, emphasizing that these are not random acts but divine justice being executed.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 5:10 serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of sin and the profound consequences of rejecting God's covenant and commands. While the specific horrors described were historical fulfillments for ancient Israel, the underlying principle remains: persistent rebellion against God leads to severe spiritual and often tangible consequences. It calls believers today to:
- Reverence for God: To take God's warnings and commandments seriously, understanding His holiness and justice.
- Spiritual Vigilance: To guard against spiritual idolatry and compromise that can lead to separation from God's blessings.
- Understanding God's Justice: To recognize that God's judgments, though terrifying, are ultimately just and aimed at bringing His people to repentance or fulfilling His righteous decrees.
This terrifying prophecy ultimately points to the need for repentance and reliance on God's mercy, which is offered through His provision of salvation in Christ.