Ezekiel 12:19

And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [and] of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.

And say {H559} unto the people {H5971} of the land {H127}, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069} of the inhabitants {H3427} of Jerusalem {H3389}, and of the land {H776} of Israel {H3478}; They shall eat {H398} their bread {H3899} with carefulness {H1674}, and drink {H8354} their water {H4325} with astonishment {H8078}, that her land {H776} may be desolate {H3456} from all that is therein {H4393}, because of the violence {H2555} of all them that dwell {H3427} therein.

and say to the people of the land, 'Here is what Adonai ELOHIM says concerning those living in Yerushalayim in the land of Isra'el: "They will eat their bread in anxiety and drink their water in horror; because the land will be desolated from everything that fills it, due to the violence of those living there.

Then tell the people of the land that this is what the Lord GOD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: ‘They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who dwell in it.

and say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and despoiled of all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.

Commentary

Ezekiel 12:19 delivers a stark message of impending judgment and the severe consequences of the people's sin, specifically their pervasive "violence." This verse is part of a series of prophetic actions and pronouncements by Ezekiel, designed to convey the certainty and severity of Jerusalem's coming desolation and the exile of its inhabitants.

Context

The prophet Ezekiel was called by God to minister to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, even as Jerusalem still stood, albeit under increasing threat from the Babylonian empire. Much of his early ministry involved vivid symbolic actions and direct pronouncements intended to shatter the false hopes of those remaining in Jerusalem and those already in exile who believed God would spare the city. This verse is a direct explanation of Ezekiel's own symbolic act of eating and drinking with trembling and anxiety, as described earlier in the chapter (see Ezekiel 12:18). It serves as a divine oracle explaining why the people of Jerusalem and the land of Israel would soon face extreme hardship, scarcity, and utter desolation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse unequivocally states that the suffering is a direct result of God's judgment, "Thus saith the Lord GOD." This highlights God's sovereignty over historical events and His righteous response to sin.
  • Consequences of Sin (Violence): The primary reason given for the impending desolation is "the violence of all them that dwell therein." This refers not just to physical aggression but broadly to injustice, oppression, and moral corruption that had become rampant in society, echoing similar condemnations found in other prophetic books (e.g., Micah 6:8).
  • Scarcity and Desolation: The imagery of eating "bread with carefulness" and drinking "water with astonishment" vividly portrays the extreme famine and distress during the siege of Jerusalem (circa 587/586 BC). This scarcity would lead to the land becoming "desolate from all that is therein," a terrifying fulfillment of covenant curses for disobedience (compare with Deuteronomy 28:48).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "carefulness" translates the Hebrew term də'āgāh (דְּאָגָה), meaning anxiety, dread, or concern. It conveys a deep, unsettling worry over the scarcity of basic necessities. "Astonishment" comes from šimmāmōn (שִׁמָּמוֹן), which denotes desolation, horror, or consternation, reflecting the shock and despair of a people witnessing the utter ruin of their homeland. The term "violence" is from the Hebrew ḥāmās (חָמָס), a powerful word encompassing not only physical violence but also injustice, cruelty, and moral corruption. This broad meaning underscores the depth of Israel's spiritual failure.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 12:19 serves as a timeless warning about the devastating consequences of widespread sin and injustice. It reminds us that:

  • Actions Have Consequences: God is just, and persistent disobedience, especially social injustice and violence, will inevitably lead to severe repercussions, both individually and nationally.
  • Self-Examination is Crucial: We are called to reflect on our own lives and societies, ensuring that we are not contributing to "violence" in its broader sense—oppression, unfairness, or disregard for human dignity.
  • God's Word is True: The fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecies affirms the reliability of God's warnings and promises. While this verse focuses on judgment, it also implicitly points to the need for repentance and a return to righteousness to avert divine discipline. The Lord desires mercy but also demands justice.

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Cross-References

  • Zechariah 7:14 (5 votes)

    But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

  • Micah 7:13 (4 votes)

    Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

  • Ezekiel 6:14 (4 votes)

    So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 6:6 (4 votes)

    In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.

  • Ezekiel 6:7 (4 votes)

    And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 7:23 (3 votes)

    ¶ Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:28 (3 votes)

    But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: