Ezekiel 12:18
16 But I will spare a few of them from sword and famine and plague, so that in the nations to which they go, they can recount all their abominations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
17 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
“Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with quivering and anxiety.
19 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.
20 The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- “Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with quivering and anxiety.
- KJV
- Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;
- WEB
- “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness.
- ASV
- Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with fearfulness;
- DARBY
- Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with anxiety;
- BLB
- “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with anxiety!
- ÅB
- Menneskesønn! Ditt brød skal du spise skjelvende, og ditt vann skal du drikke bevende og med frykt.
- OTB
- “Menneskesønn, spis ditt brød med skjelving og drikk ditt vann med skjelving og angst.
- B1930
- Menneskesønn! Ditt brød skal du ete skjelvende, og ditt vann skal du drikke bevende og med frykt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Lamentations 5:9
We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness.
Read in contextLeviticus 26:26
When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.
Read in contextJob 3:24
I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.
Read in contextPsalms 60:2–3
You have shaken the land and torn it open. Heal its fractures, for it is quaking.
Read in contextPsalms 102:4–9
My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
Read in contextEzekiel 4:16–17
Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 28:65
Among those nations you will find no repose, not even a resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul.
Read in contextPsalms 80:5
You fed them with the bread of tears and made them drink the full measure of their tears.
Read in context