Ezekiel 12 18

Ezekiel 12:18 kjv

Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;

Ezekiel 12:18 nkjv

"Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and anxiety.

Ezekiel 12:18 niv

"Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water.

Ezekiel 12:18 esv

"Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety.

Ezekiel 12:18 nlt

"Son of man, tremble as you eat your food. Shake with fear as you drink your water.

Ezekiel 12 18 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Eze 12:18Eat your food with fear, and drink your water with trembling agitation...Significance and Consequences
Lev 26:16I will bring upon you terror...Divine Judgment and Fear
Deut 28:65you shall have no peace...Consequences of Disobedience
Ps 2:5He will speak to them in his wrath...God's Anger
Isa 3:8Jerusalem stumbles and Judah falls...National Calamity
Jer 4:19My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain!Jeremiah's Distress
Jer 15:2those destined for death, to death...Judgment by Sword and Famine
Jer 44:15Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods...Idolatry's Consequences
Lam 4:4the tongue of the nursing infant clings to the roof of its mouth...Famine and Thirst
Lam 5:10our skin is black like an oven because of the burning of hunger.Severe Famine
Ezek 4:10And portion me out twenty shekels of barley a day; let me eat it...Symbolic Actions for Israel
Ezek 4:16they shall drink water by measure, by tale...Scarcity and Distress
Ezek 5:10your children shall be devoured...Consequences of Punishment
Ezek 5:16I will send against you famine and wild beasts...Judgment by Famine and Beasts
Ezek 7:14Though they blow the trumpet and prepare everything, none shall go to the battle...Preparations for War Unused
Ezek 7:15the sword is without, and the pestilence and famine within...Total Destruction
Ezek 14:21For thus says the Lord GOD: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four disastrous acts of judgment...Four Disastrous Judgments
Ezek 14:22Yet if there shall be left in it any who escape, sons and daughters who are carried out...Remnant to Escape Judgment
Ezek 14:23they will surely comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings...Consolation of the Remnant
Amos 4:6I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places...God's Repeated Attempts
Amos 8:11Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the LORD.Spiritual Famine
Zeph 1:12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps...Judgment on Jerusalem
Zech 11:13I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.Price of Betrayal
Matt 10:28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul...Fear God, Not Men
Luke 12:4Do not fear those who kill the body—and after that have no more that they can do.Fear God's Power

Ezekiel 12 verses

Ezekiel 12 18 Meaning

This verse signifies a divine command to Ezekiel to perform an action that vividly portrays the imminent exile of the Israelites. It's about living out the reality of their judgment and the shame that will accompany it. The emphasis is on demonstrating, through a physical act, the loss of sustenance and the anxiety the people will experience.

Ezekiel 12 18 Context

Ezekiel chapter 12 contains a prophecy of judgment against the stubborn resistance of the exiles in Babylon. God commands Ezekiel to perform symbolic acts that depict the severity of the coming exile. Verse 18 is part of a larger oracle where Ezekiel is instructed to pack his belongings and leave his dwelling at night, illustrating the king's own forced departure into exile. This action serves as a visual representation of the distress and fear the people will experience as their provisions are reduced and their lives are thrown into chaos. The broader context of Ezekiel’s ministry is during the Babylonian captivity, a period of immense suffering and disillusionment for the Israelites.

Ezekiel 12 18 Word Analysis

  • “Eat”: (Hebrew: 𐤀𐤊𐤋𐤀 - okel) - This is the imperative form of the verb "to eat," signifying a command to consume food.
  • “your food”: (Hebrew: 𐤋𐤇𐤍𐤃 – l’khum’ka) - "Food" or "bread" belonging to you, the people of Israel.
  • “with fear”: (Hebrew: 𐤁𐤉𐤓’ – b’eimah) - This word conveys trembling, terror, dread, or horror. It emphasizes the emotional state accompanying the act of eating.
  • “and drink”: (Hebrew: 𐤉𐤔𐤉𐤄 – vishiteh) - The imperative form of "to drink."
  • “your water”: (Hebrew: 𐤋𐤌𐤉𐤌𐤀 – limay’eka) - "Water" belonging to you.
  • “with trembling agitation”: (Hebrew: 𐤁𐤇𐤓’ – b’charadah) - Similar to "fear," but perhaps emphasizing physical quaking, shock, or dread caused by extreme distress.

Words/Groups of Words Analysis:

  • "Eat your food with fear, and drink your water with trembling agitation": This phrase captures a profound disruption of normal life. The act of eating and drinking, typically associated with sustenance and comfort, is now tainted with overwhelming fear and distress. This vividly illustrates a situation where the people are constantly under threat, uncertain of their survival, and robbed of any sense of security. It is a judgment that affects the most basic human needs and brings extreme psychological torment.

Ezekiel 12 18 Bonus Section

The imagery here connects with other prophetic warnings of scarcity and distress during sieges or divine judgment. It speaks to a complete inversion of the blessings of normal life, turning even provision into an instrument of fear and dread. The emotional state described—fear and trembling—underscores the psychological impact of God’s wrath. This symbolic act serves as a tangible representation of the spiritual emptiness and the loss of God's presence that accompanies national judgment. It serves as a solemn warning about the far-reaching effects of sin, impacting not just material well-being but the very sense of security and peace.

Ezekiel 12 18 Commentary

This verse graphically depicts the desolation that will come upon Judah. The prophet's symbolic eating and drinking convey that life will be filled with dread and uncertainty. The usual comfort derived from food and drink will be absent, replaced by gnawing fear. This foretells a time of siege, famine, and constant apprehension, where every moment of sustenance is shadowed by the specter of death and captivity. The people will consume what little they have with terror, aware that it is a fleeting resource amidst overwhelming disaster. It's a testament to God's judgment, emphasizing that even essential life-sustaining acts will be infused with the consequences of their disobedience.