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 verses

Ezekiel 12 18 Meaning

Ezekiel 12:18 depicts the prophet Ezekiel commanded by God to perform a symbolic act: to eat his bread and drink his water with visible fear, trembling, and deep anxiety. This acted prophecy served as a vivid sign to the house of Israel, illustrating the extreme terror, scarcity, and distress they would soon endure during the impending siege of Jerusalem and their subsequent exile, as divine judgment for their persistent sin and rebellion. It portrays a loss of peace and security even in the most fundamental acts of sustenance.

Ezekiel 12 18 Context

Ezekiel chapter 12 details a series of powerful symbolic actions and prophecies demonstrating the inevitability of Jerusalem's fall and the subsequent exile of its inhabitants, particularly focusing on King Zedekiah. In verses 3-12, Ezekiel acts out leaving Jerusalem as an exile, symbolizing Zedekiah's attempt to escape in the dark and the people's departure. This particular verse (12:18) immediately follows that initial sign-act. It serves as God's direct explanation and intensification of the distress associated with the coming events. While Ezekiel has previously engaged in other profound sign-acts (e.g., Ezekiel 4-5), this command reinforces the raw, personal suffering awaiting the people. Historically, Judah, especially Jerusalem, was under the shadow of Babylonian power. Many in Jerusalem clung to false hopes of divine protection or believed Babylon would not prevail, dismissing Ezekiel's prophecies as for a distant future. This sign directly confronts their complacency, showing the prophet embodying their near-future reality of hunger, fear, and deep-seated anxiety during Nebuchadnezzar's brutal siege, which began in 588 BCE and culminated in Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BCE.

Ezekiel 12 18 Word analysis

• Son of man (בֶּן־אָדָם, ben-adam): This common address for Ezekiel throughout the book emphasizes his humanity and his role as a representative of mankind before God. It highlights that the prophet, a mere mortal, is entrusted with bearing a divine, weighty message to fellow mortals. It also subtly prepares for a later "Son of Man" (Daniel 7:13, a messianic figure).

• eat (תֹאכַל, tokhal): From the verb akal, "to eat." Denotes the most fundamental act of survival. God commands Ezekiel to perform this everyday action, but with profound significance.

• your bread (לַחְמְךָ, lachmekha): "Your" bread; implying one's daily, necessary sustenance. Bread was the primary staple food. This refers to the most basic provision of life, now tainted by fear.

• with quaking (בִּרְגְזָה, birgeza): From the root ragaz (רָגַז), meaning to tremble, to be agitated, to be troubled, provoked, or enraged. Here, it denotes intense emotional and physical agitation, a deep unsettlement of mind and body, beyond mere physical trembling.

• and drink (וּמֵימֶיךָ תִּשְׁתֶּה, umeymekha tishteh): And "your water" you "will drink." The second basic human necessity, equally subject to distress.

• your water (וּמֵימֶיךָ, umeymekha): Again, "your" water, referring to personal, essential provision.

• with trembling (בְּרַעֲדָה, bera'adah): From the root ra'ad (רָעַד), specifically refers to physical shaking or shuddering, usually due to fear, weakness, or intense emotion. This term often implies a visible, outward manifestation of an internal state.

• and with anxiety (וּבִדְאָגָה, u-bid'agah): From the root da'ag (דָּאַג), meaning to be anxious, concerned, or worried. This adds a psychological layer of distress, an inward gnawing worry, a loss of inner peace, completing the picture of utter despair.

• "eat your bread... and drink your water": This pairing emphasizes the most fundamental human needs for survival. The prophetic act isn't about what is eaten, but how it's consumed, turning acts of basic sustenance into demonstrations of profound suffering.

• "with quaking... with trembling and with anxiety": This trio of emotional and physical descriptors builds an escalating picture of distress. Quaking (ragaz) speaks to a general agitation and intense disturbance. Trembling (ra'ad) denotes the physical manifestation of fear, the body shaking uncontrollably. Anxiety (da'agah) points to the internal, psychological burden of worry and dread that accompanies this external physical response. Together, they depict a comprehensive state of utter fear, panic, and distress affecting both body and mind, making even basic living activities agonizing.

Ezekiel 12 18 Bonus section

Ezekiel's prophetic ministry is distinct for its heavy reliance on symbolic actions (sign-acts), where he often became a living embodiment of God's message. These acts, like eating bread with trembling, were designed to capture the attention of a people who had become deaf to spoken words. The very nature of this command (Ezek 12:18) implies a total breakdown of peace and joy in ordinary life, extending God's judgment to the very mundane, most private acts. The act not only signified what would happen to Jerusalem but also how they would feel while it happened. This personal suffering of the prophet was a key aspect of his intercessory and prophetic identity, linking his personal experience intimately with the fate of his people. Such prophetic theater also served as an indirect critique of false prophets who spoke "peace, peace" when there was no peace, by dramatically illustrating the actual coming doom.

Ezekiel 12 18 Commentary

Ezekiel 12:18 serves as a chilling, visceral portrayal of the existential terror and deprivation awaiting the people of Judah. By commanding Ezekiel to consume basic provisions with such evident fear and anxiety, God delivers a prophecy designed not just to be heard, but to be seen and felt. This wasn't a private message; it was a public spectacle, forcing the people to confront the harsh reality they consistently denied. The act signifies that even in moments of basic sustenance – eating and drinking – there would be no peace, no security, only the consuming dread of a city under siege and impending exile. The emphasis on "quaking," "trembling," and "anxiety" covers both the physical manifestations of extreme fear and the debilitating psychological torment. It highlights God's judgment affecting every aspect of life, underscoring that their false sense of security would shatter, leaving them utterly vulnerable and distressed. The message is clear: the divine consequences of their sin were unavoidable and would bring them to their knees in abject fear and scarcity.