Ezekiel 14 13

Ezekiel 14:13 kjv

Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

Ezekiel 14:13 nkjv

"Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.

Ezekiel 14:13 niv

"Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals,

Ezekiel 14:13 esv

"Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast,

Ezekiel 14:13 nlt

"Son of man, suppose the people of a country were to sin against me, and I lifted my fist to crush them, cutting off their food supply and sending a famine to destroy both people and animals.

Ezekiel 14 verses

Ezekiel 14 13 Meaning

This verse describes a catastrophic judgment brought upon the land of Israel due to persistent sin. Even if three righteous men like Noah, Daniel, and Job were present, their righteousness would only save themselves, not the land or its inhabitants. God's judgment is presented as a decisive act that will purge the unrighteousness from the land.

Ezekiel 14 13 Context

This verse is found in Ezekiel chapter 14, which addresses the elders of Israel who are seeking guidance from the prophet. The context is that many in Israel, despite the pronouncements of doom, are still seeking familiar gods or practicing idolatry. God uses the imagery of visiting severe judgments upon a land – sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence – to illustrate the consequences of unfaithfulness. The presence of renowned righteous individuals like Noah, Daniel, and Job is brought up to demonstrate that even their intercessory power would be insufficient to save a land thoroughly steeped in sin. The chapter emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty and His unyielding justice against persistent rebellion, particularly within His covenant people. Historically, this message would resonate deeply during the Babylonian exile, a period when many were undoubtedly questioning God’s faithfulness and their nation's destiny.

Ezekiel 14 13 Word Analysis

• "Son of man" (בֶּן־אָדָ֛ם - ben-adam): This is a common prophetic address in Ezekiel, emphasizing humanity and highlighting Ezekiel’s role as a representative of mankind, called by God to speak. It stresses human frailty in contrast to God’s power.

• "when" (כִּֽי־ - ki): Here, "ki" functions as a causal conjunction, indicating the condition or reason for God's action. It introduces the circumstance of the land sinning.

• "a land" (אֶרֶץ - erets): Refers to the physical territory of Israel.

• "sinneth against me" (תִּפְעַ֣ל־בִּ֠י מַעַל֙ - tiphal-bi ma'al): "Tiphal" means "does," "acts," or "commits." "Bi" means "against me" or "in me." "Ma'al" signifies a trespass, breach of covenant, or faithlessness. It is a deliberate act of unfaithfulness and rebellion directly against God.

• "by a trespass" (בְּמַ֥עַל - be-ma'al): Repeats the concept of trespass or faithlessness, reinforcing the deliberate and covenant-breaking nature of the sin.

• "and I stretch out my hand against it" (וְשָׁלַחְתִּי֩ יָדִ֨י בָ֜הּ - we-shalachti yadi bah): "We-shalachti" is the Piel imperfect of "shalach," meaning "I will send forth" or "I will stretch out." "Yadi" is "my hand," symbolizing God’s power, action, and judgment. "Bah" means "against it" (the land). This is a vivid anthropomorphism representing God's active intervention in judgment.

• "and make bricks" (וְחִסַּרְתִּ֥י אֶת־הָאָ֛רֶץ - we-chisarti et-ha'arets): "We-chisarti" (derived from chaser) can mean "cut off," "make deficient," or "impoverish." Some scholars suggest it means to "break the staff of the land," implying to remove its support or stability, rendering it weak and broken. Others interpret it as making the land completely lacking, desolate, or unfruitful as a consequence of its sin. It describes the consequence of God's hand being stretched out.

• "and destroy its supply of bread" (וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י מִמֶּנָּה֙ אִישׁ־וָבֶ֔ר - we-hikrati mimmennah ish-vavare): "We-hikrati" (Piel imperfect of karrat) means "I will cut off" or "I will destroy." "Mimmennah" means "from it" (the land). "Ish-vavar" literally means "man and beast," a common Hebrew idiom representing total destruction or devastation affecting all life. This signifies complete devastation.

• "and cut off man and beast from it" (וְנִכְרְתִ֣י מִמֶּנָּ֔ה אָדָ֥ם וָבְהֵמָ֖ה - ve-nikreti mimmennah adam vav'hemáh): This part reinforces the totality of the judgment, confirming the destruction of all life, both human and animal, from the land. It is a sweeping declaration of a land-wide annihilation.

• "If these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it": This section introduces hypothetical righteous intercessors.

  • "Noah" (נֹ֖חַ - Noah): Represents righteousness in a pre-diluvian world that was exceedingly wicked.
  • "Daniel" (דָּנִיֵּ֑אל - Daniel): Represents steadfast faithfulness and wisdom in the midst of Babylonian idolatry and corrupt governance. His inclusion here is significant, as Daniel lived during and after Ezekiel's ministry, pointing to his exemplary righteousness even while in exile.
  • "Job" (אִיּ֖וֹב - Iyov): Represents enduring faith and righteousness in the face of extreme personal suffering and questioning by friends.

• "by their righteousness" (בְּצִדְקָתָ֖ם - be-tsidkatam): Refers to their inherent righteous character and actions pleasing to God.

• "they would deliver only their own lives, declares the Lord GOD" (הֵ֛מָּה יַצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־נַפְשָׁ֖ם נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהוִֽה׃ - hemmáh yatsilu et-nephesham ne'um-Adonai YHWH): "Hemmah" (they) points specifically to these individuals. "Yatsilu" (Piel imperfect of yatsal) means "they would deliver" or "they would rescue." "Et-nephesham" means "their own souls" or "their lives." "Ne'um-Adonai YHWH" ("Thus says the Lord GOD") is a recurring formula that asserts the divine authority and certainty of the pronouncement. This powerfully illustrates that their righteousness, while saving them personally, could not atone for or override the land’s corporate sin and God's appointed judgment.

• Word Group Analysis:

  • "Sinning against me by a trespass... stretch out my hand against it... cut off man and beast from it": This entire phrase describes a process of divine punitive action initiated by the land's faithfulness against God, culminating in total annihilation.
  • "If these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, they would deliver only their own lives": This is a hypothetical statement that limits the efficacy of individual righteousness in saving a sin-laden corporate entity. It highlights a crucial distinction between personal salvation and corporate judgment.

Ezekiel 14 13 Bonus Section

The choice of Noah, Daniel, and Job is particularly significant. Noah lived before the Flood, in a world utterly corrupt (Gen 6:5). Daniel, though exiled, demonstrated remarkable faithfulness in the courts of pagan kings, showing his righteousness even in the heart of the ungodly system (Daniel 1; 3; 6). Job was tested with immense suffering and faced theological debates with his friends, yet his integrity remained, although he also grappled with the complexities of suffering and justice (Job 1-2; 42). These figures represent different eras and forms of righteous living, demonstrating that no era or situation exempts a people from the consequences of widespread sin, nor are there exceptions to God’s justice due to the presence of a few godly individuals who cannot bear the sins of others. The verse strongly implies that national or corporate sin has severe national consequences that transcend individual righteousness.

Ezekiel 14 13 Commentary

This verse serves as a stark declaration of God's judgment against persistent and widespread sin. It illustrates that even the most righteous individuals, renowned for their faithfulness and integrity like Noah, Daniel, and Job, cannot unilaterally avert God’s judgment from a land or people determined to walk in rebellion. Their righteousness is personal, capable of saving their own lives, but it does not extend to a general absolution for the entire nation’s covenant breach. This concept emphasizes the necessity of corporate repentance and faithfulness for a community's well-being, as well as God's sovereignty in executing justice. It underscores that God's justice is thorough, dealing with the pervasive sin that contaminates the land itself. The inclusion of Daniel, who was contemporary to Ezekiel, shows that God's judgment is not only retrospective but present and future, based on continuous actions. This serves as a severe warning against settling into a pattern of sin, regardless of personal piety.