Ezekiel 4:10 kjv
And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it.
Ezekiel 4:10 nkjv
And your food which you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat it.
Ezekiel 4:10 niv
Weigh out twenty shekels of food to eat each day and eat it at set times.
Ezekiel 4:10 esv
And your food that you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from day to day you shall eat it.
Ezekiel 4:10 nlt
Ration this out to yourself, eight ounces of food for each day, and eat it at set times.
Ezekiel 4 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 4:11 | Water, measured... shall drink. | Symbolizes extreme rationing |
| Leviticus 26:26 | "...eat and not be satisfied." | Divine judgment, deprivation |
| Deuteronomy 28:56 | "...eat the flesh of your own children..." | Depravity during siege |
| Jeremiah 14:18 | "If I go forth into the field, behold, those slain with the sword!" | Famine and destruction |
| Lamentations 4:4 | "The tongue of the sucking child crieth for thirst at the window..." | Suffering of children |
| Hosea 2:9 | "Therefore I will take back my grain in its appointed time..." | God withdrawing provision |
| Amos 4:6 | "And I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities..." | God's withheld judgment (contrast) |
| John 6:11 | "Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks..." | God providing (contrast) |
| Revelation 18:17 | "...no craftsman... shall be found in you anymore." | Economic ruin during judgment |
| Psalm 107:20 | "He sent out his word and healed them..." | God's restorative power |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | "Whether then you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." | Principle of stewardship (contrast) |
| Matthew 4:4 | "But he answered and said, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone..."'" | Spiritual sustenance vs. physical (contrast) |
| 2 Kings 25:3 | "...there was no bread left for the people of the land." | Historical fulfillment of famine |
| Isaiah 30:20-21 | "...your Teacher will not hide himself anymore..." | God's guidance and provision |
| Jeremiah 52:6 | "So a famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land." | Historical fulfillment |
| Lamentations 5:10 | "Our skin was as hot as an oven because of the fierce burning of hunger." | Intense hunger |
| Psalm 37:25 | "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." | God's provision for the faithful |
| Proverbs 30:8 | "...Grant me neither poverty nor riches, but let me have food in due season." | Prayer for balanced provision |
| Philippians 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | God's faithful provision |
| Genesis 41:53-54 | "...the seven years of plenty came to an end. Then the seven years of famine began..." | Pharaoh's dream interpretation |
| 1 Samuel 30:11 | "...they found a man an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David." | Unexpected provision |
| Acts 11:29 | "So the disciples determined, every man according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers abiding in Judea." | Mutual support in famine |
Ezekiel 4 verses
Ezekiel 4 10 Meaning
This verse describes the tangible and severely restricted diet prescribed to Ezekiel, symbolizing the famine and siege that would befall Jerusalem and its people. The rations of bread and water are minutely measured, emphasizing scarcity and the harsh reality of impending judgment.
Ezekiel 4 10 Context
Ezekiel 4 is part of a series of symbolic acts and prophecies given to Ezekiel during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (circa 586 BC). This chapter details a powerful object lesson demonstrating the intense suffering, deprivation, and limited sustenance that the inhabitants of Jerusalem would experience. The nation's persistent rebellion against God had brought them to this catastrophic point.
Ezekiel 4 10 Word Analysis
- וְלֶחֶם (ve'lechem): "And bread." The conjunction "ve" (and) links this action to the previous descriptions. "Lechem" signifies bread, the staple food, underscoring the basic need being addressed by the severe restriction.
- קְצוּבִים (ketzuvim): "Apportioned" or "measured." This root relates to cutting or dividing. It highlights the meticulous and limited quantity. The food is not freely available but deliberately portioned out.
- אֹכֶל (okel): "Food" or "eating." This refers to the act of consumption, emphasizing that even the fundamental necessity of food would be doled out in scarcity.
- וְחֹמֶץ (ve'chometz): "And water." Similar to "bread," the conjunction links water as another essential element under severe restriction. "Chometz" can also refer to sour wine or vinegar, but in this context of essential sustenance, "water" is the primary meaning, a crucial element in survival.
- מְשׁוּרִים (meshurim): "Measured." This past participle signifies something that has been measured. It reiterates the theme of strict rationing, not just for bread but for water as well. The identical measurement indicates parity in deprivation.
- שָׁתֹה (shato): "To drink." This infinitive denotes the act of drinking water. The emphasis is on the limited availability of even this vital liquid.
Word-Group Analysis
- "Bread, apportioned, food, and water, measured": This phrase starkly illustrates the totality of the deprivation. Every staple of life – food and drink – is subjected to exact and minimal measurement, signifying a complete breakdown of normal provisions due to judgment.
Ezekiel 4 10 Bonus Section
This prophetic act demonstrates God’s sovereign control over provision and judgment. Even in the midst of judgment, there's a symbolic ordering to the suffering, dictated by God. The specific quantities chosen, though seemingly arbitrary to a modern reader, would have carried significant weight with the original audience familiar with the measurements and necessities of life. The repeated use of words related to "measuring" underscores that this is not chaotic destruction but divinely ordained and controlled punishment for the people's sins. It speaks to God's justice and His faithfulness in carrying out the covenant curses.
Ezekiel 4 10 Commentary
The precise measurement of twenty shekels of bread and one-sixth of a hin of water per day represents an almost impossibly meager ration, far below sustenance needs. This was not a depiction of typical hardship but an extreme symbol of total famine and the absolute scarcity enforced during a brutal siege. Ezekiel is forced to consume these symbolic portions, identifying with the suffering of his people. This serves as a stark warning that God's judgment, when it comes, is absolute and leaves no room for comfort or abundance. It’s a picture of utter dependency and the collapse of normal living.