Ezekiel 5 17

Ezekiel 5:17 kjv

So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee: and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.

Ezekiel 5:17 nkjv

So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken.' "

Ezekiel 5:17 niv

I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I the LORD have spoken."

Ezekiel 5:17 esv

I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you of your children. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I am the LORD; I have spoken."

Ezekiel 5:17 nlt

And along with the famine, wild animals will attack you and rob you of your children. Disease and war will stalk your land, and I will bring the sword of the enemy against you. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Ezekiel 5 verses

Ezekiel 5 17 meaning

Ezekiel 5:17 pronounces God's unwavering judgment against Jerusalem and its inhabitants, declaring a final onslaught of calamities. It consolidates the series of punishments foretold in the preceding verses, specifying famine, ravaging wild animals, pestilence, and violent bloodshed as divine instruments of destruction. The verse culminates with God's authoritative declaration, "I the LORD have spoken it," emphasizing the absolute certainty and divine origin of these severe consequences for their disobedience and idolatry. This statement seals the prophecy, leaving no room for doubt regarding the impending doom.

Ezekiel 5 17 Context

Ezekiel 5:17 forms the conclusion of a profoundly visual and symbolic prophetic act concerning Jerusalem's ultimate destruction. In chapter 5, Ezekiel shaves his hair and beard, dividing the hairs into three parts. One part he burns, symbolizing those dying by famine and pestilence within the city. Another part he strikes with a sword, representing those killed by war. The final part he scatters to the wind, symbolizing the exiles pursued by the sword. This dramatic demonstration illustrates the inescapable, multifaceted judgment God is bringing upon Jerusalem for its extreme idolatry, apostasy, and defilement of His sanctuary, worse than surrounding nations. Verse 17 summarizes and solidifies the severity and comprehensiveness of this divine punishment, affirming God's direct agency and the absolute certainty of His word.

Ezekiel 5 17 Word analysis

• So will I send (וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי – v'shillachti): This Hebrew verb, shalach, means "to send" or "to let go." Here, it denotes direct divine initiative and active agency. God is not merely permitting calamity; He is deliberately deploying these scourges as instruments of His judgment, underscoring His sovereignty.
• upon you (עֲלֵיכֶם – aleikhem): Directed specifically at Jerusalem and its inhabitants, highlighting the personal nature of the impending judgment as a direct consequence of their actions, specifically their deep-seated rebellion and idolatry.
• famine (רָעָב – ra'av): A severe scarcity of food. This is a common covenant curse (Lev 26:26; Deut 28:48) and a natural consequence of war, representing slow and agonizing death. It targets physical sustenance, symbolizing spiritual emptiness and lack of provision.
• and evil beasts (וְחַיָּה רָעָה – v'chayyah ra'ah): Literally "beast of evil" or "ferocious beast." These are not merely wild animals but specifically vicious predators. Their presence indicates utter desolation and a breakdown of human control, signifying God's relinquishment of protection and the reversal of creation's order where man subdued animals (Gen 1:28). It also alludes to defilement of the dead and fear among the living.
• and they shall bereave thee (וְשִׁכְּלֻךְ – v'shikklukh): From the root shakal, meaning "to make childless," "to miscarry," or "to cause to cast offspring." This signifies loss of children, a most devastating punishment that threatens the very continuation of family lines and communal existence, plunging survivors into profound grief and despair.
• and pestilence (וְדֶבֶר – v'dever): Refers to epidemic disease or plague. Another direct divine judgment, often associated with rapid, widespread, and indiscriminate death, it symbolizes God's swift justice and the frailty of human life when faced with divine wrath (Exod 5:3, Amos 4:10).
• and blood (וְדָם – v'dam): Symbolizes violent death and bloodshed, usually through warfare or internal strife. In this context, it reinforces the severity of the 'sword' (next word), implying a torrent of lives spilled, reflecting a profusion of violent and ignoble deaths that would stain the land (Ezek 7:23).
• shall pass through thee (תַּעֲבֹר בָּךְ – ta'avor bakh): From avar, meaning "to pass over/through." It implies that pestilence and blood will penetrate deeply and spread extensively throughout the city and its population, permeating every aspect of life and leaving no one untouched. It signifies pervasive suffering and inescapable judgment.
• and I will bring the sword (וְחֶרֶב אָבִיא עָלַיִךְ – v'cherev avi 'alayikh): The sword here denotes war and military invasion, the primary instrument of mass casualty and national subjugation. It emphasizes God's role in orchestrating foreign armies (like Babylon) to execute His judgment (Jer 20:4-6, 21:7).
• upon thee (עָלַיִךְ – 'alayikh): Again, directly upon the inhabitants, confirming the target of the sword's devastation.
• I the LORD have spoken it (אֲנִי יְהוָה דִּבַּרְתִּי – Ani Yahweh Dibbarti): This is a solemn covenant formula, a divine oath and statement of absolute certainty. It reiterates God's identity (Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God) and authority, affirming the irreversibility and infallible fulfillment of His pronouncement. It closes the matter definitively, emphasizing that these are not mere threats but decreed realities from the sovereign Lord.

• famine and evil beasts... bereave thee; and pestilence and blood... pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee: This passage combines the "four dreadful judgments" frequently mentioned together in Scripture (sword, famine, wild beasts, pestilence; see Ezek 14:21; Jer 15:2), showing the comprehensive nature of the devastation. Each judgment contributes to a complete collapse of society and human life. The sequential mentioning amplifies the escalating horror and inevitability, as different forms of death besiege the city simultaneously. The order might also suggest a natural progression or cumulative effect, starting with the immediate existential threats (famine, beasts that 'bereave') followed by pervasive illness ('pestilence and blood') and then outright conquest ('sword').

Ezekiel 5 17 Bonus section

The "four dreadful judgments" (sword, famine, wild beasts, pestilence) are a recurring motif in the Old Testament, representing God's ultimate comprehensive punishment upon a rebellious people. They signify a complete stripping away of life, sustenance, security, and human dignity, reverting creation to a state of chaos. This pattern of judgment demonstrates God's commitment to uphold His covenant, which included both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, emphasizing that the God of love is also the God of justice. The explicit phrase "I the LORD have spoken it" serves as a counter to any lingering hope of reprieve based on the perceived invincibility of Jerusalem or God's alleged inaction. It emphasizes that divine revelation is not subject to human reconsideration or alteration. This phrase strengthens the prophetic message, confirming that Ezekiel's words are truly God's words and will be fulfilled.

Ezekiel 5 17 Commentary

Ezekiel 5:17 powerfully seals the preceding prophecy of Jerusalem's utter destruction, not merely as a consequence of natural events but as divinely orchestrated judgments. God explicitly states He "will send" (Hiphil conjugation implying direct causation) these calamities, highlighting His active role in Israel's suffering as a punitive measure for profound sin, especially idolatry and defilement of His sanctuary. The catalog of judgments—famine, predatory animals causing bereavement, pervasive pestilence, and violent bloodshed by the sword—signifies a complete societal breakdown and total loss of security. The mention of "evil beasts" causing bereavement specifically evokes a sense of primitive terror and desecration, harking back to covenant curses where order is reversed. This full spectrum of devastation underscores that Jerusalem’s downfall will be absolute, impacting life from sustenance and safety to the continuation of families and public order. The concluding, emphatic phrase, "I the LORD have spoken it," acts as an unalterable decree. It reminds the audience that the source is Yahweh, the covenant God who is faithful to both His promises and His warnings. It's a statement of divine finality and an assurance that despite human skepticism or resistance, these judgments are not negotiable and will surely come to pass. The fulfillment would serve as both punishment and a vindication of God's justice before the nations.