King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 12:19 Mean?

Ezekiel 12:19 in the King James Version says “And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel;...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein. all that: Heb. the fulness thereof”

Ezekiel 12:19 · KJV

Context

17

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

18

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

19

And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein. all that: Heb. the fulness thereof

20

And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

21

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Read Ezekiel 12 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God provides interpretation: 'And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.' The sign-act's meaning is explained—Jerusalem's inhabitants will experience exactly what Ezekiel dramatically portrayed.

The phrase 'eat their bread with carefulness' (be-de'agah, בִּדְאָגָה) and 'drink their water with astonishment' (be-shimmamon, בְּשִׁמָּמוֹן, meaning horror/devastation) describe the psychological trauma of siege. The land's desolation is explicitly connected to 'violence of all them that dwell therein'—judgment isn't arbitrary but response to systemic violence and injustice that characterized pre-exilic Judah.

From a Reformed perspective, this illustrates the principle that sin brings natural consequences. God's judgment often involves removing restraining grace and allowing sin's destructive outcomes to fully manifest (Romans 1:24-28). The violence they practiced against others returns upon their own heads (Obadiah 15). God's justice is both retributive (active punishment) and consequential (reaping what's sown).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The 'violence of all them that dwell therein' refers to social injustice that prophets repeatedly condemned. Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all indicted Israel for oppressing the vulnerable, corrupt justice, false worship combined with unethical behavior (Isaiah 1:15-17, Micah 3:9-12, Jeremiah 7:5-7, Ezekiel 22:6-12). Systematic exploitation and violence characterized the society.

The siege's horror fulfilled covenant curses (Leviticus 26:26, Deuteronomy 28:52-57). Lamentations describes mothers eating their children during the famine (Lamentations 4:10). Josephus reports similar horrors during Rome's 70 AD siege. Ezekiel's trembling-while-eating sign precisely foreshadowed these terrible realities, demonstrating genuine prophetic foreknowledge.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding judgment as consequence of sin (not just punishment) affect your view of God's character?
  2. What does the connection between social violence and national judgment teach about corporate responsibility?
  3. In what ways do modern societies practice systemic violence that may bring similar judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
אָמַר֩1 of 27

“And say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל2 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

עַ֣ם3 of 27

“unto the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הָאָ֡רֶץ4 of 27

“of the land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

כֹּֽה5 of 27
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַר֩6 of 27

“And say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֨י7 of 27

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִ֜ה8 of 27

“GOD”

H3069

god

הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים9 of 27

“of all them that dwell”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙10 of 27

“of Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

אֶל11 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַרְצָהּ֙12 of 27

“and of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל13 of 27

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לַחְמָם֙14 of 27

“their bread”

H3899

food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)

בִּדְאָגָ֣ה15 of 27

“with carefulness”

H1674

anxiety

יֹאכֵ֔לוּ16 of 27

“They shall eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וּמֵֽימֵיהֶ֖ם17 of 27

“their water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

בְּשִׁמָּמ֣וֹן18 of 27

“with astonishment”

H8078

stupefaction

יִשְׁתּ֑וּ19 of 27

“and drink”

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

לְמַ֜עַן20 of 27
H4616

properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that

תֵּשַׁ֤ם21 of 27

“may be desolate”

H3456

to lie waste

אַרְצָהּ֙22 of 27

“and of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִמְּלֹאָ֔הּ23 of 27

“from all that is therein”

H4393

fulness (literally or figuratively)

מֵחֲמַ֖ס24 of 27

“because of the violence”

H2555

violence; by implication, wrong; by metonymy unjust gain

כָּֽל25 of 27
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים26 of 27

“of all them that dwell”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

בָּֽהּ׃27 of 27
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 12:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 12:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Zechariah 7:14Micah 7:13Ezekiel 6:14Ezekiel 6:6-71 Corinthians 10:28Jeremiah 10:22

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Ezekiel 12 →

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 12 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Ezekiel 12 with CommentaryAll Ezekiel ChaptersComplete Ezekiel QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes