King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 5:17 Mean?

“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.”

Context

So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.

When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:

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.

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Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**29. burn ... houses upon whose roofs ... incense unto Baal--**retribution in kind. They burnt incense to Baal, on the houses, so the houses shall be burnt (Jr 19:13). The god of fire was the object of their worship; so fire shall be the instrument of their punishment. **to provoke me--**indicating the design, not merely the event. They seemed to court God's "anger," and purposely to "provoke" Him.

Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, David Brown. Public Domain.

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 5:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.