Ezekiel 4:16

“Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:”

Immediate Context

The preceding line reads “Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.” The titled verse reads “Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:” The following line reads “That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.” Together, these lines show how Ezekiel 4:16 functions within its immediate canonical and literary sequence.

Reading the Verse

The verse records names and family relationships. Its purpose is genealogical: it preserves the identities and connections that carry the historical record forward. The wording does not assign motives, virtues, or failures to these people, so a sound reading should not add character claims that the verse itself does not make.

The wording develops in three movements: “Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem:” then “and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care;” and finally “and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:” These clauses belong together and should govern the explanation of the verse.

Biblical Significance

Genealogical verses establish continuity between generations and locate individuals within the larger history recorded by Scripture. Their value lies in their precision. Names and relationships that may appear brief still belong to the Bible’s ordered account of families, tribes, inheritance, and covenant history.

Application

This verse encourages careful attention to details that are easy to pass over. A responsible reader receives the names and relationships as written, does not invent a biography beyond the record, and allows the surrounding genealogy to define their place in the account.

Read in this setting, Ezekiel 4:16 speaks through its own wording and context. Its claims, emphasis, and appropriate application all begin with the KJV text printed above.