17 That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.
17 I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one another in dismay, and rot away because of their punishment.
17 Famine conditions. People will look at one another, see nothing but skin and bones, and shake their heads. This is what sin does."
17 that they may lack bread and water, and be dismayed with one another, and waste away because of their iniquity.
17 Lacking food and water, people will look at one another in terror, and they will waste away under their punishment.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 4:17
Commentary on Ezekiel 4:9-17
(Read Ezekiel 4:9-17)
The bread which was Ezekiel's support, was to be made of coarse grain and pulse mixed together, seldom used except in times of urgent scarcity, and of this he was only to take a small quantity. Thus was figured the extremity to which the Jews were to be reduced during the siege and captivity. Ezekiel does not plead, Lord, from my youth I have been brought up delicately, and never used to any thing like this; but that he had been brought up conscientiously, and never had eaten any thing forbidden by the law. It will be comfortable when we are brought to suffer hardships, if our hearts can witness that we have always been careful to keep even from the appearance of evil. See what woful work sin makes, and acknowledge the righteousness of God herein. Their plenty having been abused to luxury and excess, they were justly punished by famine. When men serve not God with cheerfulness in the abundance of all things, God will make them serve their enemies in the want of all things.