Ezekiel 12:19 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people of Jerusalem and Israel will experience exactly the anxiety and deprivation Ezekiel displays, because violence among them has made their land deserving of desolation.
The Context of Ezekiel 12:19
The desolation and deprivation will come because of violence and wickedness among the people.
What Does Ezekiel 12:19 Mean?
Ezekiel's sign is interpreted: the people themselves will eat with carefulness and drink with astonishment—they will live in constant anxiety. This is not a pleasant circumstance but a direct consequence of their deeds.
The reason is explicit: 'the violence of all them that dwell therein' has made the land itself desolate. The land will become empty—stripped of inhabitants and provision—because the violence of its residents has invited judgment. The people will experience hunger and fear as their actions reap their due harvest.
Ezekiel 12:19 in the Original Language
Hamas (חָמָס), 'violence' — robbery, brutal oppression, and wrongdoing that cries out for divine justice
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 12:19
What does Ezekiel 12:19 mean?
The people of Jerusalem and Israel will experience exactly the anxiety and deprivation Ezekiel displays, because violence among them has made their land deserving of desolation.
What is the context of Ezekiel 12:19?
The desolation and deprivation will come because of violence and wickedness among the people.