Ezekiel 5:16 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 5:16 mean?

Ezekiel 5:16 describes God warning Jerusalem that He will send severe famine as a form of judgment, using the image of “evil arrows of famine” to show that hunger and lack of food will be used to destroy and punish the people. The verse emphasizes that God Himself will increase the famine and break “the staff of bread,” meaning He will take away their basic support and food supply.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Jerusalem, explaining the consequences of their unfaithfulness and rebellion. The “evil arrows” are a vivid way to picture famine as something sent with purpose and force, not just a natural disaster. The phrase “break your staff of bread” refers to removing the very thing that supports life, highlighting how serious and complete the coming hardship will be.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 5:16

• “Evil” (רַע, ra‘): This word means “bad” or “harmful,” showing that the famine is not just unfortunate but is meant to bring real suffering as a consequence.
• “Arrows” (חֵץ, ḥēts): Often used for weapons, here it pictures famine as something targeted and destructive, not random.
• “Famine” (רָעָב, ra‘av): This word makes clear that the judgment is specifically hunger and lack of food, not just general trouble.
• “Break” (שָׁבַר, shavar) and “staff” (מַטֶּה, matteh): The “staff” is a symbol for support or sustenance, so to “break the staff of bread” means to remove the people’s ability to survive.

Why Ezekiel 5:16 matters

• The verse clarifies that the famine is not accidental but is a direct act of judgment from God, using vivid language to show intentionality.
• The image of arrows and breaking the staff of bread connects this judgment to earlier warnings in the Law of Moses, where similar phrases are used for covenant curses.
• Understanding the concrete meaning of these images helps explain why the coming hardship is so severe and why it is described as both punishment and destruction.