The Meaning of Ezekiel 5:16 Explained

Ezekiel 5:16

KJV: 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:

YLT: In My sending the evil arrows of famine among them, That have been for destruction, That I send to destroy you, And famine I am adding upon you, And I have broken to you the staff of bread.

Darby: When I send upon them the evil arrows of famine, that are for their destruction, which I send to destroy you, then will I increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread.

ASV: when I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, that are for destruction, which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Ezekiel 5:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 5

1  Under the type of hair
5  is shown the judgment of Jerusalem for their rebellion
12  by famine, sword, and dispersion

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 5:16 mean?

When I send - arrows of famine the terrible against them which shall be for destruction which I will send - to destroy you and the famine I will increase upon you and cut off your supply of bread
בְּֽשַׁלְּחִ֡י אֶת־ חִצֵּי֩ הָרָעָ֨ב הָרָעִ֤ים בָּהֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָי֣וּ לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית אֲשֶׁר־ אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח אוֹתָ֖ם לְשַֽׁחֶתְכֶ֑ם וְרָעָב֙ אֹסֵ֣ף עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְשָׁבַרְתִּ֥י לָכֶ֖ם מַטֵּה־ לָֽחֶם

בְּֽשַׁלְּחִ֡י  When  I  send 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
חִצֵּי֩  arrows 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: חֵץ  
Sense: arrow.
הָרָעָ֨ב  of  famine 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָעָב  
Sense: famine, hunger.
הָרָעִ֤ים  the  terrible 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
בָּהֶם֙  against  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
הָי֣וּ  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית  for  destruction 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַשְׁחִית  
Sense: ruin, destruction.
אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח  I  will  send 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אוֹתָ֖ם  - 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
לְשַֽׁחֶתְכֶ֑ם  to  destroy  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
וְרָעָב֙  and  the  famine 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָעָב  
Sense: famine, hunger.
אֹסֵ֣ף  I  will  increase 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, first person common singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם  upon  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וְשָׁבַרְתִּ֥י  and  cut  off 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
לָכֶ֖ם  your 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
מַטֵּה־  supply 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַטֶּה  
Sense: staff, branch, tribe.
לָֽחֶם  of  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.