Read & explore together
Four Dire Judgments
Ezekiel 14:12–23 is a serious prophetic message about a land that sins against Yahweh. By repeating four examples, the passage shows the weight of judgement and the limits of even righteous individuals in that situation.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Yahweh speaks to Ezekiel and describes famine, wild animals, sword and pestilence as severe judgements on a land that sins against him. Noah, Daniel and Job are named repeatedly, and then the message is applied to Jerusalem, where a remnant will remain to show that this judgement was not without cause.
Ezekiel 14:12–23Main takeaway
This passage teaches that when a land sins against Yahweh, his judgement is not without cause, and even righteous individuals would deliver only themselves.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A sinful land and broken breadThe message begins with a land sinning against Yahweh by committing a trespass. Yahweh says he may “break the staff of its bread”, a picture of food supply being cut off through famine.
Explanation
The message begins with a land sinning against Yahweh by committing a trespass. Yahweh says he may “break the staff of its bread”, a picture of food supply being cut off through famine. Even if Noah, Daniel and Job were there, their righteousness would deliver only their own souls.
02Wild animals and a desolate landThe second picture is of “evil animals” passing through the land and ravaging it. The land becomes desolate, and no one passes through because of the animals.
Explanation
The second picture is of “evil animals” passing through the land and ravaging it. The land becomes desolate, and no one passes through because of the animals. Again the point is repeated: even these three men would not deliver sons or daughters. Only they would be delivered.
03Sword and pestilence repeat the warningTwo more judgements follow in the same pattern. A sword goes through the land, and then pestilence is sent with wrath poured out “in blood”.
Explanation
Two more judgements follow in the same pattern. A sword goes through the land, and then pestilence is sent with wrath poured out “in blood”. The repetition strengthens the message. In these examples, Noah, Daniel and Job could not rescue others. They would deliver only their own souls.
04Jerusalem, a remnant and a reasonThe prophecy then names Jerusalem and gathers the warnings into “four severe judgments”. Yet a remnant of sons and daughters will be carried out.
Explanation
The prophecy then names Jerusalem and gathers the warnings into “four severe judgments”. Yet a remnant of sons and daughters will be carried out. When people see their way and their doings, they will be comforted by knowing that Yahweh has not done what he did in Jerusalem without cause.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What do the repeated examples with Noah, Daniel and Job show about the limits of one person’s righteousness in this passage?
Look at each repeated sentence and notice who is delivered and who is not delivered.
02Which four judgements are named, and where are they all gathered together?
List the separate judgements first, then find the verse that names all four in one sentence.
03Why will the remnant bring comfort to those who see them?
The comfort does not deny the judgement. It comes from seeing their way and doings and understanding the cause.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 14:12–23
12Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
13“Son of man, when a land sins against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand on it, and break the staff of its bread and send famine on it, and cut off from it man and animal—
14though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness,” says the Lord Yahweh.
15“If I cause evil animals to pass through the land, and they ravage it and it is made desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the animals—
16though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They only would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.
17“Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land, so that I cut off from it man and animal’—
18though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only would be delivered themselves.
19“Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath on it in blood, to cut off from it man and animal—
20though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness.”
21For the Lord Yahweh says: “How much more when I send my four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword, the famine, the evil animals, and the pestilence—to cut off from it man and animal!
22Yet, behold, there will be left a remnant in it that will be carried out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they will come out to you, and you will see their way and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought on it.
23They will comfort you, when you see their way and their doings; then you will know that I have not done all that I have done in it without cause,” says the Lord Yahweh.