Discovery BoxEzekiel 5:16-17 
Context5:16 I will shoot against them deadly, 1 destructive 2 arrows of famine, 3 which I will shoot to destroy you. 4 I will prolong a famine on you and will remove the bread supply. 5 5:17 I will send famine and wild beasts against you and they will take your children from you. 6 Plague and bloodshed will overwhelm you, 7 and I will bring a sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
1 tn The Hebrew word carries the basic idea of “bad, displeasing, injurious,” but when used of weapons has the nuance “deadly” (see Ps 144:10).
2 tn Heb “which are/were to destroy.”
3 tn The language of this verse may have been influenced by Deut 32:23.
4 tn Or “which were to destroy those whom I will send to destroy you” (cf. NASB).
5 tn Heb, “break the staff of bread.” The bread supply is compared to a staff that one uses for support. See 4:16, as well as the covenant curse in Lev 26:26.
6 tn Heb “will bereave you.”
7 tn Heb “will pass through you.” This threat recalls the warning of Lev 26:22, 25 and Deut 32:24-25.
