Ezekiel 24:4

4 ¹Put in it the pieces, Every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder; Fill it with choice bones.

Ezekiel 24:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 24:4

Gather the pieces thereof into it
fire being made, and the pot set on, and water poured into it, the next thing is, to put in the pieces that are to be boiled; and these are to be gathered; meaning the people of the land, that were to be gathered from the several parts of it, for their security, as they thought; but the event proved it was for their ruin: even every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder;
the princes and gentry, the great and the mighty, the rich and wealthy of the people; who, upon the invasion, got together in Jerusalem, to secure their persons and substance: fill it with the choice bones;
or with those pieces that have the choice bones, that are full of marrow; the strongest among the people; the soldiers, or such as were fit for war; the best of their militia, brought hither to defend the city; but, in fact, to be slain, as they were. The Targum is,

``gather the princes thereof into the midst of her, every terrible man and warrior; fill her with the army of the people.''

Ezekiel 24:4 In-Context

2 "Son of man, write the name of the day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.

3 "Speak a parable to the rebellious house and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Put on the pot, put it on and also pour water in it;

4 Put in it the pieces, Every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder; Fill it with choice bones.

5 "Take the choicest of the flock, And also pile wood under the pot. Make it boil vigorously. Also seethe its bones in it."

6 'Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the bloody city, To the pot in which there is rust And whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, Without making a choice.

Cross References

• 1. Micah 3:2, 3

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "Gather her pieces"