Ezekiel 24:4

4 Put chunks of meat into it, all the choice pieces - loin and brisket. Pick out the best soup 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 down this date. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.
3 Tell this company of rebels a story: "'Put on the soup pot. Fill it with water.
4 Put chunks of meat into it, all the choice pieces - loin and brisket. Pick out the best soup bones
5 from the best of the sheep in the flock. Pile wood beneath the pot. Bring it to a boil and cook the soup.
6 "'God, the Master, says: "'Doom to the city of murder, to the pot thick with scum, thick with a filth that can't be scoured. Empty the pot piece by piece; don't bother who gets what.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.