Put in it the pieces of meat, Every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder; Fill it with choice bones.
Parallel translations
- WEB gather its pieces into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
- KJV Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
- BSB Put in the pieces of meat, every good piece—thigh and shoulder—fill it with choice bones.
- NKJV Gather pieces of meat in it, Every good piece, The thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with choice cuts;
- NLT Fill it with choice pieces of meat— the rump and the shoulder and all the most tender cuts.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The choice cuts of meat are gathered into the pot, representing Jerusalem's inhabitants. It depicts the people gathered for the fires of siege.
Overview
The 'good pieces', thigh, shoulder, and choice bones, stand for the people of Jerusalem packed within the besieged city. The selection of the best portions suggests that even the leading citizens will not escape. The parable's grim cooking imagery conveys how the siege will consume the whole population.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Mic 3:2–3You who hate the good, and love the evil; who tear off their skin, and their flesh from off their bones;
- Matt 7:2For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
- Ezek 22:18–22“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are brass, tin, iron, and lead in the middle of the furnace. They are the dross of silver.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 24:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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