Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;

Son of man, eat thy bread in trouble: and drink thy water in hurry and sorrow.

Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with anxiety;

Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with solicitude.

'Son of man, thy bread in haste thou dost eat, and thy water with trembling and with fear thou dost drink;

Son of man, take your food with shaking fear, and your water with trouble and care;

"Son of man, eat your bread in consternation. Moreover, drink your water hurriedly and in sorrow.

Fili hominis, panem tuam in tremore comede, et aquas tuas in tumultu et dolore [258] bibe;

Here the sign is the exhibition of such terror as the danger of a siege creates.

Eat thy bread with quaking - Assume the manner of a person who is every moment afraid of his life, who has nothing but a morsel of bread to eat, and a little water to drink. Thus signifying the siege, and the straits to which they should be reduced. See this explained, Ezekiel 12:19 (note).

Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking,.... As one in surprise or fear, or that has got an ague upon him:
and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness; fearing want of it, or as apprehensive of danger of its being taken away; see Ezekiel 4:16.

Symbolical representation of the famine and fear with which they should eat their scanty morsel, in their exile, and especially at the siege.