18 Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness;
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
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.
*More commentary available at chapter level.