יחזקאל, פרק ד׳, פסוק ט״ו

God responds to the prophet's distress by easing a difficult and repulsive task, replacing it with a more moderate alternative. The prophet is instructed to gather cow dung, a term referring generally to excreted bodily waste [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת ציון], instead of the human waste he was originally commanded to use [מצודת ציון]. He must use this animal dung as fuel to build the fire for baking his bread, a practical method sometimes used for heating [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators is that this change is intended to relieve the prophet, as cow dung is far less offensive and foul-smelling than human waste. Alongside this practical relief, the substitution holds a deeper symbolic meaning. God grants this concession to the prophet personally, honoring his distinct holiness and purity. Conceptually, animal waste represents only a physical impurity, since animals do not possess a complex soul. This physical symbol is entirely sufficient to convey the original metaphor of human waste, which represents a deeper impurity of the soul. Through this adjustment, the prophetic message is successfully delivered without compromising the prophet's personal purity [מלבי"ם].