יחזקאל, פרק ו׳, פסוק י״א

God commands His prophet to physically act out the intensity of the coming destruction. Through dramatic bodily gestures and loud emotional cries, the prophet expresses an outburst of pain, mourning, and deep anger over the severe sins of the people and the heavy punishment awaiting them. He is instructed to strike his hands, which is understood as either clapping them together like mourning women [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל], or slapping his hand against his thigh as a deep expression of sorrow [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. At the same time, he must stomp his foot forcefully on the ground. This action carries the idea of flattening or crushing, as if the prophet is violently stamping the dust and mud beneath him, driven by a storm of raw emotion and anger [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק].

Along with these physical movements, the prophet is told to cry out. The primary approach among commentators is that this sound is a bitter wail of grief and sadness, similar to crying out in woe [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, a different perspective suggests that the cry is actually an expression of joy. According to this view, while the clapping and stomping are driven by anger over the people's sins, the cry itself is a joyful declaration that God will execute perfect justice and punish the wrongdoers [מלבי״ם].

This dramatic display is directed entirely at the terrible and evil practices committed by the house of Israel [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. These wicked actions are the direct cause of their looming downfall. As a consequence for their behavior, the people are destined to face a tragic end, meeting their death through war, starvation, and plague [רד״ק, אברבנאל].