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Ezekiel Chapter 19

Old Testament Major Prophet 14 Verses

What is Ezekiel 19 about?

Dramatic visions of God's glory, Israel's corporate restoration, and the eschatological Temple given to the exiled priest-prophet. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Moreover, take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
2and say, What was thy mother? A lioness: she couched among lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her whelps.
3And she brought up one of her whelps: he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.
4The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks unto the land of Egypt.
5Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
6And he went up and down among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.
7And he knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, because of the noise of his roaring.
8Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces; and they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit.
9And they put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into strongholds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
10Thy mother was like a vine, in thy blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
11And it had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and their stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches.
12But it was plucked up in fury, it was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit: its strong rods were broken off and withered; the fire consumed them.
13And now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.
14And fire is gone out of the rods of its branches, it hath devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Moreover, take thou up a lamentation, &c.] These words are directed to the Prophet Ezekiel, to compose a doleful ditty, a mournful song, such as was used at funerals; and by it represent the lamentable state of the nation of the Jews and their governors, in order to affect them with it, with what was past, and present, and yet to come: for the princes of Israel; or, “concerning them”f278; the princes meant are Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, who were kings, though called princes, these words being synonymous; or, if so called by way of diminution, the reason might be, because they were tributary,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“ELEGY OVER THE FALL OF DAVID'S HOUSE. (Eze 19:1-14) princes of Israel--that is, Judah, whose "princes" alone were recognized by prophecy; those of the ten tribes were, in respect to the theocracy, usurpers.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Princes of Israel - Israel is the whole nation over which the king of Judah was the rightful sovereign. Compare Ezekiel 2:3; Ezekiel 3:1, Ezekiel 3:7. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“For the princes - Jehoahaz, Jehoiachim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. Ezekiel 19:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“19:1-14 An ancient Near Eastern funeral song had a distinctive rhythm and style and usually extolled the virtues of the person who had died, contrasting past glory with the current loss. In this case, those being lamented were not yet dead, and the dirge contained a catalogue of their faults. This dirge profoundly communicated the certainty of their fate and the reasons for it. • The lion (19:2-9) and the vine (19:10-14) were familiar images for the princes of Israel, the royal dynasty of Judah.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“take: Eze 19:14, Eze 2:10, Eze 26:17, Eze 27:2, Eze 32:16, Eze 32:18; Jer 9:1, Jer 9:10, Jer 9:17, Jer 9:18, Jer 13:17, Jer 13:18 the princes: Kg2 23:29, Kg2 23:30, Kg2 23:34, Kg2 24:6, Kg2 24:12, Kg2 25:5-7; Ch2 35:25, Ch2 36:3, Ch2 36:6, Ch2 36:10; Jer 22:10-12, Jer 22:18, Jer 22:19, Jer 22:28, Jer 22:30, Jer 24:1, Jer 24:8, Jer 52:10, Jer 52:11, Jer 52:25-27; Lam 4:20, Lam 5:12 Ezekiel 19:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“Capture and Exile of the Princes Eze 19:1. And do thou raise a lamentation for the princes of Israel, Eze 19:2. And say, Why did thy mother, a lioness, lie down among lionesses; bring up her whelps among young lions? Eze 19:3. And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and he learned to take prey; he devoured man. Eze 19:4. And nations heard of him; he was caught in their pit, and they brought him with nose-rings into the land of Egypt. Eze 19:5. And when she saw that her hope was exhausted, overthrown, she took one of her whelps, made it a young lion. Eze 19:6. And he walked among lionesses,…”
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