Ezekiel 19NASB
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Ezekiel19

New American Standard

1“As for you, take up a song of mourning for the leaders of Israel

2and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness among lions! She lay down among young lions, She raised her cubs.

3When she brought up one of her cubs, He became a young lion, And he learned to tear his prey; He devoured people.

4Then nations heard about him; He was caught in their trap, And they brought him with hooks To the land of Egypt.

5When she saw, as she waited, That her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs And made him a young lion.

6And he walked about among the lions, He became a young lion; He learned to tear his prey; He devoured people.

7He destroyed their palaces And laid waste their cities; And the land and its fullness were appalled Because of the sound of his roaring.

8Then nations set against him On every side from their provinces, And they spread their net over him; He was caught in their trap.

9They put him in a wooden collar with hooks And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in hunting nets So that his voice would no longer be heard On the mountains of Israel.

10Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and thick with branches Because of abundant waters.

11And it had strong stems fit for scepters of rulers, And its height was raised above the clouds So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.

12But it was uprooted in fury; It was thrown down to the ground; And the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong stem was torn out So that it withered; The fire consumed it.

13And now it is planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land.

14And fire has gone out from its stem; It has consumed its shoots and fruit, So that there is no strong stem in it, A scepter to rule.’” This is a song of mourning, and has become a song of mourning.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 19.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: A parable lamenting the ruin of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim. (1-9). Another describing the desolation of the people. (10-14).

vv1-9

Ezekiel is to compare the kingdom of Judah to a lioness. He must compare the kings of Judah to a lion's whelps; they were cruel and oppressive to their own subjects. The righteousness of God is to be acknowledged, when those who have terrified and enslaved others, are themselves terrified and enslaved. When professors of religion form connexions with ungodly persons, their children usually grow up following after the maxims and fashions of a wicked world. Advancement to authority discovers the ambition and selfishness of men's hearts; and those who spend their lives in mischief, generally end them by violence.

vv10-14

Jerusalem was a vine, flourishing and fruitful. This vine is now destroyed, though not plucked up by the roots. She has by wickedness made herself like tinder to the sparks of God's wrath, so that her own branches serve as fuel to burn her. Blessed be God, one Branch of the vine here alluded to, is not only become a strong rod for the sceptre of those that rule, but is Himself the true and living Vine. This shall be for a rejoicing to all the chosen people of God throughout all generations.

Cross References

Ezekiel 19
v2Genesis 49:9allusion

Explicit allusion to Jacob's blessing of Judah as a lion's whelp and old lion.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

Jeremiah's lament for Shallum (Jehoahaz), taken captive to Egypt to die.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v42 Kings 23:33fulfillment

Historical account of Pharaoh-necho putting Jehoahaz in chains at Riblah.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Condemnation of Jehoiakim's violent oppression, covetousness, and shedding of innocent blood.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v52 Kings 23:34fulfillment

Pharaoh-necho appoints Eliakim (Jehoiakim) as the next royal whelp.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v10Genesis 49:11allusion

Allusion to Judah's strength and vine imagery (washing garments in the blood of grapes).

Supported by JFB

v10Ezekiel 17:6thematic

Parallels the vine metaphor for Israel's royal house used earlier in Ezekiel.

Supported by JFB

v12Ezekiel 17:10thematic

Repeats the judgment of the east wind drying up the flourishing vine.

Supported by JFB

Jeremiah and the singing men making lamentations for the fallen princes.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v32 Kings 23:30fulfillment

The people of the land anointing Jehoahaz to succeed his father Josiah.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v92 Chronicles 36:6fulfillment

Nebuchadnezzar binding Jehoiakim in fetters to carry him to Babylon.

Supported by JFB

v11Daniel 4:11thematic

Parallels the proud height and stature of the tree reaching unto heaven.

Supported by JFB

v5Ezekiel 19:3thematic

Repeats the process of raising up another ambitious, predatory young lion.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Psalms 80:8-11thematic

The classical portrait of Israel as a vine brought out of Egypt.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v12Hosea 13:15thematic

The east wind of judgment drying up the spring and fountain.

Supported by JFB