Ezekiel 19:1-4

A Lament for the Princes of Israel

1 “As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel

2 and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs.

3 She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.

4 When the nations heard of him, he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they led him away to the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 19:1-4 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 19

The subject matter of this chapter is a lamentation for the princes and people of the Jews, on account of what had already befallen them, and what was yet to come, Eze 19:1. The mother of the princes is compared to a lioness, and they to lions; who, one after another, were taken and carried captive, Eze 19:2-9; again, their mother is compared to a vine, and they to branches and rods for sceptres, destroyed by an east wind, and consumed by fire, Eze 19:10-14.