Ezekiel 19 1

Ezekiel 19:1 kjv

Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

Ezekiel 19:1 nkjv

"Moreover take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

Ezekiel 19:1 niv

"Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel

Ezekiel 19:1 esv

And you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

Ezekiel 19:1 nlt

"Sing this funeral song for the princes of Israel:

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 1 Meaning

Ezekiel 19:1 conveys a solemn divine command to the prophet Ezekiel: to "take up" or publicly intone a lament, a funeral dirge, specifically addressed to and concerning the "princes of Israel." This verse initiates a poetic prophecy of judgment, indicating a coming national catastrophe and the failure of Judah's last rulers, as though they were already dead and worthy of mourning. It serves as a stark proclamation of their impending downfall and a divine indictment against their unrighteous leadership.

Ezekiel 19 1 Context

Ezekiel 19:1 opens a new prophetic message within Ezekiel's overarching theme of God's judgment and restoration. It follows chapter 18, which emphasizes individual responsibility and refutes the common proverb that the children suffer for the sins of the fathers. This shift to the lamentation in chapter 19 specifically targets the leadership—the kings—of Judah, holding them accountable for their actions and illustrating the national catastrophe through their failure.

Historically, this prophecy takes place during the Babylonian exile (circa 593-571 BC), following the first deportations (including Ezekiel himself in 597 BC) and preceding the final fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The "princes of Israel" refers directly to the last kings of Judah from the Davidic line (e.g., Jehoahaz/Shallum, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah) who were either deposed by foreign powers or led the nation to ultimate ruin. The lament serves to confirm the divine judgment on Jerusalem and its royal house, contradicting any false hopes among the exiles for a quick restoration or that Judah's throne remained divinely secure regardless of the king's behavior. It functions as both a dirge for the seemingly "dead" monarchy and a solemn prophetic pronouncement of its actual impending end.

Ezekiel 19 1 Word analysis

• Moreover (ve'attah, Hebrew): The Hebrew conjunction ve (and) combined with the pronoun attah (you, masculine singular) is often used in prophetic texts to introduce a new, emphatic command or direct address, signaling a significant turning point in the divine message to the prophet. It stresses a fresh, important instruction for Ezekiel himself.
• take thou up (sa', Hebrew): This is an imperative verb from nasa', meaning "to lift up," "to carry," or "to utter." In this context, it is a command to formally and publicly declare or pronounce a lament. It is not merely a private feeling but a divinely commissioned, authoritative pronouncement, indicating that the prophet is to perform a solemn act of ritual mourning.
• a lamentation (qinah, Hebrew): This is a specific form of Hebrew poetic dirge or funeral song. It traditionally marks profound grief, typically for the dead, a destroyed city, or a profound loss. Its structure often involved a characteristic irregular rhythm, creating a mournful, limping cadence (e.g., a 3-2 beat). Here, it is prescribed for leaders who are spiritually dead or already consigned to ruin, foreshadowing their political and literal demise.
• for ('el, Hebrew): The preposition means "to," "toward," or "concerning." It indicates the specific recipients or subjects of the lamentation.
• the princes (nesi'ei, Hebrew): The plural construct form of nasi'. This is a significant term choice. While nasi' can mean "prince," "chief," or "leader," its usage here is crucial. The more common Hebrew word for king is melech. The use of nasi' instead of melech for Judah's kings often signals a diminished or subordinate status in the divine sight, an illegitimate reign (from God's perspective), or a stripped authority due to their unrighteousness or vassalage. It foreshadows the removal of their sovereign royal power.
• of Israel (Yisra'el, Hebrew): In Ezekiel, "Israel" frequently refers to the entire covenant people, but in the context of the Davidic monarchy's final decline, it particularly points to the southern kingdom of Judah, as it was the sole remaining representative of God's covenant nation holding the Davidic throne.

Words-group analysis:

• "take thou up a lamentation": This phrase emphasizes the performative and prophetic nature of Ezekiel's task. He is to enact the mourning, effectively signaling that the subject of the lament (the princes) are already judged as if deceased. It is a pronouncement of inevitable doom wrapped in poetic form.
• "a lamentation for the princes of Israel": The combination highlights that God's judgment specifically targets the failed leadership of the nation. The form of the prophecy—a funeral dirge—is intensely damning, signifying that the current royal house has utterly failed and is condemned to utter demise and disrepute. It represents a spiritual death verdict before their physical or political end.

Ezekiel 19 1 Bonus section

• The qinah meter used in the rest of chapter 19 (e.g., 3+2 stressed syllables per line) visually represents a limping or stumbling motion, perfectly fitting the stumbling and falling nature of Judah's last kings as depicted in the following verses.
• Prophetic laments often had a didactic purpose beyond expressing sorrow; they taught the people the gravity of their sin and God's just consequences, fostering repentance in the surviving remnant.
• The entire chapter 19 functions as an extended allegory, likening Judah's kings to young lions that become ensnared, consumed by the very nations they turned to or defied. This introductory verse sets the mournful tone for this detailed metaphor.
• The naming of the nasi' (prince) over melech (king) can also subtly imply that the Davidic covenant of kingship (2 Sam. 7) was not unconditional regarding the conduct of individual kings. While the covenant guaranteed a perpetual line, specific kings who acted contrary to God's will would face judgment and even removal, as depicted in this lament.

Ezekiel 19 1 Commentary

Ezekiel 19:1 is not merely a call to emotional grief but a divine indictment communicated through the powerful medium of a lamentation. The Lord commands Ezekiel, as His prophet, to "take up" this dirge, underscoring its prophetic weight and authority. It announces, in mournful poetic form, the tragic downfall awaiting the rulers of Judah, here deliberately termed "princes" rather than "kings" to reflect their diminished standing in God's eyes due to their disobedience and reliance on human alliances over divine guidance.

This lament serves multiple purposes. For the exiles, it shatters any illusions about the security or divine favor of their remaining kings and the Jerusalem monarchy, preparing them for the reality of national desolation. For the generations to come, it provides a vivid, poignant example of divine justice concerning leadership: those entrusted with governing God's people are held to the highest standard, and their unrighteousness will inevitably lead to their downfall and the suffering of the nation. It transforms the act of mourning from passive sorrow into an active, prophetic declaration of divine judgment against failed shepherd-kings.