Ezekiel 19 12

Ezekiel 19:12 kjv

But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.

Ezekiel 19:12 nkjv

But she was plucked up in fury, She was cast down to the ground, And the east wind dried her fruit. Her strong branches were broken and withered; The fire consumed them.

Ezekiel 19:12 niv

But it was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.

Ezekiel 19:12 esv

But the vine was plucked up in fury, cast down to the ground; the east wind dried up its fruit; they were stripped off and withered. As for its strong stem, fire consumed it.

Ezekiel 19:12 nlt

But the vine was uprooted in fury
and thrown down to the ground.
The desert wind dried up its fruit
and tore off its strong branches,
so that it withered
and was destroyed by fire.

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 12 Meaning

Ezekiel 19:12 portrays the devastating judgment of God upon Judah, using the metaphor of a once-strong vine. The verse describes this vine, representing the nation and its leadership, being violently uprooted and cast to the ground due to divine wrath. A destructive "east wind," symbolizing God's judgment and the foreign invaders (Babylon), then desiccates its fruit and breaks its powerful branches. Finally, fire consumes the remains, signifying total destruction. This vivid imagery communicates the finality and severity of Judah's downfall due to persistent rebellion against God.

Ezekiel 19 12 Context

Ezekiel chapter 19 is a lament, or qinah, specifically addressed to the princes of Israel and by extension, the entire kingdom of Judah. It forms part of Ezekiel's prophetic messages during the Babylonian exile, prior to Jerusalem's final fall. The chapter uses two powerful allegories: a lioness raising cubs, which represents a succession of Judahite kings (like Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, who were captured and exiled), and a noble vine. Verse 12 transitions from the lion allegory to describe the fate of the vine. This vine symbolizes the nation of Judah, which, though originally planted by God with great promise, had become corrupted, especially its leadership. The historical context is dire: Judah has already suffered earlier deportations, and the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonians (586 BC) is imminent, signifying the end of their political independence and the devastation of their spiritual center. The verse expresses the utter certainty and severity of God's judgment against this persistent apostasy and moral decay, stripping away any lingering illusions of Judah's divine protection or invincibility.

Ezekiel 19 12 Word analysis

• But she was plucked up (וַתֵּנָּתַשׁ, vattēnattaš): This verb is in the Niphal (passive) perfect form of the root נָתַשׁ (natash), meaning "to pluck up," "root out," or "tear down." The passive voice emphasizes that the vine (Judah) is the object of a forceful, external action, clearly indicating divine intervention and not self-destruction. The immediacy implied by the consecutive perfect tense highlights the sudden and complete nature of the removal. It underscores the severity and finality of God's decisive act of judgment against His people.
• in fury (בְּחֵמָה, bᵉḥēmah): The preposition "in" (בְּ, be) indicates the manner or accompanying circumstance. Ḥēmah signifies "heat," "wrath," or "fury." This directly attributes the plucking up to divine anger and intense displeasure, emphasizing God's righteous indignation against Judah's unfaithfulness. It's not a cold, calculated action but one driven by moral outrage against sin.
• she was cast down to the ground (הוּטְּלָה לָאָרֶץ, hūṭṭᵉlāh lāʾāreṣ): Another Niphal (passive) perfect, from the root טוּל (ṭul), meaning "to cast," "hurl," or "throw down." The intensity is significant—not gently lowered, but violently flung to the earth. "To the ground" (lāʾāreṣ) denotes a position of utter humiliation, defeat, and lack of strength or stability. This confirms the complete devastation and rejection of the once-exalted vine.
• the east wind (רוּחַ קָדִים, rûaḥ qādîm): The "east wind" is a recurring biblical motif. Rûaḥ means "wind" or "spirit." Qādîm means "east." In the Levant, the east wind is typically a hot, dry, and destructive wind, originating from the desert. It symbolizes agents of divine judgment, desiccation, blight, and hostile invasion, often associated with powerful and destructive forces (e.g., locusts in Egypt, withering crops, scattering of exiles). Here, it most likely refers to the destructive Babylonian invasion and siege that dried up Judah's strength and prosperity.
• dried up her fruit (יִבֶּשֶׁת פִּרְיָהּ, yibbšat piryāh): Yābēsh means "to be dry," "wither," or "to put to shame." The fruit (piryāh, her fruit) represents the offspring, prosperity, good produce, or beneficial outcomes of the nation and its leaders. Its drying up indicates the cessation of national blessing, the end of prosperity, the failure of righteous works, and perhaps the destruction of its populace (future generations). It marks a spiritual and physical desolation.
• her strong branches (בְּחֶסֶן בַּדֶּיהָ, bᵉḥesen baddêhā): "Her branches" (baddêhā) metaphorically represent the princes, leaders, and vital components or population segments of the nation. The word ḥesen means "strength," "wealth," or "firmness." This highlights that even the seemingly robust and powerful elements of Judah, those who should have led and supported the nation, were not immune to judgment. Their perceived strength proved utterly ineffective against God's wrath.
• were broken off and withered (נִתְקָטוּ יָבֵשׁוּ, nitqāṭû yābēšû): Nitqāṭû (from נָתַק, nataq) means "to break off," "tear away." Yābēšû (from יָבֵשׁ, yabesh) means "wither," "dry up." Both are passive and describe the effect of the judgment. The branches, even strong ones, were not just damaged but completely detached and stripped of life. This signifies the removal or destruction of leadership and the loss of any vitality within the nation, resulting in spiritual and physical death.
• the fire consumed them (אֵשׁ אֲכָלָתַהּ, ʾēš ʾăḵālātahh): "Fire" (ʾēš) is a frequent biblical image for divine judgment, purification, and destruction. "Consumed" (ʾăḵālātahh, from אָכַל, ʾākhal) means "devoured," "eaten up." This represents the ultimate, absolute destruction of what remains—Jerusalem, its temple, and its inhabitants, by divine decree through the Babylonians. Fire symbolizes God's fierce, purifying wrath leaving nothing intact.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground": This dual declaration highlights the immediate and violent nature of God's decisive act. It communicates rejection and utter subjugation, stripping the vine (Judah) of its very roots and throwing it into a position of total defeat. The repetitive passive constructions ("was plucked up," "was cast down") underscore God's active role as the executor of judgment.
• "the east wind dried up her fruit; her strong branches were broken off and withered": This sequence illustrates the means and the progressive stages of destruction. The east wind acts as God's instrument, first causing internal desiccation (drying the fruit, representing prosperity and posterity), then external destruction of its key elements (strong branches, representing leaders or powerful societal structures). The order implies a internal rot preceding the outward collapse.
• "the fire consumed them": This concluding phrase presents the ultimate and irreversible end of the vine. Fire represents a complete and absolute annihilation, leaving nothing behind. It symbolizes God's complete and final judgment, emphasizing that all strength, vitality, and even remnants of the once-flourishing vine are utterly devoured.

Ezekiel 19 12 Bonus section

• The qinah or lament genre used in Ezekiel 19 (and elsewhere, e.g., Lamentations) is characterized by a distinctive rhythm in Hebrew poetry (a 3:2 or 4:3 stressed syllable pattern), which naturally lends itself to expressions of sorrow and brokenness. This structure is intended to evoke mourning in the audience, emphasizing the tragedy and gravity of Judah's fate.
• The "vine" metaphor (גֶּפֶן, gephen) is profoundly significant in biblical literature. It consistently represents Israel as God's chosen people, lovingly planted and nurtured, expected to bear good fruit for Him. Its destruction in Ezekiel 19 is thus a severe theological statement—a reversal of the promise and a sign of profound spiritual failure that incurred divine wrath.
• The destruction of "strong branches" is a direct commentary on the failures of Judah's successive kings and leaders, particularly Jehoahaz/Shallum and Jehoiachin mentioned earlier in the chapter. These were the "strong" ones who were supposed to bear good fruit and protect the nation, but their corruption and folly contributed to its downfall, and they themselves became victims of the invading power.
• The judgment described here is not portrayed as arbitrary but as the natural and inevitable consequence of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. It acts as a polemic against any false sense of security derived from their status as God's chosen people, or from the physical presence of the Temple in Jerusalem. God's moral governance transcends such superficial claims.

Ezekiel 19 12 Commentary

Ezekiel 19:12 provides a stark and powerful indictment of Judah's unfaithfulness, delivering an uncompromising prophecy of judgment through the metaphor of a violently destroyed vine. The verse conveys that Judah, despite its divine planting and cultivation, had become spiritually barren and politically corrupt, making divine intervention unavoidable. The active verbs and vivid imagery depict God as the primary agent behind this desolation, highlighting His righteous indignation ("in fury") against persistent sin. The "east wind" functions as a divinely appointed tool, signifying not just a natural disaster but the concrete historical reality of the Babylonian invasion, which relentlessly brought famine, destruction, and exile.

The sequence of events—uprooting, casting down, fruit drying, branches breaking, and finally, fire consuming—demonstrates a comprehensive and escalating form of destruction. It leaves no part of the once-proud nation untouched, systematically dismantling its foundations, its prosperity (fruit), its leadership (strong branches), and its very existence. This passage serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of national apostasy and rebellion against the covenant. It illustrates God's unyielding commitment to justice, even when it involves His chosen people. It signifies the end of an era for Judah, a purification through extreme suffering that would reshape their understanding of God's sovereignty and their own identity.