Ezekiel 19 13

Ezekiel 19:13 kjv

And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.

Ezekiel 19:13 nkjv

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

Ezekiel 19:13 niv

Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land.

Ezekiel 19:13 esv

Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

Ezekiel 19:13 nlt

Now the vine is transplanted to the wilderness,
where the ground is hard and dry.

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 13 Meaning

Ezekiel 19:13 describes the devastating outcome for Judah and its Davidic dynasty, utilizing the metaphor of a once-flourishing vine violently uprooted and re-situated into a barren, lifeless environment. It signifies the complete desolation of the nation, the end of its former glory and power, and its forced relocation into Babylonian exile. The "wilderness," "dry," and "thirsty land" symbolize a place utterly devoid of hope, life-sustaining resources, and any potential for regrowth or prosperity, emphasizing the finality and severity of God's judgment upon Israel.

Ezekiel 19 13 Context

Ezekiel 19 is a funeral lament, or qinah, specifically for the princes and leaders of Israel, depicting the downfall of the Davidic dynasty and the nation of Judah. It is divided into two allegories: the first (verses 1-9) portrays the rulers of Judah as lion cubs captured and taken into exile (referring to Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin). The second (verses 10-14) metaphorically describes Israel as a majestic vine, initially strong and fruitful, but which then becomes proud and rebellious, leading to its destruction. Verse 13 specifically describes the final act of this destruction, where the vine, having already lost its strength and splendor (vs. 10-12), is brutally uprooted and replanted in an infertile, distant land. This points directly to the Babylonian exile, where Judah, with its king Zedekiah, was utterly decimated and deported to a foreign land. Historically, this prophecy encapsulates the tragedy following the sieges of Jerusalem (597 BC and 586 BC), resulting in the exile of its populace, a punishment for covenant breaking and idolatry. The use of a lament underscores the finality and despair of the situation, challenging any remaining illusions of national resilience or divine immunity from judgment due to God's presence in the temple.

Ezekiel 19 13 Word analysis

• Now she is transplanted: The Hebrew verb is נֶטְּשָׁה (nettᵉshāh), from נָטַשׁ (natash), which commonly means "to abandon," "to forsake," "to cast off," or "to let fall." While it can sometimes imply planting (as in Eze 17:6, 10 referring to God planting a vine), here its dominant sense, coupled with "wilderness" and "dry land," denotes a violent, non-beneficial abandonment or removal, signifying expulsion rather than nurturing growth. It suggests God's judgment has led to Israel being cast away into a hostile environment, an irreversible abandonment of their cherished homeland. The action is forceful and permanent, leaving no hope of thriving.
• to the wilderness: The Hebrew word is מִדְבָּר (midbār), referring to a desert, steppe, or sparsely inhabited region. In biblical usage, the "wilderness" often signifies a place of divine judgment, testing, wandering, or desolation (as Israel wandered for 40 years). Here, it implies an inhospitable, non-cultivable region, antithetical to the fertile land of Judah. It represents a state of national degradation and extreme hardship in exile, away from the life-sustaining presence of God in His temple and the Promised Land's natural bounty.
• into a dry: The Hebrew is צִיָּה (tziyyah), meaning "dryness," "parched ground," "waste." This emphasizes the extreme aridity and barrenness of the land. It denotes an environment utterly incapable of sustaining life or growth, particularly for a vine (which requires abundant water). It visually conveys the absolute deprivation Judah would experience.
• and thirsty land: The Hebrew for "thirsty" is צָמָא (tzamā'), meaning "thirst." This reinforces the preceding "dry" state. It indicates an active lack of water, a fundamental element for life and fruitfulness. Combined with "dry," it paints a vivid picture of utter desolation, implying not just physical thirst for water but spiritual deprivation, separation from the divine blessings and life source that once flowed freely in the Promised Land. This imagery highlights the complete loss of all things that give life and hope to the exiled nation.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Now she is transplanted to the wilderness": This phrase dramatically signals a change of location for Judah, one that is not by choice but by force, implying a profound disruption and loss of agency. The imagery of a 'transplant' might evoke care or purposeful relocation, but paired with 'wilderness,' it underscores abandonment, not nurture. The former beauty and strength are now completely irrelevant in this new, harsh reality. This emphasizes the irreversible nature of the judgment, shifting the people from a promised land of plenty to a cursed place of nothingness.
• "into a dry and thirsty land": This powerful descriptive phrase encapsulates the complete barrenness and hostility of the place of exile (Babylon), specifically emphasizing the absence of life-giving water. For an agricultural society, dependent on rain and springs, this metaphor paints a picture of utter desolation, where no vine (Israel) could possibly flourish. It suggests a future devoid of nourishment, prosperity, or restoration in their current state, signifying the crushing weight of divine judgment and the extreme suffering of the exiled people. It points to a literal and spiritual wilderness, where the covenant promises of abundant life seem utterly negated.

Ezekiel 19 13 Bonus section

The lament form (qinah), marked by a characteristic "limping" rhythm often seen in Hebrew poetry (e.g., lines with 3+2 or 4+3 beats), profoundly impacts the emotional weight of Ezekiel 19:13. This broken meter perfectly conveys the brokenness, sorrow, and irreversible downfall of Judah. Furthermore, the imagery of a magnificent vine contrasts sharply with its desolation, heightening the tragedy and emphasizing how far the nation had fallen from its divine potential. The repeated vine motif in prophecy (Isa 5, Jer 2, Hos 10) also acts as a prophetic critique; Israel, God's chosen vine, had instead become a wild or barren plant, thereby deserving its abandonment to an uninhabitable environment. The "transplanting" can also be seen as an ironic fulfillment of God's earlier promises to "plant" Israel securely in the land (Ps 44:2, Jer 2:21) – now they are planted elsewhere, not for life, but for the experience of divine judgment and consequences of unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 19 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 19:13 starkly portrays the consequences of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness, leveraging potent horticultural and geographic imagery to convey absolute despair. The 'transplanting' (נָטַשׁ) is not for renewal but for decay, symbolizing the violent removal of the Davidic kingdom from its secure foundation in the Promised Land to the harsh realities of exile. The "wilderness" is not merely a geographic location but a symbol of national stripping, a place where all human effort at sustenance or revival is futile. The dual descriptors, "dry and thirsty land," leave no ambiguity: this is a realm devoid of life-giving resources—physical or spiritual—a direct result of forsaking the God who is the "fountain of living waters" (Jer 2:13). This verse serves as a sober reminder that covenant disobedience leads to a reversal of God's blessings, culminating in desolation and a severe loss of national identity and divine favor, signifying the apparent death of the Abrahamic and Davidic promises in their literal sense. It is a profound declaration that Judah has utterly failed and forfeited its blessed inheritance.