Ezekiel 19 14

Ezekiel 19:14 kjv

And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

Ezekiel 19:14 nkjv

Fire has come out from a rod of her branches And devoured her fruit, So that she has no strong branch? a scepter for ruling.' " This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.

Ezekiel 19:14 niv

Fire spread from one of its mainc branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler's scepter.' "This is a lament and is to be used as a lament."

Ezekiel 19:14 esv

And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots, has consumed its fruit, so that there remains in it no strong stem, no scepter for ruling. This is a lamentation and has become a lamentation.

Ezekiel 19:14 nlt

A fire has burst out from its branches
and devoured its fruit.
Its remaining limbs are not
strong enough to be a ruler's scepter.
"This is a funeral song, and it will be used in a funeral."

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 14 Meaning

This verse tragically concludes the lament, revealing that divine judgment, metaphorically portrayed as a consuming fire, has erupted from within Judah's royal line, destroying the nation's vital essence. This devastation renders Judah utterly bereft of any capable leader or a lasting dynastic successor, thereby permanently extinguishing its independent kingship and national sovereignty.

Ezekiel 19 14 Context

This verse is the mournful culmination of Ezekiel 19, a poetic lament (or qinah) delivered before the final destruction of Jerusalem. The chapter comprises two allegorical parables, both expressing profound sorrow over the impending end of Judah's monarchy. The first (verses 1-9) likens the royal line to a lioness whose cubs (Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin) are captured. The second, to which verse 14 belongs (verses 10-14), portrays the royal house of Judah as a once-magnificent vine whose "strong rods" (kings, including Zedekiah) are progressively broken and devoured.

Historically, this prophecy points to the successive Babylonian deportations. King Jehoahaz was exiled to Egypt, and Jehoiachin to Babylon. Zedekiah, the last king, was placed on the throne by Babylon but rebelled, leading to Jerusalem's complete overthrow in 586 BC. Ezekiel's lament reflects the bitter reality of Judah's leaders failing God, resulting in the divine judgment that terminated the Davidic kingdom's independent existence and national sovereignty, leaving the people leaderless and in exile.

Ezekiel 19 14 Word analysis

• "And a fire":

  • Hebrew: אֵשׁ (esh).
  • Significance: In biblical terms, fire often symbolizes divine judgment, cleansing, or consuming wrath. Here, it denotes destructive, overwhelming judgment from God, not an accidental occurrence, but a deliberate act.

• "is gone out":

  • Significance: This active phrase implies an origin or source. It signifies that the judgment is not just externally imposed but has sprung forth, implying it arose from within the entity being judged—in this case, the lineage or structures of Judah itself.

• "of a rod of her branches":

  • Hebrew: מַטֶּה (matteh) can mean "rod," "staff," "branch," "tribe." בַּדִּים (baddim) are "branches" or "parts."
  • Significance: This phrase connects directly to the preceding vine allegory, where "branches" referred to the royal offspring who became strong rulers (Ezek 19:10-11). The "fire" originating from these very "rods" or "branches" tragically illustrates that the destructive forces—sin, corruption, unfaithfulness, and rebellion against God—emanated from Judah's own leadership, bringing about God's consuming judgment upon them and their nation.

• "which hath devoured her fruit":

  • Hebrew: אָכְלָה (akhĕlāh) means "consumed" or "eaten." "Fruit" symbolizes the nation's produce, prosperity, future generations, welfare, and any positive outcomes of its existence.
  • Significance: The judgment did not spare any part; it consumed the vital output and future potential of the kingdom. This indicates the comprehensive and devastating nature of God's wrath, leaving nothing of value remaining to sustain the nation.

• "so that she hath no strong rod":

  • Hebrew: מַטֶּה (matteh) again for "rod," referring to a leader or a branch capable of authority. "Strong" denotes resilience, capability, and suitability for rule.
  • Significance: This states the direct consequence: the judgment ensures that no qualified or divinely chosen successor capable of upholding the kingdom remains. The lineage of capable leadership is broken and gone.

• "to be a sceptre to rule":

  • Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט (shevet) specifically means "scepter," the recognized symbol of royal authority, governance, and power. מָשַׁל (mashal) means "to rule" or "to have dominion."
  • Significance: This declares the definitive end of the Davidic dynasty's independent sovereignty and Judah's political autonomy. There is no legitimate king to take the throne, no scepter to represent royal power, and thus, no native rule.

• "and no more a rod for dominion":

  • Significance: This reiterates and emphatically reinforces the preceding declaration. The repetition emphasizes the complete and utter termination of Judah's capacity to govern itself or assert its authority. It leaves no room for any future re-establishment of their independent rule by human means, solidifying the despair of the lament.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And a fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit": This powerfully communicates that the kingdom's self-destruction, fueled by the moral and spiritual corruption of its leadership, invited and enabled divine judgment. The internal failing ("out of a rod of her branches") led to comprehensive destruction that consumed the "fruit," symbolizing all that was valuable and potentially prosperous in the nation, from its economy to its people and future generations.
  • "so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule, and no more a rod for dominion": This entire clause conveys the tragic and absolute finality of Judah's earthly monarchy. The language of "no strong rod" and "no more a rod for dominion" emphatically concludes that the line of leadership capable of restoring national sovereignty and independence has been completely eradicated by God's judgment. It underscores a profound loss of power, identity, and the very right to rule itself.

Ezekiel 19 14 Bonus section

• The qinah or lament genre used in Ezekiel 19, including this verse, typically features an unbalanced poetic meter, which evokes a sense of brokenness and sorrow, fitting a funeral dirge for a nation and its royal line.
• This verse stands as a powerful theological statement: even divinely established institutions like kingship are subject to God's judgment if they deviate from His ways. The "rod" or "sceptre," symbols of authority given by God, become the source or focus of judgment when misused.
• The devastating finality presented here ("no strong rod... no more a rod for dominion") creates an immediate void and an ultimate longing for a righteous ruler. This sets the stage for the prophetic hope of a Messiah—the one true and eternal King—who will later emerge from a "stump" (Isa 11:1), restoring the ultimate scepter not through human lineage alone, but by divine intervention.

Ezekiel 19 14 Commentary

Ezekiel 19:14 marks the sorrowful climax of a dirge for the Judean monarchy. The imagery is profoundly impactful: "fire" symbolizes God's consuming judgment, revealing divine displeasure with the kingdom's trajectory. Crucially, this fire does not come from an external source but "out of a rod of her branches," meaning the destruction was ultimately an outgrowth of the leadership's own sin and rebellion against God. Their unrighteous actions sparked the judgment that consumed the very "fruit" of the nation – its prosperity, people, and future hope. The lament culminates in the stark declaration that Judah is now stripped of its ability to raise a capable leader or a lasting sovereign: it has "no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule, and no more a rod for dominion." This signifies the absolute end of the independent Davidic kingdom's rule and national sovereignty due to their grievous apostasy. The verse thus serves as a grim explanation for the impending exile and the obliteration of a once-glorious monarchy, highlighting God's righteous governance over human kingdoms.