Ezekiel 19 2

Ezekiel 19:2 kjv

And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.

Ezekiel 19:2 nkjv

and say: 'What is your mother? A lioness: She lay down among the lions; Among the young lions she nourished her cubs.

Ezekiel 19:2 niv

and say: "?'What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.

Ezekiel 19:2 esv

and say: What was your mother? A lioness! Among lions she crouched; in the midst of young lions she reared her cubs.

Ezekiel 19:2 nlt

"What is your mother?
A lioness among lions!
She lay down among the young lions
and reared her cubs.

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 2 Meaning

This verse introduces a mournful lament concerning the royal line of Judah, personified as a lioness (representing the nation or the Davidic dynasty) who raises her "cubs" (the kings) amidst a predatory environment. The rhetorical question, "What was your mother?" immediately sets a somber tone, pointing to the inherent nature of the royal family's oppressive and aggressive tendencies, inherited from their "mother" kingdom. It describes Judah's leaders not as protectors but as fierce, powerful, and ultimately destructive figures, acting like wild beasts among other nations.

Ezekiel 19 2 Context

Ezekiel chapter 19 is a "lamentation" (Hebrew: qina) concerning the princes, or kings, of Israel. This particular verse (19:2) initiates the first of two allegories within the chapter, both employing botanical and zoological imagery. The primary context is the rapidly deteriorating state of the kingdom of Judah and the tragic downfall of its last kings, leading up to the final destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC.

Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon, receives and relays messages from God to his fellow exiles, often through vivid parables, visions, and symbolic actions. This lament specifically mourns the kings who reigned after the death of Josiah, namely Jehoahaz (Shallum), Jehoiakim, and Jehoiachin, and implicitly foreshadows Zedekiah's fate. The historical reality is that these kings faced political instability, becoming pawns or prisoners of competing world powers (Egypt and Babylon), ultimately leading to Judah's demise. The chapter’s purpose is to highlight the failures of Judah's leadership—their predatory nature and the resulting divine judgment—rather than offering solace.

Ezekiel 19 2 Word analysis

• And say (וֶאֱמֹר֙ - ve'emor): This is an imperative verb, a direct command from the Lord to the prophet Ezekiel. It signals the beginning of a divine oracle or prophetic message meant for public proclamation. It underscores the divine origin and authority behind this severe indictment.
• What (מָה - mah): An interrogative particle, not simply asking for information, but posing a rhetorical question. It's meant to compel reflection and reveal the essence or inherent character of the subject, suggesting a shocking or deeply problematic nature. "What sort of...?" or "What kind of...?"
• your mother (אִמְּךָ֙ - imm'ka): This feminine noun literally means "your mother." In this context, it is a personification, referring metaphorically to the kingdom of Judah, the royal Davidic dynasty, or even Jerusalem itself. It signifies the source, origin, and character that shaped the kings who sprang from her.
• A lioness (לְבִיָּ֖א - l'viyah): A female lion, symbolizing strength, ferocity, royalty, and danger. While Judah (from Gen 49:9) is depicted as a lion, here the lioness denotes predatory, aggressive, and often destructive qualities rather than noble protection. This image immediately establishes the ruling house as a power to be feared and one that preys.
• among lions! (בֵּין־אֲרָי֑וֹת - bein-arayot): The preposition "among" (bein) indicates the environment. "Arayot" are male or adult lions. This suggests that the "mother" (Judah/dynasty) operated within a world of powerful, often aggressive nations (like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon) that were themselves "lions" vying for power. It underscores the shared nature and the dangerous context of their existence, where they adapted to a predatory way of life.
• She couched (רָבְצָ֣ה - ravatzah): This verb suggests lying down, resting, or settling. It implies an established presence, perhaps watchful readiness, or even an inherent nature that is at home in its surroundings. It depicts the lioness's comfortable and settled existence within her predatory sphere.
• among young lions (בְּתֹוךְ֩ כְּפִרִ֨ים - b'toch k'firīm): "B'toch" means "in the midst of" or "among." "K'firīm" refers to stronger, growing lion cubs, implying adolescents or younger adult lions. This emphasizes that the environment in which the "mother" existed, and subsequently nurtured her "cubs," was filled with similar aggressive entities, perpetuating the predatory cycle.
• She reared her cubs (וַתְּגַדֵּ֬ל גוּרֶ֙יהָ֙ - vatt'gaddēl gureyha): "Vatt'gaddel" means "she brought up" or "she made great," highlighting the active role of the "mother" in training and developing her offspring. "Gureyha" are smaller, younger cubs, still fully dependent on the mother. This shows the nurturing of potential leaders in the image of their predatory "mother."
• among young lions (בְּתֹוךְ כְּפִרִֽים - b'toch k'firīm): The repetition of this phrase from earlier in the verse emphasizes and reinforces the pervasive nature of the predatory environment and the consistent character being instilled in the successive generations of kings. It highlights the full immersion of the "cubs" in this destructive atmosphere, leading them to embody the same characteristics.

Ezekiel 19 2 Bonus section

The use of varied Hebrew terms for "lion" within such a short verse (l'viyah, arayot, k'firīm, gureyha) is highly deliberate. It suggests different stages and aspects of the lion metaphor: from the mature "lioness" (the originating dynasty/kingdom), to the general category of "lions" (other nations or perhaps earlier powerful rulers), to "young lions" (strong, growing cubs like Jehoahaz or Jehoiachin, still potent but under influence), and then specifically "cubs" (the direct offspring, perhaps still developing their full ferocity). This nuanced vocabulary deepens the image, painting a complete generational picture of power, succession, and decay within the Judahite royalty. It is a dirge not merely over individuals but over the corrupted trajectory of a once-great kingdom's leadership.

Ezekiel 19 2 Commentary

Ezekiel 19:2 is the evocative opening of a prophetic lament that profoundly critiques the final kings of Judah. By portraying the nation or the Davidic dynasty as a "lioness" and her subsequent kings as her "cubs," Ezekiel immediately paints a picture of a royal house characterized by fierce strength and predatory actions. While the lion could symbolize Judah's royal authority (Gen 49:9), here its portrayal focuses on destructive tendencies rather than protective majesty. The "mother" embodies a royal system that has become self-serving, oppressive to its own people, and dangerously aggressive in its interactions with other "lion" nations.

The phrase "she couched among young lions, she reared her cubs among young lions" vividly conveys an inherited and cultivated character. It suggests that these kings, instead of embodying justice and faithfulness to Yahweh, absorbed and manifested the same destructive appetite for power and dominion that marked their political environment. The emphasis is on the upbringing and setting of these "cubs," who were raised to be fierce and ambitious, ultimately to their own ruin and the downfall of their people. This prophetic lament highlights how Judah's kings, though powerful like lions, failed to exercise their power righteously, leading them into divine judgment and foreign captivity.