Ezekiel 19 5

Ezekiel 19:5 kjv

Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.

Ezekiel 19:5 nkjv

'When she saw that she waited, that her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.

Ezekiel 19:5 niv

"?'When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.

Ezekiel 19:5 esv

When she saw that she waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.

Ezekiel 19:5 nlt

"When the lioness saw
that her hopes for him were gone,
she took another of her cubs
and taught him to be a strong young lion.

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 5 Meaning

(h2)This verse describes the despair and subsequent human effort of the "lioness," symbolizing the kingdom of Judah or its royal lineage, after her previous king (her first "cub") was taken captive. Seeing her hope for his return or for the stability he might have brought vanish, she actively took another of her princely offspring and invested in him, "making him a young lion" or establishing him as a potent, reigning king, hoping he would succeed where the first failed. It highlights the kingdom's reliance on human leadership and successive attempts to restore strength and dominion apart from God's righteous decree, amidst ongoing divine judgment.

Ezekiel 19 5 Context

(h2)Ezekiel 19 is a funeral lament, or dirge, that the prophet Ezekiel is commanded to recite for the princes of Israel. This chapter uses an extended allegory of a lioness and her cubs, depicting the rise and fall of Judah's kings immediately preceding the Babylonian exile. The "lioness" represents the dynastic line of Judah, specifically the line of King Josiah, or even the nation of Judah itself, while the "cubs" are her royal sons who succeeded to the throne. Verse 5 follows the description of the first cub (Jehoahaz), who was taken captive to Egypt. It narrates the kingdom's subsequent act of trying to recover from this blow by establishing a new king. The historical context is critical: after Jehoahaz's swift removal by Pharaoh Neco, his older brother Jehoiakim was placed on the throne, followed by Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin. Many scholars see the first "cub" as Jehoahaz and the second "cub" as Jehoiachin, whose short reign was followed by capture and exile to Babylon, embodying the 'lioness's' repeated, frustrated efforts and ultimate doom.

Ezekiel 19 5 Word analysis

(h2)(ul)

• When she saw (וַתֵּרֶא - va-tteh'-re): Derived from ra'ah, "to see." This signifies Judah's recognition of its dire situation after the first king's captivity. It's a perception of failure and despair, a crucial turning point initiating a new, yet similarly doomed, course of action.
• that she waited (yi-ḥă-lāh): From the root yachal, meaning "to wait, to hope, to be patient, to long for." The Hebrew conveys a sense of eager anticipation or prolonged expectation. The lioness was not passive but had invested hope and waited anxiously, likely for the return of the first cub or for a positive outcome concerning him and the kingdom's stability.
• and her hope (תִּקְוָתָהּ - tiq-wā-ṯāh): From tiqvah, meaning "cord, expectation, hope." This "hope" is a profound longing or a reliance on a future prospect. Here, it refers to the deep national aspiration for a strong, stable monarchy, and perhaps the return of the exiled king or a restoration of power, which proved to be groundless.
• was lost (אָבְדָה - ʾā-ḇə-ḏāh): From avad, meaning "to perish, to be lost, to vanish." This emphasizes the complete cessation or destruction of the previous expectation. It denotes utter disillusionment, signifying the divine judgment at work rendering human hope futile.
• then she took (וַתִּקַּח - vat-tiq-qaḥ): From laqach, "to take, to seize, to acquire." This action is deliberate and proactive. Despite despair, Judah does not give up, but actively selects and empowers another leader.
• another (אַחֵר - ʾa-ḥêr): Implies a replacement, a second attempt, highlighting a persistent human pattern of trying different solutions when the first fails, rather than turning to God.
• of her cubs (מִכְּפִירֶיהָ - mik-kə-p̄ī-re-hā): From kefir, referring to a young lion, typically one that has grown strong enough to hunt but is not yet fully mature or independent. It conveys vigor and potential power, a fitting description for a king or prince, chosen for his supposed strength and capacity to rule.
• and made him (שָׂמַתּוּ - śā-mat-tu): From sum/sim, "to put, to place, to appoint, to set." This denotes an active installation or establishment, signifying the coronation and setting up of the new king. It indicates a human-driven attempt to fill the void and restore power, reflecting political machinations rather than divine guidance.
• a young lion (כְּפִיר - kə-p̄îr): Again, kefir. Repetition underscores the role given to this new king – that of a strong, dominant leader expected to restore the lost glory and protect the kingdom. This phrase epitomizes the human desire for a powerful monarch even as God's judgment was clearly against their autonomous rule.

(ul)

• "When she saw that she waited, and her hope was lost": This phrase encapsulates the process of despair. Judah first had a period of earnest, prolonged expectation, likely for the return of Jehoahaz (the first cub). When this expectation finally proved to be baseless—Jehoahaz did not return, and the geopolitical situation did not improve—her tiqvah or national hope "perished." This moment of dashed hope leads directly to the next desperate action, illustrating Judah's repeated cycle of misplaced reliance on human strength.
• "then she took another of her cubs, and made him a young lion": This marks the shift from passive waiting and lost hope to proactive, human-centered response. The "taking another" shows the continued desire to secure the throne and maintain a semblance of control. "Made him a young lion" speaks to the royal accession, the efforts to empower him, and the hopes placed upon him to fill the void left by the previous, failed king. It underscores the recurring pattern in Judah's history of prioritizing human kings over reliance on divine guidance and obedience to the covenant.

Ezekiel 19 5 Bonus section

(h2)(ul)

• The use of kefir (young lion) for both the cubs emphasizes that Judah repeatedly produced kings who had potential and strength but were ultimately ineffective and subject to divine judgment, mirroring their predecessors' fate. The repetition also underlines the inherent, but ultimately failed, attempts to continue a powerful dynasty.
• The "lioness" metaphor not only refers to the mother but can also subtly evoke the powerful imagery associated with ancient Near Eastern goddesses or queens, subverting any pride in such associations by showing Judah's actual powerlessness and sorrow.
• The act of "making" (שָׂמַתּוּ - śā-mat-tu) the cub a young lion is distinct from God raising up a king. This choice of verb indicates human installation, suggesting it was an act based on their own will and political maneuvering, perhaps not truly in alignment with God's choosing for their preservation. This aligns with themes of rejecting divine guidance for human schemes.
• The narrative serves as a warning against placing ultimate trust in political leaders or national strength. No matter how many "young lions" they install, without God's favor and repentance, the outcome remains predetermined by His judgment.

Ezekiel 19 5 Commentary

(h2)Ezekiel 19:5 continues the lament for the fallen monarchy of Judah, highlighting the tragic cycle of human-led political responses in the face of divine judgment. The "lioness" is the embodiment of the Judean state or its ruling dynasty, experiencing profound disappointment as her efforts to secure a strong monarchical succession fail. The verb "waited" signifies a hopeful expectation for the return or effective rule of her previously captured "cub" (Jehoahaz). When this hope evaporated, demonstrating the irreversible nature of God's judgment and the futility of relying on a king already divinely removed, she reacted by installing "another of her cubs." This second cub, historically interpreted as Jehoiachin, was rapidly elevated, demonstrating the desperate attempt to restore the kingdom's strength. "Made him a young lion" implies an act of conferring authority and fostering a sense of royal power, even in a dire context of imperial subjugation. This verse critiques the kingdom's persistence in relying on human kings and their perceived strength rather than acknowledging God's sovereignty over their national fate. It illustrates that continuous human efforts to restore perceived strength, apart from a turn to the Lord, are doomed to repetition and failure.