Ezekiel 19 6

Ezekiel 19:6 kjv

And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.

Ezekiel 19:6 nkjv

He roved among the lions, And became a young lion; He learned to catch prey; He devoured men.

Ezekiel 19:6 niv

He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.

Ezekiel 19:6 esv

He prowled among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men,

Ezekiel 19:6 nlt

He prowled among the other lions
and stood out among them in his strength.
He learned to hunt and devour prey,
and he, too, became a man-eater.

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 6 Meaning

Ezekiel 19:6 describes one of Judah's young kings as a "young lion" who asserted his power and ruthlessly oppressed his own people. This verse portrays him moving actively within the sphere of authority, rapidly maturing into a predatory ruler, and engaging in violence and injustice against the "men"—the people he was meant to protect. It signifies the king's transition from a hopeful successor to a tyrannical leader whose reign brought devastation rather than security.

Ezekiel 19 6 Context

Ezekiel chapter 19 is a lament (qina) for the princes of Israel, using two extended metaphors: first, a lioness and her cubs, and second, a vine. Verse 6 falls within the lioness metaphor, describing the second cub's (likely King Jehoiakim or Jehoiachin) destructive reign. The chapter's broader historical context is the period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile. The kings of Judah, instead of being divinely appointed shepherds, became predatory rulers, exploiting their own people. This conduct ultimately led to God's judgment, as signified by their capture and removal by foreign powers, bringing about the downfall of Judah and Jerusalem, mirroring the fate of the "cubs" taken away.

Ezekiel 19 6 Word analysis

• And he went up and down (וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ – vayyithallekh):
  • Root הָלַךְ (halakh) means "to walk" or "go." The Hithpael conjugation suggests a frequentative or intense, purposeful movement.
  • Signifies actively asserting dominance and control within a given territory or sphere of influence.
  • This implies a dynamic, rather busy engagement in leadership, but not necessarily for good.
• among the lions (בֵּין לְבָאִים – bein leva'im):
  • Bein means "among" or "between." Leva'im is the plural of לָבִיא (lavi), meaning "lion."
  • Suggests operating in an environment of power or surrounded by other strong, potentially predatory figures (e.g., foreign powers, internal factions, or even the previous king's advisors who exemplified similar destructive traits).
  • This king either learned from or vied with other powerful entities.
• he became a young lion (כְּפִיר הָיָה – k'fîr hāyāh):
  • Hayah means "he became" or "he was." Kefir refers to a young lion, typically one that has outgrown being a mere cub and is at the peak of its predatory power and aggressiveness, but not yet old and established.
  • Signifies a rapid development or transformation from a princely state into a ruthless, fully active predatory ruler. This isn't just a metaphor for a king; it’s a specific kind of powerful and dangerous king.
• and learned to catch prey (וַיִּלְמַד לִטְרֹף טֶרֶף – vayyilmad liṭrōf ṭeref):
  • Vayyilemad means "and he learned," indicating a deliberate acquisition of skill.
  • Litrof (from טָרַף – taraph) means "to tear" or "to catch/devour prey." Ṭeref means "prey" or "booty."
  • Implies intentional, developed skill in exploitation, extracting resources, or oppressing others, going beyond mere impulsive action to calculated tyranny.
• he devoured men (אָדָם אָכַל – ’āḏām ’ākhāl):
  • ’Akhal means "he ate" or "devoured." ’Ādām means "man" or "mankind."
  • This is the most damning phrase, specifying that the "prey" was not animals, but his own people. It denotes direct harm, injustice, violence, and even literal execution against the population, not merely abstract political machinations. It’s an ultimate indictment of a leader.

Ezekiel 19 6 Bonus section

The metaphor of the lion and its cubs in Ezekiel 19 has profound theological implications. It presents a divine critique of Judah's monarchy, emphasizing that even leaders born into royalty, and thus carrying an expectation of divine blessing and responsibility, can quickly devolve into instruments of injustice. This narrative implicitly warns against relying solely on pedigree or established institutions if they lack spiritual integrity and ethical governance. The repeated downfall of the "cubs" serves as a direct indictment from God that He actively removes corrupt leaders who violate their covenantal obligations. The 'young lion' imagery, while suggesting strength, ultimately highlights unchecked power that turns against its own.

Ezekiel 19 6 Commentary

Ezekiel 19:6 encapsulates the tragic failure of leadership in Judah, illustrating the transition from royal lineage to predatory rule through the powerful "young lion" metaphor. The king in view, instead of acting as a shepherd protecting his flock, embodied the worst instincts of power—aggression, opportunism, and destructive consumption of his subjects. His active "going up and down" speaks to a vigorous but malign exercise of authority, and his transformation into a "young lion" signifies a formidable, untamed, and rapacious nature. The key indictment comes in his "learning to catch prey" and, more horrifyingly, that "he devoured men." This is not an accident of power but a deliberate, practiced system of exploitation and injustice that afflicted the very people he was ordained to serve and protect. This predatory behavior ultimately undermined the kingdom from within and invited divine judgment, leading to its downfall.