Ezekiel 19 8

Ezekiel 19:8 kjv

Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.

Ezekiel 19:8 nkjv

Then the nations set against him from the provinces on every side, And spread their net over him; He was trapped in their pit.

Ezekiel 19:8 niv

Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit.

Ezekiel 19:8 esv

Then the nations set against him from provinces on every side; they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit.

Ezekiel 19:8 nlt

Then the armies of the nations attacked him,
surrounding him from every direction.
They threw a net over him
and captured him in their pit.

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 8 Meaning

Ezekiel 19:8 vividly describes the swift and complete capture of the king of Judah (likely Jehoiachin), depicted as a young lion, by foreign nations. Using hunting metaphors, it portrays the overwhelming force of surrounding enemies who meticulously set snares and nets to ensnare him, ultimately succeeding in trapping him in their destructive pit, symbolizing his captivity and downfall. This highlights the inevitable consequence of a nation’s departure from God, leading to judgment executed through external powers.

Ezekiel 19 8 Context

Ezekiel chapter 19 is a lamentation, or a dirge, for the princes of Israel. It employs the metaphor of a lioness whose two young lions (whelps) are taken captive. The first whelp in the lament (vv. 3-4) is widely understood to be Jehoahaz, who was captured by Pharaoh Neco and taken to Egypt (2 Ki 23:31-34). The second whelp (vv. 5-9) is most commonly identified as Jehoiachin, who reigned for only three months and ten days before being taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki 24:8-15; 2 Chr 36:9-10). Verse 8 specifically refers to this second whelp, lamenting his capture and the humiliating end of his brief reign. Historically, Judah had become a vassal state, constantly caught between the superpowers of Egypt and Babylon. The "nations round about" here are the instrument of God's judgment, likely referring to the Babylonian forces and possibly their allied or tributary peoples from various regions who participated in the siege and capture of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 19 8 Word analysis

• Then the nations (וַיִּתְּנוּ עָלָיו גּוֹיִם - vayyitt'nû ʿālāyw gōyīm):
  • וַיִּתְּנוּ (vayyitt'nû): The verb "gave" or "set." In this context, it implies an active, deliberate setting of traps. It indicates a focused, intentional effort on the part of the adversaries.
  • גּוֹיִם (gōyīm): Literally "nations," often used in the Old Testament to refer to the gentile, non-Israelite peoples. Here, they are presented as adversaries and instruments of God's judgment against Judah. These are not just any nations but specific forces allied with Babylon that surrounded and conquered Jerusalem.
• round about him from the provinces on every side (סְבִיבָיו מִמְּדִינוֹת מִסָּבִיב - səḇîḇāw mimmədînōwṯ missāḇîḇ):
  • סְבִיבָיו (səḇîḇāw): "Round about him," emphasizing the complete encirclement of the "lion" (king) by his enemies, indicating no escape route.
  • מִמְּדִינוֹת (mimmədînōwṯ): "From the provinces/districts." This suggests organized, administrative regions, implying that the forces brought against Jerusalem were mobilized from various parts of the Babylonian empire, showcasing its vast reach and the systematic nature of the conquest. It highlights the official, governmental nature of the assault, not merely a random raid.
  • מִסָּבִיב (missāḇîḇ): "On every side," an intensifying repetition of the idea of "round about," reinforcing the thoroughness of the siege and the complete absence of a way out for the trapped king.
• and they spread their net over him (וַיִּפְרְשׂוּ עָלָיו רִשְׁתָּם - wayyifrəsû ʿālāyw rišṯām):
  • וַיִּפְרְשׂוּ (wayyifrəsû): "And they spread out." This verb signifies the careful and deliberate deployment of the trapping device, showing the strategic approach of the adversaries.
  • רִשְׁתָּם (rišṯām): "Their net." A common hunting tool, the net here is a powerful metaphor for capture, ensnaring, and entrapment. It represents the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the political and military encirclement.
• and he was caught in their pit. (בְּשַׁחַת וַיַּעַל לַאֲדֹמֶה - bəšaḥaṯ wayyaʿal laʾădōmeh):
  • בְּשַׁחַת (bəšaḥaṯ): "In the pit" or "into destruction." Shaḥaṯ is a strong word, often meaning "pit," "ditch," "decay," "corruption," or "destruction." In a hunting context, it denotes a deep hole used as a trap. Its usage here emphasizes the fatal and inescapable nature of the trap set for the king. It can also imply a sense of moral degradation or a path to ruin.
  • וַיַּעַל לַאֲדֹמֶה (wayyaʿal laʾădōmeh): Literally "and he went up to destruction" or "he came up into their pit." While wayyaʿal usually means "and he ascended" or "went up," in this context, when combined with `bəšaḥaṯ` and `laʾădōmeh`, it conveys being drawn up from a concealed pit into the visible snare or perhaps being raised from an unfortunate situation only to fall into an even worse one—complete capture and loss of freedom. The term `לַאֲדֹמֶה` is textually challenging but commonly interpreted as meaning "into their pit," "into their destruction," or "unto their land of death/redness." The most fitting contextual interpretation aligns with being fully snared or captured, highlighting his inescapable doom.

Ezekiel 19 8 Bonus section

The "dirge" or "lamentation" (Hebrew: qînâ) format of Ezekiel 19 is distinct, characterized by its elegiac tone and a typical 3+2 metrical rhythm, which mimics a funeral song. This literary form elevates the tragedy of Judah's kings, not merely as political defeats but as profound national losses, comparable to the death of a significant figure. The use of animal metaphors—a lioness and her whelps—humanizes the royal family's fate while also portraying their perceived power and the brutal reality of their downfall. The capture in the pit can also echo biblical themes of falling into "Sheol" or the realm of death, implying not just physical captivity but a metaphorical "death" of national sovereignty and kingly prestige. The lament ultimately teaches that strength (lion's strength) outside of God's favor is fleeting and ultimately falls prey to judgment.

Ezekiel 19 8 Commentary

Ezekiel 19:8 portrays the culmination of Judah’s tragedy through the capture of its king, Jehoiachin. The lament's focus shifts from the king's initial arrogance (like a young lion learning to prey) to his utter helplessness in the face of overwhelming odds. The "nations round about," driven by geopolitical ambition and functioning as instruments of divine judgment, meticulously trap him. The imagery of "snares," "nets," and a "pit" conveys a deliberate, coordinated, and inescapable fate. This wasn't a random capture but a calculated military maneuver, symbolizing how sin brings a comprehensive and devastating reckoning. The verse succinctly captures the end of a powerful dynasty, replaced by the humiliating reality of exile. It serves as a stark warning: defiance of God's ways inevitably leads to utter ruin and vulnerability to the very powers one sought to emulate or escape.