Ezekiel 19 9

Ezekiel 19:9 kjv

And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 19:9 nkjv

They put him in a cage with chains, And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in nets, That his voice should no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 19:9 niv

With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 19:9 esv

With hooks they put him in a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into custody, that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 19:9 nlt

With hooks, they dragged him into a cage
and brought him before the king of Babylon.
They held him in captivity,
so his voice could never again be heard
on the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 19 verses

Ezekiel 19 9 Meaning

This verse powerfully depicts the comprehensive downfall of a Judean king, specifically seen as a culmination of the earlier 'lament over the princes of Israel.' It portrays the utter humiliation and complete loss of sovereignty for a once-ruling monarch. Captured forcibly by his adversaries, he is restrained and taken to the supreme foreign ruler, held in secure confinement, signifying a permanent cessation of his influence, authority, and presence within the land of Israel. His "voice" is silenced forever, indicating the termination of his royal reign and any future impact on his people.

Ezekiel 19 9 Context

Ezekiel 19 is a "lament for the princes of Israel" (a funerary dirge, a qinah). This form uses a distinct Hebrew meter (often 3+2 beat), imparting a mournful tone. The chapter employs an allegory of a lioness (symbolizing the royal house of Judah) raising two cubs. The first cub, taken to Egypt, represents Jehoahaz (Eze 19:1-4), captured in 609 BC. The second cub, addressed in Eze 19:5-9, is generally understood to represent Jehoiachin (captured 597 BC), though some also see elements referring to Zedekiah (captured 586 BC). This specific verse, 19:9, concludes the lament for the second cub. It portrays the final, humiliating outcome for a king who, like a lion, instead of protecting his people, became oppressive, "devouring prey." Historically, the passage reflects the repeated Babylonian sieges and the eventual deportation of Judean kings and elites, fulfilling God's judgment against their apostasy and injustice. The prophecy would have reminded the exiled Judeans of the severe consequences of their leaders' unfaithfulness, dampening any lingering hopes for a quick return under existing monarchy.

Ezekiel 19 9 Word analysis

• And they put him: Refers to the foreign power, specifically the Babylonians, who acted as instruments of divine judgment. This implies forceful and authoritative seizure.
• in a cage: Hebrew סוּג (sug), which implies an enclosure, a prison, or a confine. It is not necessarily a literal animal cage but conveys the sense of complete capture, loss of freedom, and utter humiliation for a king. It highlights his transformation from sovereign to prisoner.
• with hooks: Hebrew חוּחִים (chukhim). These are restraining devices, like nose rings, thorns, or chains used to lead and control captive animals or defeated rulers. The imagery suggests harsh treatment, utter submission, degradation, and inescapable control, akin to being led like an animal.
• and brought him: Emphasizes the action of transportation, indicating a removal from the seat of power in Israel.
• to the king of Babylon: Refers to Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful monarch of his time, who acted as God's instrument in bringing about Judah's judgment and exile. It signifies a decisive transfer of dominion and sovereignty to a foreign ruler.
• they brought him into fortresses: Hebrew מְצָדִים (metsadim), meaning strongholds, fortified places, or secure prisons. This signifies an absolute and permanent incarceration, leaving no hope of escape or return to power.
• that his voice: Hebrew קוֹלוֹ (qolo), meaning "his voice." Metaphorically, this refers to his authority, royal decrees, influence, counsel, ruling power, and public proclamation. It encapsulates his entire function as a king.
• should no more be heard: Hebrew לֹא־יִשָּׁמַע עוֹד (lo-yishama od), meaning "not be heard again." This denotes a permanent silencing and the definitive end of his rule, presence, and any future impact.
• upon the mountains of Israel: Hebrew הָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (harey Yisra'el). This refers to the physical land, the territory of Israel, where a king's authority was established and acknowledged. His voice not being heard there means a complete and final dethronement, loss of dominion, and an end to his kingship over God's people in their land.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And they put him in a cage with hooks": This phrase vividly depicts the complete physical subjugation and public degradation of the king. It underscores the severity of his punishment and his utter helplessness in the hands of his captors, stripped of all royal dignity.
• "and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into fortresses": These clauses detail the official and decisive transfer of power. The king is not merely imprisoned but delivered to the ultimate authority that has overthrown his kingdom, symbolizing the definitive end of Judah's self-rule under this monarch and its absorption into Babylonian dominion. The mention of "fortresses" emphasizes secure, inescapable, and long-term imprisonment, leaving no room for a return to former power or influence.
• "that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel": This powerful statement outlines the ultimate consequence and tragic finality of the king's fate. It signifies the permanent loss of his authority, leadership, and any public presence or influence within the land and among the people he was once appointed to rule. His reign is definitively over, his voice silenced in the land of his ancestors.

Ezekiel 19 9 Bonus section

The lament form, or qinah, used in this chapter is typically characterized by a specific poetic rhythm in Hebrew (often a 3+2 beat structure) that evokes a mournful or dirge-like tone. This literary device emphasizes the deep sorrow and finality of the described events. The metaphor of the "lion" used for the royal line is particularly poignant: lions were symbols of strength and sovereignty, meant to protect their pride. However, here the "lion cubs" (the kings) are described as turning destructive, "devouring men," thereby violating their true purpose. This internal failure then leads directly to external judgment, with the stronger lion (Babylon) carrying them off. The specific fate described in Ezekiel 19:9 aligns particularly well with the humiliation of Jehoiachin, who was imprisoned in Babylon for decades, effectively silenced. While Zedekiah was also taken captive, the imagery of "hooks" leading him while already blinded might not fit as cleanly. Regardless, the verse comprehensively summarizes the ignominious end of Judean independent monarchy until a future Messianic hope would emerge.

Ezekiel 19 9 Commentary

Ezekiel 19:9 serves as the chilling conclusion to the allegory of the captured king (the second "cub"), solidifying the finality of divine judgment against Judah's unfaithful leadership. The imagery employed – "cage with hooks" and confinement in "fortresses" under "the king of Babylon" – portrays a vivid picture of absolute subjugation and the profound humiliation of a monarch reduced to a helpless captive. This was not merely defeat in battle, but a deliberate act of stripping away all dignity, sovereignty, and future potential. The phrase "that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel" encapsulates the true devastation: the king's authority, decrees, and influence were completely eradicated from the very land he was meant to rule and protect. It speaks to the utter desolation and abandonment that fell upon the Davidic line due to the leaders' wickedness and the nation's idolatry, ensuring no more unfaithful rulers would pollute the sacred mountains. This verse provided a stark reality check for any in exile who still harbored false hopes of an imminent restoration under such a flawed kingship, affirming that God's justice would be absolute.