King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, [which] hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod [to be] a sceptre to rule. This [is] a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Fire has gone out from its own branches, burning up its fruit, so that now it has no strong branch to be a ruler's scepter.'" This lamentation became very well known.
Berean Standard Bible:
Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”
American Standard Version:
And fire is gone out of the rods of its branches, it hath devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And fire{H784} is gone out{H3318} of a rod{H4294} of her branches{H905}, which hath devoured{H398} her fruit{H6529}, so that she hath no strong{H5797} rod{H4294} to be a sceptre{H7626} to rule{H4910}. This is a lamentation{H7015}, and shall be for a lamentation{H7015}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezekiel 19:1
- ¶ Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
Isaiah 9:18
- For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke.
Isaiah 9:19
- Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
2 Kings 24:20
- For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
Ezekiel 19:11
- And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.
Psalms 80:15
- And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch [that] thou madest strong for thyself.
Psalms 80:16
- [It is] burned with fire, [it is] cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
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Commentary for Ezekiel 19:14
Ezekiel 19:14 is part of a larger allegorical lamentation found in Ezekiel 19:1-14, which uses the metaphor of two lionesses to represent the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The verse specifically addresses the dire state of Judah, depicted as a vine that has been destroyed by fire coming from its own branches. This imagery suggests that the destruction of Judah has come from within, possibly alluding to the internal corruption, idolatry, and poor leadership that led to the nation's downfall.
The "fire...out of a rod of her branches" symbolizes a destructive force that has consumed the fruit of the vine, leaving it without a "strong rod to be a sceptre to rule." This indicates that Judah has lost its power and ability to govern effectively, lacking a capable leader to guide and protect the nation. The "strong rod" and "sceptre" are symbols of kingship and authority, and their absence signifies the loss of sovereignty and the inability to maintain control over the land.
Historically, this verse reflects the period following the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, which led to the destruction of the city, the burning of the Temple, and the exile of many Jews to Babylon. Ezekiel, a prophet among the exiles, uses this allegory to mourn the fall of Judah and to explain the reasons behind its tragic fate. The verse emphasizes the theme of divine judgment, where the nation's demise is a consequence of its disobedience to God's laws and covenant.
In summary, Ezekiel 19:14 is a poignant part of an allegorical poem that laments the destruction of Judah, attributed to internal corruption and moral decay, which led to the loss of effective leadership and national sovereignty. It serves as a reflection on the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of adhering to divine guidance for national well-being and prosperity. This verse is both a historical commentary on the fall of Judah and a timeless reminder of the perils of forsaking righteous governance.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H784
There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵשׁ
Transliteration: ʼêsh
Pronunciation: aysh
Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H4294
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַטֶּה
Transliteration: maṭṭeh
Pronunciation: mat-teh'
Description: or (feminine) מַטָּה; from נָטָה; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread); rod, staff, tribe. - Strong's Number: H905
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּד
Transliteration: bad
Pronunciation: bad
Description: from בָּדַד; properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of atree, bar forcarrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an adverb, apart, only, besides; alone, apart, bar, besides, branch, by self, of each alike, except, only, part, staff, strength. - Strong's Number: H398
There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָכַל
Transliteration: ʼâkal
Pronunciation: aw-kal'
Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. - Strong's Number: H6529
There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּרִי
Transliteration: pᵉrîy
Pronunciation: per-ee'
Description: from פָּרָה; fruit (literally or figuratively); bough, (first-)fruit(-ful), reward. - Strong's Number: H5797
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֹז
Transliteration: ʻôz
Pronunciation: oze
Description: or (fully) עוֹז; from עָזַז; strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise); boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong. - Strong's Number: H7626
There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁבֶט
Transliteration: shêbeṭ
Pronunciation: shay'-bet
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan; [idiom] correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe. - Strong's Number: H4910
There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָשַׁל
Transliteration: mâshal
Pronunciation: maw-shal'
Description: a primitive root; to rule; (have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power. - Strong's Number: H7015
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִינָה
Transliteration: qîynâh
Pronunciation: kee-naw'
Description: from קוּן; a dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments); lamentation.