12:9 12:9

Ezekiel 12:10

12:11 12:11

Bible Versions

Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden [concerneth] the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that [are] among them.
Say {H559} thou unto them, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; This burden {H4853} concerneth the prince {H5387} in Jerusalem {H3389}, and all the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478} that are among {H8432} them.
Tell them that Adonai ELOHIM says this prophecy concerns the prince in Yerushalayim and all the house of Isra'el there.
Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are there.’
Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.

Ezekiel 12:10 delivers a direct and chilling clarification of the symbolic actions Ezekiel had just performed. The prophet is commanded to declare that the "burden"—a heavy prophetic message—specifically concerns the leader and the people remaining in Jerusalem, signaling their impending doom and exile.

Context

This verse is crucial for understanding the immediate preceding prophecy in Ezekiel 12:1-9. In those verses, Ezekiel dramatically acts out the role of an exile, preparing his belongings, digging through a wall, and departing in the evening, all while the people watch. This vivid, public performance was a sign to the rebellious house of Israel. Verse 10 identifies the primary subject of this ominous prophecy: the "prince in Jerusalem" and "all the house of Israel that are among them." Historically, the "prince" is understood to be King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, who would attempt to flee Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege but be captured and exiled, just as Ezekiel's actions foretold. The "house of Israel" here refers to the remaining population of Judah, still stubbornly residing in Jerusalem and refusing to believe the warnings of judgment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Leadership: The specific mention of the "prince" highlights God's particular focus on the accountability of those in authority. Zedekiah's failure to lead the people in righteousness and his rebellion against Babylon (contrary to God's command through Jeremiah) brought severe consequences.
  • Inescapable Consequences: The prophecy underscores that God's judgment, once decreed, is certain and cannot be evaded, even by kings. The dramatic escape attempt of Zedekiah, as foretold by Ezekiel, would prove futile, leading to his capture and blinding (2 Kings 25:7).
  • Prophetic Clarity: God ensures His messages are understood. After the symbolic act, this verse provides the explicit interpretation, leaving no doubt about whom the prophecy concerns and what it means.
  • Sovereignty of God: Despite the chaos and despair of the coming siege and exile, this verse implicitly affirms God's ultimate control over the destiny of nations and their leaders.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated "burden" is the Hebrew massa' (מַשָּׂא). While it can literally mean a "load" or "burden," in prophetic literature, it often refers to a solemn, weighty, or severe oracle, typically one of judgment. It emphasizes the gravity and authoritative nature of the divine message. The term "prince" is nasi' (נָשִׂיא), which can denote a chieftain, leader, or prince. While Zedekiah was king, the use of nasi' here might subtly indicate his diminished standing in God's eyes due to his unfaithfulness, or it could be a more general term for the head of the people.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 12:10 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • Accountability: Leaders, whether in government, business, or the church, bear significant responsibility, and God holds them accountable for their stewardship and influence.
  • Warning Heeded: God often sends warnings before judgment. Wisdom lies in heeding these warnings and repenting, rather than stubbornly resisting truth.
  • God's Word is True: This prophecy, like many others, was precisely fulfilled, reinforcing the reliability and certainty of God's word. What God declares will come to pass, whether it be judgment or promise.
Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Kings 9:25

    Then said [Jehu] to Bidkar his captain, Take up, [and] cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;

  • Isaiah 13:1

    ¶ The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

  • Isaiah 14:28

    In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.

  • Malachi 1:1

    ¶ The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

  • Jeremiah 21:7

    And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

  • Jeremiah 24:8

    And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

  • Ezekiel 17:13

    And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:
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