


Ezekiel 19:14
Bible Versions
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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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.
Ezekiel 19:14 concludes a powerful lamentation, or dirge, that the prophet Ezekiel was commanded to utter concerning the princes of Israel. This verse vividly portrays the final, devastating collapse of the Davidic monarchy and the kingdom of Judah, leading to the Babylonian Exile.
Context
This verse is the culmination of a prophetic lament (a *qinah*) that began in Ezekiel 19:1. The lament uses two primary metaphors: a lioness raising cubs (representing the royal line of Judah and its kings, Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin) and a vine with strong branches (representing the kingdom and its final king, Zedekiah). The "fire" in this verse refers to the divine judgment that consumed the kingdom. The "rod of her branches" symbolizes King Zedekiah, whose rebellion against Babylon led to the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the independent Davidic monarchy. The historical fulfillment of this prophecy is seen in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, as recorded in Jeremiah 52:11 and 2 Kings 25:7, where Zedekiah's sons were killed before his eyes, and he was blinded and taken to Babylon, signifying the complete loss of the royal line's ability to rule.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "lamentation" is qinah (קִינָה), which refers to a specific type of funeral dirge or mournful poem. It is often characterized by a distinctive rhythm that evokes sorrow and grief. The repetition of the word underscores the deep and lasting sorrow associated with the destruction of the kingdom. The "sceptre" (שֵׁבֶט, shevet) literally means "rod" or "staff," but in this context, it clearly signifies royal authority and the power to rule, as it does in Genesis 49:10. Its absence is a poignant symbol of Judah's fall.
Practical Application
While this verse speaks of ancient judgment, its lessons resonate today: