Ezekiel 19:5

KJV

Now when she saw that she had waited, [and] her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, [and] made him a young lion.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now when she saw {H7200} that she had waited {H3176}, and her hope {H8615} was lost {H6}, then she took {H3947} another {H259} of her whelps {H1482}, and made {H7760} him a young lion {H3715}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When she saw that she had been thwarted, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made a young lion of him.

Berean Standard Bible

When she saw that she had waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.

American Standard Version

Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 19:5, part of a poignant lamentation for the fallen princes of Israel, powerfully depicts the kingdom of Judah's desperate and ultimately futile attempts to secure its future through human leadership. Symbolized as a lioness, the nation, having seen its initial hope in one king's reign vanish, immediately raises another "whelp" to assume the role of a powerful "young lion," perpetually seeking to restore its former strength and sovereignty, yet tragically destined for repeated disappointment and the unfolding of divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 19 is a unique prophetic dirge, or lament, delivered by the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. It masterfully employs the extended metaphor of a lioness and her whelps to represent the kingdom of Judah and its succession of kings. This chapter immediately precedes a series of prophecies concerning Jerusalem's ultimate destruction and the nation's deep-seated spiritual rebellion. Verse 5 specifically follows the account of the first "whelp" (widely understood to be King Jehoahaz, who was captured and taken to Egypt, as detailed in [2 Kings 23:31-34](/2_kings/23-31-34 "2 Kings 23:31-34 - Jehoahaz's Reign and Captivity")), being removed from power. This verse marks the desperate continuation of Judah's attempt to establish a strong leader after the initial blow of the first king's demise, setting the stage for the subsequent, equally tragic failures of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, who also faced similar fates.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Ezekiel 19:5 is the tumultuous period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile (late 7th to early 6th century BCE). Judah found itself precariously positioned between the ascendant Neo-Babylonian Empire and the declining power of Egypt. Judah's kings often vacillated in their alliances, leading to repeated invasions, vassalage, and ultimately, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The "lioness" metaphor is profoundly significant in the ancient Near East, where lions were potent symbols of strength, royalty, and national power, frequently associated with kingship (e.g., the "Lion of Judah" in [Genesis 49:9](/genesis/49-9 "Genesis 49:9 - Judah as a Lion's Whelp")). The act of "raising a young lion" reflects the cultural practice of royal succession, where a new king was enthroned to continue the dynasty and protect the nation. However, the historical reality for Judah was a rapid succession of weak, unrighteous, and short-lived kings who failed to heed God's warnings, leading to their downfall and the nation's captivity, vividly illustrating the consequences of disobedience.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. It highlights the **futility of misplaced hope**, as Judah repeatedly places its trust in human leaders, political alliances, and military strength rather than in the Lord God. The phrase "her hope was lost" powerfully underscores the repeated cycles of disappointment and despair that result when divine guidance and covenant faithfulness are ignored. It also speaks to the theme of **divine judgment and sovereignty**; despite Judah's desperate attempts to assert its strength through new kings, God's sovereign plan of judgment for their idolatry, rebellion, and covenant unfaithfulness continued to unfold, demonstrating that no human power or political maneuver could thwart His righteous purposes. Furthermore, the lament implicitly points to the **failure of human kingship** to provide lasting security, righteousness, or true deliverance, setting the stage for the ultimate need for a divine, righteous king, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament and culminating in the person of Christ, as foreshadowed in passages like [Jeremiah 23:5-6](/jeremiah/23-5-6 "Jeremiah 23:5-6 - The Righteous Branch").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **whelps (Hebrew, _gûwr'_):** This term (H1482) refers to a cub, specifically of a lion, often implying it is still abiding in the lair. In this context, it signifies the young, inexperienced kings of Judah who, despite their royal lineage and potential, were ultimately vulnerable, immature, and unable to withstand the overwhelming external pressures and divine judgment. The choice of "whelp" rather than a fully mature lion emphasizes their lack of true, sustained power and their dependency.
* **hope (Hebrew, _tiqvâh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to bind" or "to wait," this word (H8615) literally signifies a cord (as an attachment) and figuratively, expectancy or longing. Here, "her hope" refers to Judah's deep expectation for security, national independence, and restoration through the lineage of its kings. The loss of this hope is a profound statement of national despair, dashed expectations, and the ultimate failure of their reliance on human leadership.
* **lost (Hebrew, _ʼâbad'_):** This primitive root (H6) properly means to wander away or lose oneself, and by implication, to perish or be destroyed. When applied to "hope," it signifies that the hope was utterly gone, vanished, or annihilated. It conveys a sense of finality and utter failure regarding the nation's reliance on its human leaders to deliver them from their dire predicament, emphasizing a complete and irreversible cessation of that particular expectation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now when she saw that she had waited":** This clause establishes the perspective of the "she," the mother lioness, symbolizing the kingdom of Judah or Jerusalem. It highlights a period of patient anticipation and endurance, where the nation had perhaps hoped for a positive turn of events or the successful, stable reign of the previous king. This waiting implies a reliance on the existing human royal structure to bring about security and stability.
* **"and her hope was lost":** This is the pivotal and tragic moment of the verse. The period of waiting proved futile, and the expectation of a positive outcome through the first "whelp" (king) completely vanished. It signifies a profound national disillusionment and the devastating realization that their reliance on human power and political solutions had utterly failed, leading to a deep sense of despair and hopelessness concerning that particular path to deliverance.
* **"then she took another of her whelps":** Despite the crushing loss of hope and the clear failure of the previous attempt, the "mother lioness" immediately resorts to the only perceived solution available within her limited, earthly framework: raising another descendant to power. This action demonstrates the relentless human tendency to seek solutions within familiar, earthly structures and lineages, even after repeated failures, rather than turning to divine sovereignty and repentance.
* **"and made him a young lion":** This final clause describes the act of enthroning the new king. The term "young lion" (H3715, _kᵉphîyr_) suggests a king who is strong, capable, and ready to assume the mantle of leadership, defense, and national pride. It reflects the nation's renewed, albeit desperate and ultimately misguided, attempt to establish a powerful ruler who could restore their fortunes and protect their sovereignty, despite the clear pattern of failure and the unfolding of divine judgment against their unrighteousness.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 19:5 is profoundly shaped by **Metaphor**, as the entire chapter functions as an extended allegory. The "mother lioness" serves as a powerful symbol for the kingdom of Judah or Jerusalem, embodying its maternal concern for its future and its inherent, though ultimately insufficient, strength. Her "whelps" are a clear metaphor for the successive kings of Judah, particularly those who reigned during the tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile. The transformation of a "whelp" into a "young lion" metaphorically represents the enthronement and empowerment of a new king, imbued with the hopes and expectations of the nation for renewed strength and sovereignty. Additionally, **Personification** is evident in the attribution of human emotions and actions to the lioness, such as "she saw," "she had waited," and her "hope was lost." This personification deepens the emotional impact of the lament, allowing the reader to viscerally feel the despair, the desperate resolve, and the tragic cycle of misplaced trust experienced by the nation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 19:5 profoundly illustrates the theological principle that human strength, political maneuvering, and reliance on earthly leaders, when divorced from divine guidance and righteousness, inevitably lead to futility and despair. Judah's repeated attempts to establish strong kings, despite God's clear warnings and the unfolding judgment, underscore a fundamental misplaced hope. The lament reveals the tragic cycle of relying on earthly solutions for spiritual problems, demonstrating that true security and lasting hope can only be found in God's faithfulness and His sovereign plan, not in the fleeting power of human institutions or leaders. This serves as a timeless reminder that while human leadership is necessary, ultimate trust must reside in the divine.

* [Psalm 146:3-5](/psalms/146-3-5 "Psalm 146:3-5 - Do Not Trust in Princes")
* [Jeremiah 17:5-8](/jeremiah/17-5-8 "Jeremiah 17:5-8 - Cursed is the Man Who Trusts in Man")
* [Isaiah 31:1](/isaiah/31-1 "Isaiah 31:1 - Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt for Help")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 19:5 offers a somber yet vital lesson for believers today, challenging us to critically examine where we place our ultimate hope and trust. Just as Judah desperately sought security in a succession of human kings, we too can fall into the trap of placing our confidence in political systems, economic stability, charismatic leaders, technological advancements, or even our own abilities and self-sufficiency, believing these can solve our deepest problems or secure our future. This verse reminds us that such reliance is a path to inevitable disappointment, for all human endeavors are finite, fallible, and subject to the brokenness of a fallen world. True and enduring hope is found only in the unchanging character and unfailing promises of God. It calls us to shift our gaze from the temporary to the eternal, from the created to the Creator, recognizing that His sovereignty and faithfulness are the only true and unshakable foundation for life, both individually and corporately.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where do I tend to place my hope and security in times of personal or societal crisis and uncertainty?**
* **In what specific ways might I be tempted to rely on human solutions or my own strength rather than diligently seeking God's will and wisdom?**
* **How does the repeated failure of Judah's kings, as depicted in this lament, encourage me to deepen my absolute trust in God alone?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a hope that is firmly rooted in God's unchanging character and promises, rather than in fluctuating worldly circumstances or human potential?**

### FAQ
**Who does the "mother lioness" represent in Ezekiel 19:5?**

Answer: The "mother lioness" in Ezekiel 19:5 is a powerful and poignant metaphor for the kingdom of Judah or, more specifically, Jerusalem. She symbolizes the nation's desperate and persistent efforts to maintain its sovereignty and secure its future through its royal lineage. After the first "whelp" (King Jehoahaz) was captured and exiled, the "mother lioness" immediately sought to raise another "whelp" (likely King Jehoiakim or Zedekiah) to power, hoping to restore the nation's strength and independence. This imagery underscores Judah's persistent, yet ultimately futile, reliance on human leadership in the face of divine judgment and impending exile, a theme seen throughout the prophetic books, such as in [Jeremiah's laments](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon") against misplaced trust.

**What is the significance of "her hope was lost" in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "her hope was lost" is profoundly significant, highlighting the repeated disillusionment and despair experienced by the kingdom of Judah. It signifies that the nation's expectation for stability, security, and deliverance through its human kings had been utterly dashed. The initial "whelp" (Jehoahaz) failed to deliver the promised security, leading to his capture and the loss of the nation's immediate hope in that particular line of succession. This phrase underscores the futility and ultimate failure of placing ultimate trust in human power and political solutions, especially when those solutions are pursued apart from God's will and in defiance of His warnings. It sets the stage for the subsequent, equally doomed, attempt to raise another king, emphasizing the tragic cycle of misplaced hope that characterized Judah's final years before the Babylonian exile, as also reflected in [Lamentations 3:18](/lamentations/3-18 "Lamentations 3:18 - My Strength and My Hope Have Perished").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The lament in Ezekiel 19:5, depicting the repeated failure of Judah's kings and the nation's lost hope in human leadership, ultimately points to the profound and eternal need for a true and eternal King—Jesus Christ. The repeated cycle of raising "whelps" who proved inadequate against the tide of divine judgment highlights the inherent limitations, sinfulness, and mortality of earthly rulers. Israel's hope was continually dashed because no human king, no matter how strong or well-intentioned, could ultimately deliver them from their spiritual plight or establish a lasting kingdom of righteousness. This broken succession of "young lions" foreshadows the glorious coming of the one true "Lion of the tribe of Judah" ([Revelation 5:5](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of Judah")), Jesus Christ. He is the only King whose reign is eternal ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32-33 "Luke 1:32-33 - The Son of David")), whose power is absolute, and whose atoning sacrifice truly takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). In Him, the hope that was repeatedly lost in human leaders is perfectly and eternally fulfilled, for He is the righteous Branch ([Jeremiah 23:5-6](/jeremiah/23-5-6 "Jeremiah 23:5-6 - The Righteous Branch")) who establishes a kingdom that will never be destroyed ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Eternal Kingdom")) and brings true, lasting peace and salvation.

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.

Cross-References

2 Kings 23:34

And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

2 Kings 23:37

And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

Ezekiel 19:3

And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.