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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they put {H5414} him in ward {H5474} in chains {H2397}, and brought {H935} him to the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}: they brought {H935} him into holds {H4685}, that his voice {H6963} should no more be heard {H8085} upon the mountains {H2022} of Israel {H3478}.

Complete Jewish Bible

With hooks they put him in a cage and brought him to the king of Bavel to imprison him in a fortress, so that his roar would be heard no more on the mountains of Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

With hooks they caged him and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into captivity so that his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 19:9, a poignant segment of a prophetic lament, vividly depicts the capture and subsequent deportation of a Judean king, likening him to a young lion ensnared and silenced. This verse serves as a powerful declaration of the abrupt end of the Davidic monarchy's independent rule and the devastating consequences of national covenant infidelity, culminating in the king's forced removal from his homeland and the complete cessation of his royal authority upon the mountains of Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 19 is structured as a funeral dirge or lamentation (Hebrew: _qinah_), specifically mourning the "princes of Israel" (Ezekiel 19:1). The chapter employs a sustained **metaphor** of a majestic lioness raising her cubs, with each cub representing a successive king from the Davidic lineage. The first "cub" (likely Jehoahaz) is captured and taken to Egypt (Ezekiel 19:4), while the second, the focus of verse 9, represents a later king, probably Jehoiachin or Zedekiah, who faced capture and exile to Babylon. This poetic framework allows Ezekiel to express profound sorrow over the downfall of the monarchy and the nation's lost sovereignty, transforming a political catastrophe into a deeply personal and emotional tragedy for the royal house and, by extension, for all Judah. The lament's structure, often characterized by a 3+2 or 2+2 beat, emphasizes the brokenness and sorrow of the events described.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Ezekiel 19:9 is the turbulent period of the Babylonian exile, a direct consequence of Judah's persistent spiritual apostasy and political maneuvering. The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, had asserted its dominance over Judah. The verse's reference to a king being "brought him to the king of Babylon" directly alludes to historical events such as the first major deportation in 597 BC, when King Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon along with many nobles and skilled craftsmen, as recorded in [2 Kings 24:10-16](/2_kings/24-10 "2 Kings 24:10-16 - Jehoiachin's Capture and Exile"). Later, the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC saw King Zedekiah captured and brought before Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah, where he witnessed the execution of his sons before being blinded and taken to Babylon (cf. [Jeremiah 52:8-11](/jeremiah/52-8 "Jeremiah 52:8-11 - Zedekiah's Capture and Blinding")). The practice of putting captives "in ward in chains" and "into holds" was a common, humiliating display of subjugation, designed to break the spirit of the vanquished and prevent any further resistance, serving as a stark symbol of the complete loss of freedom, dignity, and sovereignty for the once-revered monarch.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prevalent throughout the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic corpus. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment** upon Israel for its persistent covenant infidelity, particularly the failure of its leadership to uphold righteousness and justice. The "silencing" of the king's voice starkly signifies the **Loss of Sovereignty and Authority**, marking the definitive end of Judah's independent kingdom and the Davidic dynasty's direct rule from Jerusalem. Furthermore, it underscores the harsh reality of **Exile and Captivity**, a central and traumatic experience for the Judean people during Ezekiel's ministry, emphasizing the physical and spiritual displacement from their promised land, as a fulfillment of ancient prophetic warnings found in passages like [Deuteronomy 28:36](/deuteronomy/28-36 "Deuteronomy 28:36 - Prophecy of Exile and Servitude"). The lament also subtly highlights the **Consequences of Unrighteous Leadership**, demonstrating how the moral and spiritual failures of those in power directly precipitate national catastrophe and suffering.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **chains (Hebrew, _châch'_):** This term refers to a ring, often for the nose or lips, typically used for leading or controlling animals. Its application here to a human captive, a king no less, profoundly emphasizes the humiliating and inescapable nature of his imprisonment. It signifies his reduction to the status of a subdued beast, utterly stripped of his royal dignity and autonomy, led away by his captors. The imagery conveys complete subjugation and dehumanization.
* **holds (Hebrew, _mâtsôwd'_):** This word denotes a net for capturing animals, a secure fastness, or a besieging tower. In this context, it refers to a strong, secure place of confinement, such as a prison or fortress. The imagery reinforces the idea of being utterly trapped and unable to escape, highlighting the inescapable nature of the king's captivity and the overwhelming power of his captors. It suggests an impenetrable enclosure designed to prevent any further exercise of will or power.
* **voice (Hebrew, _qôwl'_):** Meaning a sound or voice, this word is profoundly significant in this verse. A king's "voice" upon the "mountains of Israel" would signify his sovereign authority, his decrees, his proclamations, and his commanding presence and influence over his people and land. Its silencing represents the complete cessation of his rule, his inability to command, lead, or even speak freely within his own domain. This symbolizes the utter collapse of the Davidic monarchy's independent power and its capacity to govern.
* **mountains (Hebrew, _har'_):** This term refers to hills or a mountain range, often used figuratively to represent the entire land of Israel or its prominent places and centers of power. The phrase "mountains of Israel" thus poetically encompasses the whole territory over which the king once reigned. The king's voice no longer being heard there signifies his total and permanent removal from the land, marking the definitive end of his direct influence and presence within the kingdom.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they put him in ward in chains,"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the king's capture and the initial act of his imprisonment. "Ward" (H5474, _çûwgar_) indicates a place of confinement or custody, akin to a cage or enclosure. The explicit mention of "chains" (H2397, _châch_) emphasizes the physical restraint, humiliation, and the complete loss of freedom and royal status imposed upon the captive king. This is not merely detention but a public display of subjugation.
* **"and brought him to the king of Babylon:"**: This specifies the ultimate destination and the foreign power responsible for the king's capture. The "king of Babylon" (Nebuchadnezzar) represents the instrument of divine judgment, the foreign empire that has decisively defeated Judah and now asserts its absolute dominance. This act demonstrates the fulfillment of numerous prophetic warnings concerning foreign subjugation and exile.
* **"they brought him into holds,"**: This clause reiterates the act of confinement, employing a different, reinforcing term ("holds" - H4685, _mâtsôwd_). This repetition emphasizes the secure, inescapable, and permanent nature of his imprisonment. It signifies that the king is completely incapacitated and removed from any position of influence, power, or potential for escape, ensuring his complete neutralization as a threat or leader.
* **"that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel."**: This final, climactic clause reveals the profound consequence and ultimate purpose of the king's capture. His "voice" symbolizes his authority, his decrees, his leadership, and his very presence as the sovereign ruler. Its silencing "upon the mountains of Israel" (a poetic reference to the entire land) signifies the complete, absolute, and permanent cessation of his independent reign and the end of the Davidic monarchy's direct, autonomous rule over Judah. It marks the devastating reality of national sovereignty lost.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 19:9 is profoundly rich in literary devices that amplify its somber and tragic message. The entire chapter functions as an extended **Lamentation** or funeral dirge, imbuing the text with a tone of profound sorrow, loss, and despair over the fate of the Davidic monarchy. The most prominent device, though not explicitly stated in verse 9 itself, is the overarching **Metaphor** of the king as a "young lion" or "cub" (from the broader context of Ezekiel 19:1-8), which informs the understanding of "him" in this verse, emphasizing his royal lineage, strength, and potential for power, now tragically curtailed. The "chains" and "holds" serve as potent **Symbols** of captivity, humiliation, and the stripping away of sovereignty, visually conveying the king's utter subjugation. The phrase "that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel" employs powerful **Symbolism** and **Metonymy**. The "voice" stands metonymically for the king's authority, his proclamations, his leadership, and his very presence as ruler, while "the mountains of Israel" symbolize the entire land, its people, and the seat of his former power. The silencing of the voice is a dramatic **Hyperbole** that underscores the absolute and permanent cessation of his rule and influence, conveying the devastating finality of Judah's political and spiritual collapse.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 19:9 stands as a stark and somber testament to the principle of divine judgment and the severe consequences of covenant infidelity, particularly for those entrusted with positions of leadership. The silencing of the king's voice upon the mountains of Israel is not merely a political defeat but a profound theological statement about God's sovereign hand in history, allowing the downfall of a disobedient monarchy. It highlights the inherent fragility of earthly power when divorced from divine righteousness and serves as a powerful reminder that accountability extends even to the highest echelons of leadership. The lament underscores the sorrowful reality that when those entrusted with spiritual and political guidance fail in their duties to God and His people, the entire nation suffers the repercussions, leading to a devastating loss of freedom, national identity, and the very presence of their rightful, God-ordained leadership. This judgment serves as a painful, yet necessary, step in God's redemptive plan, clearing the way for a future restoration rooted in true faithfulness.

* [2 Kings 25:6-7](/2_kings/25-6 "2 Kings 25:6-7 - Zedekiah's Capture and Blinding")
* [Lamentations 4:20](/lamentations/4-20 "Lamentations 4:20 - The Anointed of the Lord Captured")
* [Jeremiah 22:28-30](/jeremiah/22-28 "Jeremiah 22:28-30 - Prophecy Against Coniah (Jehoiachin)")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 19:9 offers profound and enduring lessons for contemporary believers and leaders alike. It serves as a sobering reminder that all earthly power and authority, no matter how great or seemingly secure, is ultimately transient and subject to divine oversight and judgment. The vivid imagery of the king's voice being silenced challenges us to deeply consider the impact and nature of our own "voices" – our influence, our words, our leadership, and our witness – within our respective spheres of influence. Are we speaking truth, advocating for justice, and promoting righteousness, or are we contributing to spiritual decline, moral compromise, or societal decay? For those called to leadership, whether in the church, the community, the workplace, or the family, this verse underscores the immense weight of responsibility to lead with integrity, humility, and unwavering adherence to God's principles. It reminds us that failure to do so can have far-reaching and devastating consequences for those under our care, echoing the national catastrophe depicted in Ezekiel. Ultimately, this passage calls us to a posture of profound humility and a redirection of our ultimate trust; our security and hope must be firmly anchored in God's eternal kingdom and His unfailing sovereignty, rather than in fleeting human authority, institutions, or personal influence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might our "voice" (our influence, actions, or words) be silenced or rendered ineffective if we stray from God's will and covenant faithfulness?**
* **How does the fragility of earthly power, as powerfully depicted in this verse, shape our understanding of true security, lasting hope, and where our ultimate allegiance should lie?**
* **What specific responsibilities do we, as individuals and as the collective body of Christ, have to speak truth, uphold righteousness, and exercise godly influence in our communities and concerning those in leadership?**

### FAQ
**Who is "him" in Ezekiel 19:9?**

Answer: While not explicitly named in this specific verse, the "him" refers to one of the last kings of Judah, symbolically depicted as a "lion's cub" within the broader lament of Ezekiel 19. Most biblical scholars identify him as either King Jehoiachin, who was taken captive to Babylon in 597 BC during the first major deportation (as detailed in [2 Kings 24:10-16](/2_kings/24-10 "2 Kings 24:10-16 - Jehoiachin's Capture and Exile")), or King Zedekiah, who was captured and brought to Babylon after the final fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC (see [Jeremiah 52:8-11](/jeremiah/52-8 "Jeremiah 52:8-11 - Zedekiah's Capture and Blinding")). The lament likely encompasses the tragic and cumulative fate of the Davidic monarchy as a whole, mourning its demise.

**What is the significance of the king's "voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel"?**

Answer: This phrase is profoundly symbolic and carries immense theological weight. It signifies the complete, absolute, and permanent cessation of the king's authority, influence, and independent rule over the land of Israel. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's voice represented his decrees, his commands, his proclamations, and his very presence as the sovereign ruler. For it to be silenced "upon the mountains of Israel" (a poetic and holistic reference to the entire land and its people) means that the Davidic monarchy's independent power, its capacity to govern from Jerusalem, and its ability to exert any meaningful influence within its own domain had come to an absolute and irreversible end. It marks the devastating reality of foreign subjugation, the loss of national sovereignty, and the fulfillment of divine judgment against a disobedient leadership and nation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 19:9, with its poignant depiction of an earthly king silenced and removed from his throne, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment not in the defeat of a righteous monarch, but paradoxically, in the ultimate triumph of the true King, Jesus Christ. While the earthly kings of Judah failed in their covenant responsibilities and were consequently silenced due to their unfaithfulness, Jesus, the promised Son of David, willingly submitted to humiliation and an apparent silencing on the cross. He was indeed "put in ward in chains" (both spiritually bound by human sin and physically by Roman authority) and "brought to" earthly powers for judgment. Yet, His "silencing" was not a defeat but a strategic, redemptive act. His voice, seemingly stilled in death, was resurrected with ultimate power and authority, fulfilling prophecies of a King whose reign would be eternal and whose voice would never be silenced. Unlike the Judean kings whose authority ceased upon the mountains of Israel, Christ's authority extends over all creation, from the "mountains" of earth to the highest heavens, as He declared in [Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus"). His kingdom, unlike the fleeting earthly monarchy, is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away (cf. [Daniel 7:14](/daniel/7-14 "Daniel 7:14 - The Everlasting Dominion of the Son of Man")), and His voice, the authoritative and life-giving voice of the Good Shepherd, continues to call His sheep across all nations and generations (see [John 10:27](/john/10-27 "John 10:27 - My Sheep Hear My Voice")). Thus, the lament over a silenced earthly king ultimately points to the glorious, un-silenceable, and eternal reign of the King of kings, whose voice brings life, salvation, and everlasting peace.

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 Chronicles 36:6

Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.

Ezekiel 6:2

Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

Jeremiah 36:30

Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.

Jeremiah 36:31

And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.

2 Kings 24:15

And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, [those] carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Jeremiah 22:18

Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!

Jeremiah 22:19

He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.