Ezekiel 19:1–4

Lament for the Princes of Israel

19:1 “And you, sing1 a lament for the princes of Israel, 19:2 and say:

“ ‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions!

She lay among young lions;2 she reared her cubs.

19:3 She reared one of her cubs; he became a young lion.

He learned to tear prey; he devoured people.3

19:4 The nations heard about him; he was trapped in their pit.

They brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.4

1	tn Heb “lift up.”
2	sn Lions probably refer to Judahite royalty and/or nobility. The lioness appears to symbolize the Davidic dynasty, though some see the referent as Hamutal, the wife of Josiah and mother of Jehoahaz and Zedekiah. Gen 49:9 seems to be the background for Judah being compared to lions.
3	tn Heb “a man.”
4	sn The description applies to king Jehoahaz (2 Kgs 23:31–34; Jer 22:10–12).