King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 12:10 Mean?

Ezekiel 12:10 in the King James Version says “Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Ezekiel 12:10 · King James Version

Context

8

And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

9

Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?

10

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.

11

Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity. they: Heb. by removing go into captivity

12

And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

Read Ezekiel 12 full chapter

Commentaries4 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
"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." God explains the sign-act's meaning—it concerns "the prince" (King Zedekiah) and all Israel. The Hebrew nasi (נָשִׂיא, "prince") may deliberately avoid "king" (melek) to emphasize Zedekiah's reduced status as Babylonian puppet. The prophecy targets both leadership and people—all share coming exile. This clarification prevents misinterpretation and establishes prophetic specificity.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Zedekiah was Babylon's appointee after deposing Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:17). His rebellion against Babylon (2 Kings 24:20; 25:1) triggered the final siege. The prophecy specifically targets him while including all residents—comprehensive judgment affecting leadership and populace. Within years, Zedekiah's capture and the population's exile fulfilled the prophecy exactly as predicted, vindicating Ezekiel's word.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the prophecy's specificity (naming the prince and location) demonstrate divine foreknowledge?
  2. What does including both leadership and people teach about corporate responsibility?
  3. In what ways should leaders recognize their actions affect entire communities under their care?

Compare 4 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
אָמַ֖ר1 of 16

“Say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם2 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כֹּ֥ה3 of 16
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֖ר4 of 16

“Say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י5 of 16

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִֹ֑ה6 of 16

“GOD”

H3069

god

הַנָּשִׂ֞יא7 of 16

“concerneth the prince”

H5387

properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist

הַמַּשָּׂ֤א8 of 16

“This burden”

H4853

a burden; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire

הַזֶּה֙9 of 16
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם10 of 16

“in Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

וְכָל11 of 16
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

בֵּ֥ית12 of 16

“and all the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל13 of 16

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אֲשֶׁר14 of 16
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הֵ֥מָּה15 of 16
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

בְתוֹכָֽם׃16 of 16

“that are among”

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 12:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 12:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 13:12 Kings 9:25Malachi 1:1Jeremiah 21:7Isaiah 14:28Ezekiel 17:13-21

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Ezekiel 12 →

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