What seems like a king’s desperate, clumsy escape is actually a profound symbol of his pride and ultimate blindness. He covers his face not just to hide, but because he cannot or will not truly see the land he’s abandoning, mirroring his spiritual refusal to see the consequences of his actions. This clandestine flight, requiring digging through walls, highlights the ignominious and concealed nature of his downfall, a stark contrast to the regal dignity he once held.
And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is continuing his symbolic actions to show the exiles the reality of Jerusalem's fall and King Zedekiah's desperate attempt to escape. This verse describes the king himself, the symbol of their nation's hope, attempting a stealthy, ignominious flight at night. He'll be seen carrying his own meager belongings, digging through a wall to get out, and covering his face in shame and to avoid recognition, foreshadowing his eventual capture and blinding.
Imagine a king, accustomed to all the splendor of his palace, now sneaking out under the cover of darkness. This verse paints a picture of desperate flight, a stark contrast to royal dignity.
Ezekiel describes King Zedekiah's attempt to flee Jerusalem as it's under siege.
A King's Burden
Instead of being carried in his royal litter, the king himself bears his meager belongings on his shoulder. This isn't just about carrying possessions; it's a symbol of the immense burden of his own failure and the impending doom of his people.
The Secret Passage
The desperate measure of digging through a wall highlights the extreme secrecy and shame associated with this flight. It wasn't an open surrender, but a furtive attempt to escape capture, revealing how dire the situation had become. The king's face is covered, not just to hide his identity, but as a profound symbol of his shame and grief.
Why would a fleeing king cover his face? It's more than just a disguise; this action carries deep symbolic weight pointing to a future horror.
The covering of the prince's face is a powerful symbol with multiple layers of meaning.
Shame and Hidden Identity
Primarily, it signifies his deep shame and his desperate attempt to remain unrecognized. He, the king, is reduced to hiding his face like a common criminal, unwilling to be seen by anyone, not even by the land he is fleeing from.
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Foreshadowing Future Blindness
More profoundly, the commentators note that this action foreshadows Zedekiah's ultimate fate. After his capture, Nebuchadnezzar would have his eyes put out. Covering his face, therefore, is a prophetic hint of his literal blindness, a severe consequence for his rebellion and his failure to heed God's warnings.
Understand the original words
nâsî’ · Hebrew Noun
In the context of Ezekiel, this refers to Zedekiah, the ruling monarch of Judah, whose position symbolizes the leadership's failure and the end of the Davidic dynasty in Jerusalem.
This verse vividly portrays King Zedekiah's desperate and shameful attempt to flee Jerusalem during its final siege, prefiguring his capture and blinding. It underscores the complete collapse of royal authority and the devastating consequences of rebellion against God's appointed powers.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Jerusalem and deports King Jehoiachin and many of the elite to Babylon. He installs Zedekiah as a puppet king.
c. 589-588 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, leading Nebuchadnezzar to lay siege to Jerusalem. The siege will last for over a year, causing immense suffering.
July 587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The walls of Jerusalem are breached by the Babylonian army after the long siege. The city is plundered and burned.
July 587 BC— this verse
Zedekiah's Failed Escape
King Zedekiah attempts to flee Jerusalem under the cover of darkness through a breach in the wall, disguised and attempting to hide his identity. He is captured by Babylonian forces.
c. July 587 BC
Zedekiah's Punishment
Zedekiah is brought before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, where his sons are killed before his eyes, and then his own eyes are gouged out. He is taken to Babylon in chains.
c. 587 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following the fall of Jerusalem, the remaining significant population, including leaders and skilled workers, are deported to Babylon.
This passage describes the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy, detailing how King Zedekiah attempted to escape Jerusalem at night through a breach in the walls, only to be captured.
Jeremiah 39:4Similar to 2 Kings, this verse recounts Zedekiah's failed escape attempt, emphasizing the digging through the wall and his subsequent capture, aligning with the symbolic actions described by Ezekiel.
Lamentations 4:20This verse speaks of the 'anointed of the LORD,' referring to the king, being captured in a 'snare,' reflecting the ignominious flight and capture of Zedekiah, the 'prince among them.'
Ezekiel 12:13This verse immediately follows Ezekiel 12:12 and explicitly states that the king would be taken to Babylon, and though he would see it, he would not see it again with his eyes, directly linking to the symbolic covering of his face.
pooleEzekiel 12:12: "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."
The prince; Zedekiah. Among them; in Jerusalem. Shall bear upon his shoulder; disguised no doubt as a common ordinary servant, in hope so to escape; but to conceal himself he flees in a disguise, and chooseth the twilight as the time that would best favour his…
calvinEzekiel 12:12: "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."
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.
Et princeps qui in medio ipsoru…
What seems like a king’s desperate, clumsy escape is actually a profound symbol of his pride and ultimate blindness. He covers his face not just to hide, but because he cannot or will not truly see the land he’s abandoning, mirroring his spiritual refusal to see the consequences of his actions. This clandestine flight, requiring digging through walls, highlights the ignominious and concealed nature of his downfall, a stark contrast to the regal dignity he once held.
Ezekiel is continuing his symbolic actions to show the exiles the reality of Jerusalem's fall and King Zedekiah's desperate attempt to escape. This verse describes the king himself, the symbol of their nation's hope, attempting a stealthy, ignominious flight at night. He'll be seen carrying his own meager belongings, digging through a wall to get out, and covering his face in shame and to avoid recognition, foreshadowing his eventual capture and blinding.
Ezekiel is continuing his symbolic actions to show the exiles the reality of Jerusalem's fall and King Zedekiah's desperate attempt to escape. This verse describes the king himself, the symbol of their nation's hope, attempting a stealthy, ignominious flight at night. He'll be seen carrying his own meager belongings, digging through a wall to get out, and covering his face in shame and to avoid recognition, foreshadowing his eventual capture and blinding.
"And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes." — What seems like a king’s desperate, clumsy escape is actually a profound symbol of his pride and ultimate blindness. He covers his face not just to hide, but because he cannot or will not truly s…
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Last reviewed October 2026
