Ezekiel 21:26-27
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This verse isn't just about a king losing his crown; it declares a radical overturning where both the royal crown and the priestly turban are removed, signaling the collapse of all existing authority. God declares things "shall not remain as they are," meaning the established order of both religious and political power is about to be completely dismantled.
thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted. A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be, until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is delivering a dramatic prophecy against King Zedekiah and Jerusalem, symbolized by a divine judgment unfolding like a drawn sword. This passage comes amidst the unfolding siege of Jerusalem, where Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon is leading to utter destruction. God declares that the symbols of royal authority – the turban and the crown – will be removed, signifying the complete overthrow of the Davidic dynasty and the established order, paving the way for a new reality.
Imagine the symbols of ultimate power – a crown, a royal sash – being dramatically removed. Ezekiel paints a vivid, shocking picture of judgment.
God's message to Zedekiah, the king of Judah, is direct and absolute: 'Remove the diadem and take off the crown.' These weren't just fancy hats; they were the ultimate symbols of royal authority and God's covenant with David's line.
A Symbol of Broken Trust
The commentators note that the 'diadem' could even refer to the high priest's mitre, suggesting judgment wasn't just on the king but on the whole system of leadership, both religious and civil. However, the primary focus here is on the king. By commanding the removal of these sacred items, God declares that the current monarchy, the symbol of His rule through David's descendants, is being overthrown. It signifies the end of an era and the complete dismantling of the existing power structure.
Not Just a Change, An Overturning
The phrase 'this shall not remain as it is' or 'this shall not be the same' is key. It’s not a minor adjustment; it’s a total upheaval. The established order is coming to an end, and nothing will be as it was before.
In a world obsessed with status, God’s justice operates on a different principle: the great reversal. What looks like chaos is actually divine order.
The latter half of the verse, 'Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted,' isn't just a general proverb. It’s a specific prophecy about the radical reordering of society and power under God's sovereign hand.
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The Humbled and the Honored
The commentators point out that this speaks of a dramatic shift. The proud, self-reliant King Zedekiah, who was 'high' in his own eyes and in his earthly kingdom, would be brought low – captured, blinded, and exiled. Conversely, figures who were 'low' – like the captive King Jehoiachin, or even the promised Messiah, who would come from humble beginnings – would be exalted.
A Preview of God's Kingdom
This principle of reversal is a hallmark of God's work throughout Scripture. He lifts up the humble and casts down the proud. This verse anticipates not only the immediate historical consequences for Judah but also the ultimate reign of the Messiah, where true exaltation belongs to the lowly who follow Him.
Understand the original words
Adonay Yahweh · Hebrew Noun/Title
A title for God emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, authority, and covenant relationship with His people; it denotes Him as the 'Self-Existent One' who is the 'Master' or 'Lord' of all creation.
tsaniph · Hebrew Noun
An item of headwear used by priests and kings, symbolizing honor, authority, and the status of the wearer. In a priestly context, it signified consecration and holiness.
atarah · Hebrew Noun
A royal headdress symbolizing majesty, supreme authority, and sovereign rule. Biblically, it often represents the power and legitimacy of a king.
avvah · Hebrew Noun
The biblical concept of a devastating collapse or overthrow, often resulting from divine judgment upon human pride, rebellion, or sin. It implies a complete reversal of status or fortune.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The act of evaluating, adjudicating, or bringing consequences for human actions. Ultimately, God is the supreme Judge to whom all authority and accountability belong.
This passage paints a vivid picture of the utter upheaval facing Judah. The removal of the diadem and crown isn't just about a king losing his position; it signifies the end of the Davidic dynasty and the established order, a radical overturning of the social and political hierarchy where the once-exalted face humiliation and the humbled can anticipate a future elevation.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many Jewish leaders and craftsmen to Babylon, installing Zedekiah as a puppet king. This marks a significant loss of sovereignty and national prestige.
c. 595-589 BC
Zedekiah's Rebellion and Egyptian Alliance
Despite warnings from Ezekiel, King Zedekiah rebels against Babylonian rule, seeking an alliance with Egypt. This defiance seals Jerusalem's fate.
c. 589-587 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem. The city suffers immense hardship before finally falling.
c. 587 BC
Deposition of Zedekiah
Zedekiah is captured, his sons are killed before his eyes, and he is blinded before being taken to Babylon. His royal diadem and crown are forcibly removed, signifying the end of the Davidic monarchy in Judah.
c. 587 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem's walls, the Temple, and much of the city, consolidating their power and scattering the remaining population.
c. 560 BC
Jehoiachin's Release and Exaltation
King Jehoiachin, exiled in Babylon for 37 years, is released and honored by the Babylonian king Evil-Merodach. His status is raised above other captive kings, fulfilling the prophecy of a 'low' person being exalted.
This passage beautifully echoes the sentiment of divine reversal, showing how God brings down the proud and lifts up the humble, a core theme in Ezekiel's prophecy of overturned kingdoms.
Luke 1:51-53Mary's Magnificat is a direct parallel, declaring God's power to scatter the proud, bring down rulers from their thrones, and lift up the humble and the lowly, mirroring Ezekiel's announcement of radical change.
Jeremiah 52:31-34This passage offers a historical fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy, detailing the release and exaltation of King Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) from Babylonian captivity, fulfilling the 'exalt him that is low' aspect in a very concrete way.
Philippians 2:5-11This New Testament passage speaks of Christ's humbling and subsequent exaltation, illustrating the ultimate divine reversal where the One who was low is lifted to the highest place, a theological fulfillment of the principle.
James 4:6James directly quotes and applies the principle found in Ezekiel, warning that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, underscoring the timeless nature of this divine decree.
ellicottEzekiel 21:26: "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high."
(26) Remove the diadem. —The word translated “diadem” is rendered in every other place in which it occurs ( Exodus 28:4 ; Exodus 28:37 bis, Exodus 28:39 ; Exodus 29:6 bis, Exodus 39:28 ; Exodus 39:31 ; Leviticus 8:9 bis , Exodus 16:4 ) the mitre of the high priest, and undoubtedly has the same sense here. Not only was the royal but a…
gillEzekiel 21:26: "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high."
Thus saith the Lord God, remove the diadem, and take off the crown,.... That is, from Zedekiah; and as these are the regalia and ensigns of royal dignity, taking them off signifies the deposition of him as a king, the stripping him of his kingly power and authority: an earthly crown is a corruptible and fading one, at most it continu…
This verse isn't just about a king losing his crown; it declares a radical overturning where both the royal crown and the priestly turban are removed, signaling the collapse of all existing authority. God declares things "shall not remain as they are," meaning the established order of both religious and political power is about to be completely dismantled.
Ezekiel is delivering a dramatic prophecy against King Zedekiah and Jerusalem, symbolized by a divine judgment unfolding like a drawn sword. This passage comes amidst the unfolding siege of Jerusalem, where Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon is leading to utter destruction. God declares that the symbols of royal authority – the turban and the crown – will be removed, signifying the complete overthrow of the Davidic dynasty and the established order, paving the way for a new reality.
Ezekiel is delivering a dramatic prophecy against King Zedekiah and Jerusalem, symbolized by a divine judgment unfolding like a drawn sword. This passage comes amidst the unfolding siege of Jerusalem, where Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon is leading to utter destruction. God declares that the symbols of royal authority – the turban and the crown – will be removed, signifying the complete overthrow of the Davidic dynasty and the established order, paving the way for a new reality.
"thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted. A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be, until he comes,…" — This verse isn't just about a king losing his crown; it declares a radical overturning where both the royal crown and the priestly turban are removed, signaling the collapse of all existing authori…
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Last reviewed October 2026
