Ezekiel 17:1-6

Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

1 The word of the Lord came to me:

2 ¹“Son of man, ²propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

3 say, Thus says the Lord God: ³A great eagle ⁴with great wings and long pinions, ⁵rich in plumage of many colors, came ⁶to Lebanon ⁷and took the top of the cedar.

4 He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants.

5 Then he took of the seed of the land ⁸and planted it in fertile soil. ^[a] He placed it beside abundant waters. ⁹He set it like a willow twig,

6 and it sprouted and became a ¹⁰low ¹¹spreading vine, and its branches turned toward him, and its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out boughs.

Ezekiel 17:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 17

Under the simile of two eagles and a vine are represented the kings of Babylon and Egypt, and the condition of the Jews, who are threatened with ruin for their perfidy; and yet a promise is made of the raising up of the house of Judah, and family of David, in the Messiah. The prophet is bid to deliver a riddle or parable to the house of Israel, Eze 17:1,2. The riddle or parable is concerning two eagles and a vine, which is delivered, Eze 17:3-10; and the explanation of it is in Eze 17:11-15; and then the destruction of the Jews is threatened for their treachery to the king of Babylon, Eze 17:16-21; and the chapter is closed with a promise of the Messiah, and the prosperity of his kingdom, Eze 17:22-24.

Cross References

• 1. 17:2 See ch. 2:1
• 2. 17:2 [ch. 20:49; 24:3]
• 3. 17:3 Jer. 48:40
• 4. 17:3 ver. 7
• 5. 17:3 ver. 7
• 6. 17:3 [Jer. 22:23]
• 7. 17:3 ver. 22; ch. 31:3, 4, 10
• 8. 17:5 See Deut. 8:7-10
• 9. 17:5 [Isa. 44:4]
• 10. 17:6 [ver. 14]
• 11. 17:6 ch. 15:6

Footnotes

• [a] 17:5 Hebrew 'in a field of seed'