Ezekiel 17:1-7

Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

1 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

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

3 saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "A great ²eagle with ³great wings, long pinions and a full plumage of many colors came to ⁴Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

4 "He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders.

5 "He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in ⁵fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters; he set it like a ⁶willow.

6 "Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and yielded shoots and sent out branches.

7 "But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was ⁷planted, that he might water it.

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Ezekiel 17:1-7 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 7

1. Ezekiel 20:49; Ezekiel 24:3
2. Jeremiah 48:40; Ezekiel 17:12; Hosea 8:1
3. Daniel 4:22
4. Jeremiah 22:23
5. Deuteronomy 8:7-9
6. Isaiah 44:4
7. Ezekiel 31:4

Footnotes 5

[a]. Lit "and you shall say"
[b]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD, and so throughout the ch
[c]. Lit "a field of seed"
[d]. Lit "took"
[e]. So with several ancient versions; M.T. "one"