Ezekiel 17:1-10

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.

8 "It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters, that it might yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine."'

9 "Say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers -so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again.

10 "Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not ⁸completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it-wither on the beds where it grew?""'

Ezekiel 17:1-10 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. 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
• 8. Ezekiel 19:14; Hosea 13:15

Footnotes

• [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"
• [f]. Lit "field"
• [g]. Lit "arm"