Ezekiel 17:1-10

The Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

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

2 “Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel

3 and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, ^[a] full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

4 He plucked off its topmost shoot, carried it to the land of merchants, and planted it in a city of traders.

5 He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; ^[b] he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow.

6 It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and yielded branches and sent out shoots.

7 But there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed, so that he might water it.

8 It had been planted in good soil by abundant waters in order to yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’

9 So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Will it flourish? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its foliage will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots.

10 Even if it is transplanted, will it flourish? Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’”

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. (Matthew 13:24–30)

Footnotes

• [a] Pinions are the outer parts of a bird’s wings, including the flight feathers.
• [b] Hebrew in a field of seed