Ezekiel 17:1-9

1 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,

3 and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings, long-pinioned, full of feathers, which was of divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar.

4 He cropped off the top of its young shoots, and carried it into a merchants' land; he set it in a city of traders.

5 And he took of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, he set it as a willow tree.

6 And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, so that its branches should turn toward him, and the roots thereof be under him; and it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

7 And there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers; and behold, from the beds of her plantation, this vine did bend her roots unto him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it.

8 It was planted in a good field by many waters, that it might bring forth branches and bear fruit, that it might be a noble vine.

9 Say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, that it may wither? All its fresh sprouting leaves shall wither, even without a great arm and many people to pluck it up by its roots.

Ezekiel 17:1-9 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb. 'land of Canaan:' see ch. 16.29.
• [b]. Lit. 'in a field of sowing.'
• [c]. Rab; or 'great,' as ver. 5.
• [d]. Lit. 'vine of magnificence:' see ver. 23, 'noble,' 'excellent,' and Jer. 30.21.