Ezekiel 17:8

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

Ezekiel 17:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 17:8

It was planted in, a good soil, by great waters
As is expressed in ( Ezekiel 17:5 ) ; this was done by the king of Babylon, who had raised Zedekiah from a low estate to a high one, and set him on the throne of Judah, over many people; and put him in such a condition, and in such circumstances, that he and his people might have been very happy, could they have been content:, for his view was, that he might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that
it might be a goodly vine;
that he and his people might grow numerous and rich, and be a prosperous and flourishing kingdom; this is mentioned to aggravate the ingratitude of Zedekiah, and the people of the Jews, in rebelling against the king of Babylon, who had used them well, and of whom they had no reason to complain.

Ezekiel 17:8 In-Context

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 planted, 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 completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it-wither on the beds where it grew?""'

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "field"