Ezekiel 17
New Living Translation
A Story of Two Eagles
17 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, give this riddle, and tell this story to the people of Israel. 3 Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord:
“A great eagle with broad wings and long feathers,
covered with many-colored plumage,
came to Lebanon.
He seized the top of a cedar tree
4 and plucked off its highest branch.
He carried it away to a city filled with merchants.
He planted it in a city of traders.
5 He also took a seedling from the land
and planted it in fertile soil.
He placed it beside a broad river,
where it could grow like a willow tree.
6 It took root there and
grew into a low, spreading vine.
Its branches turned up toward the eagle,
and its roots grew down into the ground.
It produced strong branches
and put out shoots.
7 But then another great eagle came
with broad wings and full plumage.
So the vine now sent its roots and branches
toward him for water,
8 even though it was already planted in good soil
and had plenty of water
so it could grow into a splendid vine
and produce rich leaves and luscious fruit.
9 “So now the Sovereign Lord asks:
Will this vine grow and prosper?
No! I will pull it up, roots and all!
I will cut off its fruit
and let its leaves wither and die.
I will pull it up easily
without a strong arm or a large army.
10 But when the vine is transplanted,
will it thrive?
No, it will wither away
when the east wind blows against it.
It will die in the same good soil
where it had grown so well.”
The Riddle Explained
11 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 12 “Say to these rebels of Israel: Don’t you understand the meaning of this riddle of the eagles? The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took away her king and princes, and brought them to Babylon. 13 He made a treaty with a member of the royal family and forced him to take an oath of loyalty. He also exiled Israel’s most influential leaders, 14 so Israel would not become strong again and revolt. Only by keeping her treaty with Babylon could Israel survive.
15 “Nevertheless, this man of Israel’s royal family rebelled against Babylon, sending ambassadors to Egypt to request a great army and many horses. Can Israel break her sworn treaties like that and get away with it? 16 No! For as surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, the king of Israel will die in Babylon, the land of the king who put him in power and whose treaty he disregarded and broke. 17 Pharaoh and all his mighty army will fail to help Israel when the king of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem again and destroys many lives. 18 For the king of Israel disregarded his treaty and broke it after swearing to obey; therefore, he will not escape.
19 “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, I will punish him for breaking my covenant and disregarding the solemn oath he made in my name. 20 I will throw my net over him and capture him in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and put him on trial for this treason against me. 21 And all his best warriors[a] will be killed in battle, and those who survive will be scattered to the four winds. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.
22 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. 23 It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”
Footnotes
- 17:21 As in many Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text reads his fleeing warriors. The meaning is uncertain.
Ezekiel 17
Christian Standard Bible
Parable of the Eagles
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.(A) 3 You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: A huge eagle with powerful wings,(B) long feathers, and full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.(C) 4 He plucked off its topmost shoot, brought it to the land of merchants, and set it in a city of traders. 5 Then he took some of the land’s seed and put it in a fertile field;(D) he set it like a willow,(E) a plant[a] by abundant water. 6 It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height with its branches turned toward him,(F) yet its roots stayed under it. So it became a vine, produced branches, and sent out shoots.
7 “‘But there was another huge eagle with powerful wings and thick plumage. And this vine bent its roots toward him! It stretched out its branches to him from the plot where it was planted,(G) so that he might water it. 8 It had been planted in a good field by abundant water in order to produce branches, bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.’
9 “You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Will it flourish? Will he not tear out its roots(H) and strip off its fruit so that it shrivels? All its fresh leaves will wither! Great strength and many people will not be needed to pull it from its roots. 10 Even though it is planted, will it flourish? Won’t it wither completely when the east wind strikes it?(I) It will wither on the plot where it sprouted.’”
11 The word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Now say to that rebellious house,(J) ‘Don’t you know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and officials,(K) and brought them back with him to Babylon. 13 He took one of the royal family(L) and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath.(M) Then he took away the leading men of the land, 14 so that the kingdom would be humble and not exalt itself(N) but would keep his covenant in order to endure. 15 However, this king revolted against him(O) by sending his ambassadors to Egypt so they might give him horses and a large army.(P) Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still escape?
16 “‘As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne,(Q) whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. 17 Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast company will not help him in battle,(R) when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. He did all these things even though he gave his hand in pledge.(S) He will not escape!
19 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: As I live, I will bring down on his head my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke. 20 I will spread my net over him,(T) and he will be caught in my snare.(U) I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there for the treachery he committed against me.(V) 21 All the fugitives[b] among his troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every direction of the wind.(W) Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.
22 “‘This is what the Lord God says:
I will take a sprig
from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it.(X)
I will pluck a tender sprig
from its topmost shoots,
and I will plant it
on a high towering mountain.
23 I will plant it on Israel’s high mountain(Y)
so that it may bear branches, produce fruit,
and become a majestic cedar.
Birds of every kind will nest under it,(Z)
taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
24 Then all the trees of the field will know
that I am the Lord.
I bring down the tall tree,
and make the low tree tall.(AA)
I cause the green tree to wither
and make the withered tree thrive.(AB)
I, the Lord, have spoken
and I will do it.’”(AC)
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