Ezekiel 17:1-10

Expanded Bible

The Eagle and the Vine

17 The ·Lord spoke his word [^Lword of the Lord came] to me, saying: ² “·Human [^TSon of man; 2:1], give a ·riddle [allegory] and tell a ·story [parable] to the ·people [^Lhouse] of Israel. ³ Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: A ·giant [great; mighty] eagle with ·big [great] wings and long ·feathers [^Lfeathers and plumage] of many different colors [16:10] came to Lebanon and took hold of the top of a cedar tree. ⁴ He pulled off the top ·branch [shoot] and brought it to a land of ·traders [merchants; ^CBabylon], where he planted it in a city of traders [^Cthe eagle symbolizes King Nebuchadnezzar; v. 12].

⁵ “‘The eagle took ·some seed [or a seedling] from the land and planted it in ·a good field [fertile soil] near plenty of water. He planted it to grow like a willow tree. ⁶ It sprouted and became a low vine that spread over the ground. The branches turned toward the eagle, but the roots were under ·the eagle [or itself; ^Lit]. So the seed became a vine, and its ·branches [shoots] grew, sending out ·leaves [or branches; boughs].

⁷ “‘But there was another ·giant [great; mighty] eagle with ·big [great] wings and ·many feathers [full plumage]. The vine then ·bent [sent] its roots toward this eagle. It ·sent [stretched; shot] out its branches from the ·area [bed; plot] where it was planted toward the eagle ·so he could water it [to get water]. ⁸ It had been planted in ·a good field [good soil] by plenty of water so it could grow branches and bear fruit. It could have become a ·fine [beautiful; splendid] vine.’

⁹ “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·The vine will not continue to grow [^LWill it thrive/prosper?]. ·The first eagle will [^LWill he not…?] pull up the vine’s roots and strip off its fruit. Then the vine and all its new leaves will ·dry up and die [wither]. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull the vine up by its roots. ¹⁰ [^LLook; ^TBehold] Even if it is planted again, ·it will not [^Lwill it…?] ·continue to grow [thrive]. ·It will [^LWill it not…?] completely ·dry up and die [wither] when the east wind hits it. ·It will [or Will it not…?] ·dry up and die [wither] in the ·area [bed; plot] where it ·grew [sprouted].’”