Bible Chapter Summary
Ezekiel 17 Summary
The Two Eagles and the Vine
God instructs Ezekiel to speak a riddle: a great eagle with great wings comes to Lebanon and takes the highest branch of a cedar tree. The eagle plants the tree's seed in a fruitful field by great waters, and it becomes a spreading vine. Another great eagle appears, and the vine bends its roots toward him and shoots forth branches to be watered by him. God then explains through Ezekiel that the first eagle is the king of Babylon who took Jerusalem's king and princes to Babylon and made a covenant with him. But the king of Judah rebelled and sent ambassadors to Egypt, breaking his oath. God declares that as He has spoken, the king shall die in Babylon, and Pharaoh cannot deliver him. Yet God promises to take a tender branch from the highest branch and plant it on a high mountain of Israel, where it shall become a goodly cedar.
Key themes
Key verses
Ezekiel 17:12
“Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;”
Ezekiel 17:16
“As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.”
Ezekiel 17:19
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.”
Ezekiel 17:22
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:”
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