Keraia
Ezekiel 17

Ezekiel 17:21

The Parable Explained · Ezekiel 17:11–24
Read Ezekiel 17

Translations

Modern
All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’
Traditional
And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it.
Literal
And all his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those remaining will be scattered to every wind! And you will know that I, YHWH, have spoken.’
Latin
Et omnes profugi ejus, cum universo agmine suo, gladio cadent: residui autem in omnem ventum dispergentur: et scietis quia ego Dominus locutus sum.

Original

Hebrew
English
All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’

Notes

Ezekiel 17:19–21

  • God would punish Israel’s king because he broke his covenant. By turning against Babylon, he also committed treason (betrayal against a ruler). In doing this, he sinned against the Lord, who had placed him in the promised land.

  • will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him: See 2 Kings 25:5–7.

Ezekiel 17:1–24

This chapter includes a riddle. A riddle is a type of metaphorical speech (language that uses pictures and comparisons). It both hides and shows the meaning at the same time.

The chapter is also a fable. A fable is a story that teaches a moral lesson. It often tells the lesson through plants or animals instead of people.

This creative setting creates distance between the story and real life. That distance helps the listener receive the message. It lowers resistance to a message that may be hard or unpleasant to hear.

Ezekiel 15:1–24:14

This section includes eight metaphors, each showing from a different angle the certainty of Jerusalem's upcoming judgment. The images are of:

  1. a worthless vine (Ezekiel 15);

  2. a faithless wife (Ezekiel 16);

  3. a vine and two eagles (Ezekiel 17);

  4. Sour grapes (Ezekiel 18);

  5. a lion and her cubs (Ezekiel 19);

  6. a sword (Ezekiel 21);

  7. two corrupt sisters (Ezekiel 23); and

  8. a cooking pot (Ezekiel 24).

Events

Glossary

Alliance Cedar Curse, Cursed Ezekiel, Book of Hosea, Book of Riddle

Topics

Babylon: Revolt of the Jews From, and Their Punishment Illustrated Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar by Ezekiel Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar: Throws off his Allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar