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Ezekiel 17
Ezekiel 17:1
General Information:
Ezekiel reports a message that God gives him.
The word of Yahweh came
This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:16. Alternate translation: "Yahweh spoke this message" or "Yahweh spoke these words" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Ezekiel 17:2
Son of man
"Son of a human being" or "Son of humanity." God calls Ezekiel this to emphasize that Ezekiel is only a human being. God is eternal and powerful, but humans are not. Alternate translation: "Mortal person" or "Human"
present a riddle and speak a parable
"give them a puzzle to think about" or "tell this story as an illustration"
the house of Israel
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:1. Alternate translation: "the Israelite people group" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezekiel 17:3
long pinions, full of feathers
"the ends of its wings were long and full of feathers." The word "pinion" means the outer end of the wings.
that was multicolored
The eagle's feathers were many different colors.
Ezekiel 17:4
It broke off the tips of the branches
"It broke off the highest part of the tree"
took them
"took the top of the tree" or "took the branches"
he planted it in a city of merchants
"he planted it in a city that had many merchants." A merchant is a person who sells things.
Ezekiel 17:5
General Information:
This is a continuation of the parable about the eagle.
He also took
The word "he" is the eagle in the parable.
fertile soil
"good ground"
He placed it beside a large body of water
"the eagle planted the seed in a place where there was a lot of water"
planted it ... like a willow
Willow trees grow in places where there is a lot of water. If the eagle planted the seed like a willow, it means that he planted it in a place with a lot of water. Alternate translation: "and planted the seed like one would plant a willow tree by water" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Ezekiel 17:6
Then it sprouted
"Then the seed began to grow into a plant"
a spreading vine low to the ground
"a vine that spreads out on the ground"
Its branches turned toward him
The branches of the vine turned toward the eagle. This means that they began to grow upward towards the sky.
its roots grew under it
Possible meanings are 1) "its roots grew under itself into the ground" or "the roots of the vine grew under the eagle."
So it became a vine
"That is how the vine grew"
produced branches and sent out shoots
"grew branches and spread its shoots"
Ezekiel 17:7
General Information:
The introductory "but" shows that a different eagle is being described other than the one before.
another great eagle
"another large eagle"
Behold!
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.
This vine turned its roots toward the eagle
Yahweh speaks of the vine as if it were able to behave like a person and intentionally turned its roots toward the other eagle to receive nourishment from it. Alternate translation: "The roots of the vine grew toward the eagle" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
from the place it had been planted so it would be watered
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "from the place that the first eagle had planted it so that it would have water" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 17:8
It had been planted
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The first eagle had planted the vine" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 17:9
Will it prosper?
Yahweh asks this as a leading question to emphasize the negative answer. This can be translated as as statement. Alternate translation: "It will not prosper." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers, and all its fresh growth will wither?
Yahweh asks this rhetorical question to emphasize that the vine will certainly be judged. The question can be translated as a statement. It can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Someone will pull up its roots and pluck out its fruit so all of its growth of leaves will wither away." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
No strong arm or many people will be needed to pull it out
The phrase "strong arm" represents a strong person. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "There will be no need for a strong person or many people to pull it out" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 17:10
behold
"look" or "listen" or "pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
will it grow?
Yahweh asks this as a leading question to emphasize the negative answer. The question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "It will not grow." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Will it not wither when the eastern wind touches it?
Yahweh asks this rhetorical question to emphasize that this will certainly happen. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "It will wither when the eastern wind touches it." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
when the eastern wind touches it
"when the eastern wind blows on it"
Ezekiel 17:11
the word of Yahweh came
This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:16. Alternate translation: "Yahweh spoke this message" or "Yahweh spoke these words" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Ezekiel 17:12
the rebellious house
This is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 2:5. Alternate translation: "the rebellious people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Do you not know what these things mean?
Yahweh asks this as a leading question in order to provide the answer. The question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "This is what these things mean." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Behold
"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
her king and her princes
The word "her" refers to Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 17:13
brought him under an oath
"made him swear an oath"
Ezekiel 17:14
so the kingdom might become lowly and not lift itself up
The kingdom being small and weak is spoken of as if it were lowly and being large and powerful as if it lifted itself up. Alternate translation: "so the kingdom might remain small and not become great" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the land will survive
Here the word "land" represents the kingdom of Judah and the people in it. Alternate translation: "the kingdom will continue to exist" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezekiel 17:15
General Information:
Yahweh speaks about the king of Jerusalem rebelling against the king of Babylon.
Will he succeed?
Yahweh asks this leading question to emphasize the negative answer. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "He will certainly not succeed." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Will the one doing these things escape?
Yahweh asks this leading question to emphasize the negative answer. This may be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "The one doing these things will not escape." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
If he breaks the covenant, will he escape?
Yahweh asks this leading question to emphasize the negative answer. This question can be translated as as statement. Alternate translation: "If he breaks the covenant, he will certainly not escape." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Ezekiel 17:16
the land of the king who made him king, the king whose oath he despised
"the land of the king of Babylon who made him King of Judah, the king of Babylon whose oath he despised"
Ezekiel 17:17
General Information:
Yahweh speaking about the king of Jerusalem.
his mighty army and a great company of men
These two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize how large and strong Pharaoh's army is. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)
will not help him
Here the word "him" refers to the king of Judah.
siege walls
this refers to a tower with ladders that can be placed next to a wall and allow soldiers to get over the wall and into the city.
to cut off many lives
"to kill many people"
Ezekiel 17:18
Behold, he reached out
"He did something even worse than that: he reached out"
reached out with his hand to make a promise
This refers to taking hold of another person's hand as a sign of friendship and agreement. Here it represents the covenant oath that he made with the king of Babylon. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Ezekiel 17:19
was it not my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke?
Yahweh asks this leading question to emphasize the affirmative answer. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "it was my oath that the king of Jerusalem despised and my covenant that he broke." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
I will bring his punishment on his head
The idiom "bring ... on his head" means that he will experience this punishment. See how you translated this idiom in Ezekiel 11:21. Alternate translation: "I will cause him to suffer his punishment" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Ezekiel 17:20
I will spread my net out over him, and he will be caught in my hunting net
Yahweh speaks of enabling the enemy army to capture the king as if he were trapping the king in a net. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
he will be caught in my hunting net
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: "I will catch him in my hunting net" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 17:21
All of his refugees ... armies will fall by the sword
The word "fall" is a euphemism for "die." Here the word "sword" is a metonym for soldiers who kill people with swords. Alternate translation: "Soldiers will kill all his refugees ... armies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
the ones who remain will be scattered in every direction
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the ones who remain alive will flee in every direction" or "the enemy soldiers will scatter in every directions the ones who remain alive" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
know that I am Yahweh
When Yahweh says that people will know that he is Yahweh, he is implying that they will know that he is the one true God who has supreme authority and power. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 6:7. Alternate translation: "understand that I am Yahweh, the one true God" or "realize that I, Yahweh, have supreme power and authority" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Ezekiel 17:22
General Information:
Yahweh resumes the parable that he had told in Ezekiel 17:1 and speaks about Jerusalem as if it were a branch that he plants on the mountains of Israel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 17:23
bear branches
"grow new branches"
Ezekiel 17:24
General Information:
Yahweh continues to speak about Jerusalem as if the city were a branch that he plants on the mountains of Israel and of other nations as if they were other trees. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Then all the trees of the field will know that I am Yahweh
Yahweh speaks of trees as if they are people who can know about him. The trees represent the nations and the people who live in them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I bring down the high trees and I raise up the low trees
"I cut down the tall trees and I cause the little trees to grow"
wither
when a plant dries up and dies.