Ezekiel 17:22

Translations

Modern

This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Traditional

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:

Literal

Thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘I will take from the treetop of the highest cedar, and I will set it out; from the topmost of its shoots, a tender one I will pluck off, and I will plant it on a mountain high and exalted.

Latin

Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Et sumam ego de medulla cedri sublimis, et ponam: de vertice ramorum ejus tenerum distringam, et plantabo super montem excelsum et eminentem.

Original

Hebrew

English

This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Notes

Ezekiel 17:22–24

The last part of the chapter changes the story. Now the Lord takes a branch from the cedar tree and plants it on Israel’s highest mountain. In the Old Testament, a tree often represents a royal family line. A new shoot (a small new branch) represents a new beginning (compare Isaiah 11:1).
The judgment on the vine would not end the monarchy (the rule of kings). God would plant a new branch. This branch would grow into a greater cedar than the first one. Although the line of kings seemed to end with Zedekiah, this was not the final outcome.
In God’s time, a new beginning was certain (see Haggai 2:21–23; Matthew 1:11–16; 2:1–11).
God cuts down the tall tree, makes the short tree grow tall, and revives the dead tree, allowing birds of every kind to find shelter and shade under its branches. In this picture, birds of every kind represent the nations.
God had promised David an eternal throne (a kingdom that would not end). The failures of David’s descendants, the kings of Judah, could not cancel that promise. One day, the family line of David would rise again. This happened through Jesus, who brings blessing to all nations.

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:

a worthless vine (Ezekiel 15);
a faithless wife (Ezekiel 16);
a vine and two eagles (Ezekiel 17);
Sour grapes (Ezekiel 18);
a lion and her cubs (Ezekiel 19);
a sword (Ezekiel 21);
two corrupt sisters (Ezekiel 23); and
a cooking pot (Ezekiel 24).

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Zechariah 6:12–13
And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.
Isaiah 11:1–5
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.
Psalm 2:6
“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”
Ezekiel 20:40
For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
Ezekiel 40:2
In visions of God He took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose southern slope was a structure that resembled a city.
Zechariah 3:8
Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.
Psalm 72:16
May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.
Jeremiah 33:15–16
In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
Micah 4:1
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it.
Jeremiah 23:5–6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
Daniel 2:35
Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Cedar Ezekiel, Book of Riddle Root of Jesse

Topics

Babylon: Revolt of the Jews From, and Their Punishment Illustrated Church: Prophecies Concerning Prosperity of Jesus, the Christ: Prophecies Concerning Universality of the Kingdom of The Cedar: High The Cedar: Majesty, Strength, and Glory of Christ The Church: Extent of, Predicted

Ezekiel 17:22

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