Ezekiel 17 10

Ezekiel 17:10 kjv

Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.

Ezekiel 17:10 nkjv

Behold, it is planted, Will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the garden terrace where it grew." ' "

Ezekiel 17:10 niv

It has been planted, but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it?wither away in the plot where it grew?'?"

Ezekiel 17:10 esv

Behold, it is planted; will it thrive? Will it not utterly wither when the east wind strikes it ? wither away on the bed where it sprouted?"

Ezekiel 17:10 nlt

But when the vine is transplanted,
will it thrive?
No, it will wither away
when the east wind blows against it.
It will die in the same good soil
where it had grown so well."

Ezekiel 17 verses

Ezekiel 17 10 Meaning

Ezekiel 17:10 proclaims the certain and irreversible judgment upon the vine, representing King Zedekiah and the kingdom of Judah. Despite having been seemingly well-planted in a fertile land through divine arrangement (installed by Nebuchadnezzar), its disloyal actions and turning towards Egypt had already rendered it spiritually withered and doomed. The verse employs rhetorical questions to emphasize that this weakened vine could not possibly flourish, but would instead be completely consumed and wither away when the inevitable "east wind" of Babylonian judgment touched it, signifying its total destruction in its own homeland.

Ezekiel 17 10 Context

Ezekiel 17 is an allegorical riddle about two great eagles, a vine, and a cedar. The prophet, exiled to Babylon, receives this vision following Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem (597 BC), which led to King Jehoiachin's deportation and the installation of Zedekiah as a vassal king. The "first great eagle" represents Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who took the "top of the cedar" (King Jehoiachin and the noble class) to Babylon, then planted a "seed" (Zedekiah, the youngest son of Josiah) in fertile ground (Judah) as a low vine that was supposed to serve him loyally (vv. 3-6). However, this vine (Zedekiah) sought another "great eagle" (Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt) to re-root itself and rebel against its oath to Babylon (vv. 7-8). God then condemns this disloyalty in verse 9, stating He will uproot and destroy the vine. Verse 10 acts as an emphatic declaration that this vine's destruction is not just a threat but an accomplished fact in God's eyes; its doom is already sealed due to its inherent spiritual and political betrayal. This verse is key in explaining to the exiles in Babylon why Judah’s ultimate destruction by Babylon is inevitable and justified, attributing it to Zedekiah’s broken covenant.

Ezekiel 17 10 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnêh): This interjection serves to grab immediate attention and introduce a solemn or important declaration. It emphasizes the certainty and immediacy of what follows, acting as a strong declaration of fact rather than a mere possibility.
• it withered (יָבֵשׁ - yāḇēš): The Hebrew verb is in the perfect tense, suggesting a completed action or a state that has already begun and is confirmed. It implies a loss of vital sap, freshness, and strength, indicating an inherent weakness or decline.
• away already: An interpretive English addition that captures the full force of the Hebrew perfect tense, underscoring that the process of perishing is either already evident or irrevocably determined.
• being planted (בְּשָׂתוּהָ - bəśātûhā - from root שָׁתַל, shathal): The verse text here specifically uses bəśātûhā which is part of a construct noun bəšubbâ, meaning "in its being planted" or "at its very planting". This highlights the ironic contrast: despite the initial favorable conditions of its planting (representing the seemingly stable position granted by Babylon), the vine was doomed from its unfaithful orientation. It suggests an inherent failure or deficiency despite superficial advantages.
• will it flourish? (הֲתִצְלָח - hăṯiṣlāḥ): A rhetorical question. The prefix 'ha' transforms the verb "to flourish/prosper" (צָלַח - tsālāḥ) into a question. The intended answer is a resounding "No." It challenges any lingering hope of success for the unfaithful vine.
• will it not utterly wither (הֲלֹא קַטָּרֹת יִבָשׁ - hălō’ qaṭṭārōṯ yāḇēš): Another powerful rhetorical question, reinforced by 'lo' (not) and the adverb 'utterly' (קַטָּרֹת - qaṭṭārōṯ). 'Qaṭṭārōṯ' signifies complete, severe, and absolute drying up or destruction. The question expects an emphatic "Yes, it will utterly wither."
• when the east wind touches it (בִּנְגַע־בָּהּ רוּחַ קָדִים - binḡaʿ-bāh rûaḥ qāḏîm):
  • touches/strikes (בִּנְגַע - binḡaʿ): Literally "in a touch" or "by the striking." Implies not just contact but a powerful, harmful impact.
  • east wind (רוּחַ קָדִים - rûaḥ qāḏîm): In the ancient Near East, the ruaḥ qadim was notorious for being a hot, dry, often violent wind blowing from the desert. It brought desiccation and devastation to vegetation. Biblically, it frequently symbolizes severe divine judgment, bringing ruin, drought, or enemy invasion (especially from the East). Here, it personifies Babylon's inevitable return to execute judgment.
• it will wither (יִיבָשׁ - yîḇaš): Simple future tense of yāḇēš. This confirms the preceding rhetorical questions, making a direct and undeniable statement of certainty regarding the vine's future.
• in the furrows where it grew (בַּעֲרֻגוֹת צִמְחָהּ - ba‘aruggōṯ ṣimḥāh):
  • furrows (עֲרֻגָה - ʿaruggâ): Literally "beds" or "garden plots/ridges." This specifies the very place where it was given the conditions to grow.
  • where it grew (צִמְחָהּ - ṣimḥāh): Refers to its growth or sprouting. The implication is that its destruction will occur in the very location of its supposed vitality, sealing its fate precisely where it once had its opportunity for life.

Words-group analysis

• "Behold, it withered away already, being planted": This opening phrase immediately establishes the vine's doomed condition despite its initial, seemingly favorable, establishment. It's a statement of paradoxical reality – planted for life, but destined for death due to its inherent fault or trajectory.
• "will it flourish? will it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it?": This pair of rhetorical questions strongly asserts the impossibility of the vine flourishing and the certainty of its utter destruction. The "east wind" acts as the critical agent of divine judgment, rendering its doom unavoidable once the inevitable confrontation occurs. The emphasis is on the decisive, destructive nature of this divine intervention.
• "it will wither in the furrows where it grew": This concluding statement reaffirms the vine's complete and irreversible demise. It highlights the completeness of the judgment; the destruction will not be partial but will encompass its very origin and former place of growth, ensuring no recovery.

Ezekiel 17 10 Bonus section

• The theme of breaking a solemn oath, particularly a covenant witnessed by God (2 Chr 36:13), is paramount in this chapter. Zedekiah's alliance with Babylon involved a sacred oath, and its violation incurred severe divine displeasure. This verse is a direct consequence of that transgression.
• The rhetorical questions throughout the verse emphasize divine sarcasm and certitude regarding the vine's fate. God leaves no room for doubt about what will happen to a nation that rejects His sovereignty and the binding nature of their covenants.
• While allegorical, the imagery of "withering" due to an "east wind" connects to actual agricultural realities in the arid Near East, making the prophetic message immediately impactful and relatable to the original audience experiencing or anticipating famine and drought.

Ezekiel 17 10 Commentary

Ezekiel 17:10 is a divine verdict encapsulated in a prophetic allegory. It conveys that Zedekiah's disloyal acts and reliance on Egypt sealed Judah's fate before Babylon even returned. The phrase "it withered away already, being planted" speaks to the spiritual and moral decay that had already set in despite Judah’s seemingly strong geopolitical position. This suggests that the internal weakness and broken covenant had made them ripe for destruction, irrespective of external pressures. The "east wind," representing God's instruments of judgment (specifically Nebuchadnezzar's forces), is presented not as a mere threat but as an unassailable force. Once this judgment "touches" Judah, its demise is guaranteed and complete. There is no hope for recovery or flourishing for a people who betray the divine trust. The declaration "it will wither in the furrows where it grew" underscores the totality of the devastation—the kingdom would be destroyed within its own land, unable to escape or find a new foothold, leaving no room for a flourishing future as an independent entity. This passage provides a stark warning against broken oaths, reliance on worldly alliances, and faithlessness to God’s appointed path.