Ezekiel 17 13

Ezekiel 17:13 kjv

And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

Ezekiel 17:13 nkjv

And he took the king's offspring, made a covenant with him, and put him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land,

Ezekiel 17:13 niv

Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty with him, putting him under oath. He also carried away the leading men of the land,

Ezekiel 17:13 esv

And he took one of the royal offspring and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath (the chief men of the land he had taken away),

Ezekiel 17:13 nlt

He made a treaty with a member of the royal family and forced him to take an oath of loyalty. He also exiled Israel's most influential leaders,

Ezekiel 17 verses

Ezekiel 17 13 Meaning

Ezekiel 17:13 describes the actions of the "great eagle" (Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar) towards the kingdom of Judah. It outlines his taking a person from Judah's royal line, establishing a solemn covenant (treaty) with this new king, reinforcing it with a sacred oath, and simultaneously weakening the land by deporting its powerful leaders and elites to ensure subservience. This verse is crucial in the chapter's allegory, explaining how Judah became a vassal state to Babylon.

Ezekiel 17 13 Context

Ezekiel 17 is presented as a riddle and allegory addressed to "the rebellious house" of Israel (Ezek 17:1-2), a common theme in Ezekiel. The prophet describes two great eagles, a cedar tree, and a vine, interpreting these symbols for Judah's political subjugation by Babylon. The first great eagle represents Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. He came to Jerusalem and established Zedekiah as a vassal king, having previously deported King Jehoiachin and the Jewish elite to Babylon in 597 BC. The "seed of the land" (v. 13) likely refers to Zedekiah, from the royal Davidic line, installed to rule under Babylonian suzerainty. The "mighty of the land" also taken away refers to the exiles, including Jehoiachin and other prominent citizens. The covenant and oath imposed on Zedekiah bound him to absolute loyalty to Babylon, an obligation that he later broke by seeking help from Egypt, initiating a series of events culminating in Jerusalem's final destruction (Ezek 17:15-21). Historically, Judah found itself in a precarious geopolitical position, caught between the dominant empires of Egypt and Babylon, trying to play one against the other, which often led to divine judgment due to breaking covenant commitments.

Ezekiel 17 13 Word analysis

• He took (וַיִּקַּח, wayyiqqach): From the Hebrew root לָקַח (laqach), meaning "to take, seize, acquire." In this context, it signifies an assertive action of acquisition and control by the first great eagle (Nebuchadnezzar), not a request or negotiation. It denotes an act of authority and sovereignty over the conquered land.

• also some of the seed of the land (מִזֶּרַע הָאָרֶץ, mizzera‘ hā’āreṣ):

  • מִזֶּרַע (mizzera‘): "from the seed/offspring." "Seed" here metaphorically refers to the royal lineage or an individual descendant who represents the royal line. In this specific allegorical context, it most directly refers to Zedekiah, whom Nebuchadnezzar appointed from the Davidic royal family.
  • הָאָרֶץ (hā’āreṣ): "the land." Referring specifically to the land of Judah, underscoring that the selected individual originated from and represented Judah.
  • This phrase highlights Nebuchadnezzar's control over the succession, not merely deposing one king but installing another under his direct authority.

• and made a covenant with him (וַיִּכְרֹת אִתּוֹ בְרִית, wayyikhrot ‘ittō berît):

  • וַיִּכְרֹת (wayyikhrot): From the root כָּרַת (karat), "to cut." The idiom "to cut a covenant" (כָּרַת בְרִית) signifies a solemn and binding agreement, rooted in the ancient Near Eastern practice of passing between cut animal carcasses (cf. Gen 15:9-10; Jer 34:18), symbolizing the dire consequences of breaking the agreement.
  • אִתּוֹ (‘ittō): "with him," referring to the "seed of the land," i.e., Zedekiah.
  • בְרִית (berît): "covenant, treaty." This was a suzerainty treaty, a standard form of ancient Near Eastern international law where a more powerful "suzerain" ruler imposed terms on a lesser "vassal" king.

• and took an oath of him (וַיָּבֵא אֹתוֹ בְּאָלָה, wayyabē’ ‘ōtō b^e’ālâ or wayyaśśē’ ‘ālāw ’ālâ - different textual traditions slightly vary but retain meaning of oath imposition; KJV likely follows a reading where it means "imposed an oath upon him").

  • אָלָה (’ālâ): "oath, curse, solemn vow." An oath in this context involved invoking a deity (often the vassal's own God, as with Zedekiah swearing by Yahweh) as witness and enforcer of the treaty, carrying immense religious and legal weight. Breaking it was not just a political offense but a severe blasphemy that invited divine retribution.
  • This phrase emphasizes the sacred and inviolable nature of the vassal treaty.

• he took away also the mighty of the land (גַם אֵילֵי הָאָרֶץ לָקַח, gam ’êlê hā’āreṣ lāqaḥ):

  • גַם (gam): "also, even." Indicates an additional, significant action.
  • אֵילֵי (’êlê): Plural of אַיִל (’ayil), meaning "ram" (animal), but metaphorically used for "chiefs, mighty men, leaders, princes" (cf. Exod 15:15; Ezek 31:11). It refers to the influential, strong, and elite members of society, typically the noble families, skilled craftsmen, and influential persons.
  • הָאָרֶץ (hā’āreṣ): "the land," specifically Judah.
  • לָקַח (laqach): "he took away." This action refers to the deportation of the 597 BC exiles (King Jehoiachin and approximately 10,000 others) to Babylon, effectively stripping Judah of its strongest human resources and potential for rebellion.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "He took also some of the seed of the land... and took away also the mighty of the land": This pair of actions highlights a strategic twin approach by the oppressor. One, a new, pliable leader is installed ("seed"). Two, the established strong elements that might resist are removed ("mighty"). This dual strategy ensures both control over the new administration and the neutralization of potential opposition.
  • "made a covenant with him, and took an oath of him": These phrases underscore the deep religious and legal gravity of the imposed vassalage. It wasn't just a verbal agreement; it was a ritualistically binding oath, making defiance not just a political act but a grievous spiritual offense against the God in whose name Zedekiah swore. This elevated the subsequent rebellion from merely political treason to covenantal sacrilege.

Ezekiel 17 13 Bonus section

• The Babylonian vassal treaty, enforced through an oath, aligns with common ancient Near Eastern international agreements. These treaties often included explicit blessings for loyalty and severe curses for disobedience, reinforcing the high stakes for the vassal king. The divine element made it far more serious than a mere human pact.
• Zedekiah's act of rebellion by seeking aid from Egypt (Ezek 17:15) against his oath was perceived by God as a breaking of His own covenant. This highlights that national policies and foreign relations for the people of God are never purely secular; they are always interwoven with their covenantal relationship with God. Loyalty and trust were expected, not just towards an earthly suzerain, but ultimately towards the Lord who allowed and orchestrated the suzerainty.
• The prophet Ezekiel frequently uses strong, visceral language and detailed allegories to convey complex theological messages to an audience in exile. This riddle serves to both explain their present suffering (as a consequence of their leaders' unfaithfulness) and foreshadow further impending judgment on Jerusalem due to Zedekiah's perfidy.
• This verse indirectly critiques the self-reliance and misplaced trust of Judah's leaders. Instead of seeking God's counsel and faithfully keeping their oaths, they trusted in foreign alliances (like Egypt) for political expediency, demonstrating a lack of faith in God's ability to protect or restore them even in their subjugation.

Ezekiel 17 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 17:13 acts as a pivotal explanatory key within the chapter's allegory, detailing the divine judgment carried out through Nebuchadnezzar's actions. It outlines the specific terms under which Judah became a vassal state to Babylon. The taking of the "seed of the land" (Zedekiah) and making a covenant highlights Nebuchadnezzar's absolute power to determine Judah's leadership and destiny. Crucially, the "oath" sworn by the new king elevated this political arrangement to a religious obligation, as Zedekiah pledged allegiance in the name of God (Yahweh). This detail makes Zedekiah's later rebellion (Ezek 17:15) a direct affront not just to Babylon, but to God Himself, transforming a geopolitical transgression into a profound act of unfaithfulness. The concurrent deportation of the "mighty of the land" represents Babylon's shrewd move to disempower Judah, stripping it of its military and intellectual elite, thus pre-empting any significant future uprising. This verse thus demonstrates God's sovereignty, using a foreign king to impose a severe, binding condition upon Judah as a form of chastisement, underscoring the gravity of breaking faith and revealing the spiritual implications of political acts for the people of God.