Ezekiel 17 14

Ezekiel 17:14 kjv

That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

Ezekiel 17:14 nkjv

that the kingdom might be brought low and not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

Ezekiel 17:14 niv

so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty.

Ezekiel 17:14 esv

that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand.

Ezekiel 17:14 nlt

so Israel would not become strong again and revolt. Only by keeping her treaty with Babylon could Israel survive.

Ezekiel 17 verses

Ezekiel 17 14 Meaning

Ezekiel 17:14 declares the divine purpose behind Judah's subjugation and reduced status under Babylon. God's intent was for the kingdom to be humbled and to remain dependent, preventing it from aspiring to self-exaltation or relying on its own strength or external alliances. Instead, by faithfully upholding the covenant, understood both as the sacred oath made to the Babylonian king and, more fundamentally, God's covenant requirements of loyalty and truthfulness, Judah could have secured its continued existence and stability. The lowliness was not merely punishment, but a redemptive opportunity for faithfulness and enduring peace.

Ezekiel 17 14 Context

Ezekiel 17:14 is part of an elaborate allegory delivered by the prophet Ezekiel to the exiles in Babylon. This "riddle and a parable" (Eze 17:2) concerns two great eagles and a vine. The first eagle represents Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who came to Jerusalem, removed the top of the cedar (King Jehoiachin and leading citizens, 597 BCE), and carried them to Babylon. He then installed Zedekiah (the vine of low stature) as king, making him swear a solemn oath of allegiance. This act made Judah a "lowly kingdom" – a vassal state dependent on Babylon.

The purpose, as explained in verse 14, was explicitly for Judah to remain humble and avoid further prideful rebellion, particularly by seeking alliances that would break this oath. The critical historical context is Zedekiah's subsequent breaking of this sacred oath, by turning to Egypt for military aid, which directly contradicts God's expressed intention in this verse and led to Jerusalem's final destruction in 586 BCE. The narrative polemicizes against misplaced trust in human power (Egypt) and political maneuvering over covenant faithfulness to God and honoring a divinely ordained oath.

Ezekiel 17 14 Word analysis

• that it might be: This opening phrase functions as a telic (purpose) clause, indicating God's specific intention behind the actions described. It highlights divine design rather than mere circumstance.
• a lowly kingdom:
  • Hebrew: מַמְלֶכֶת שָׁפָל (mamlekhet shaphal)
  • Mamlekhet (kingdom, reign, dominion): Refers to the political entity of Judah.
  • Shaphal (lowly, humble, abased, debased, humiliated, brought low): Denotes a state of being reduced in status, power, or influence. It implies dependency rather than sovereignty. God's purpose was to remove Judah's prideful self-sufficiency and force them into a position of weakness where they would need to rely on Him, or at least recognize His authority through the suzerain (Babylon).
• that it might not lift itself up:
  • Hebrew: לָשֵׂאת נַפְשׁוֹ (lāśēṯ naphšô)
  • Laśēṯ (to lift, raise, carry): Often used to mean lifting oneself up in pride or rebellion.
  • Naphšô (his soul/self): Refers to the king's or kingdom's inner being or essence.
  • This phrase speaks directly against arrogance, pride, and attempts to regain independence or exaltation through human means (like alliance with Egypt), which was seen as a defiance of God's sovereign arrangement. It expresses God's desire to curb Judah's hubris, which had previously led them astray.
• but that by keeping His covenant:
  • Hebrew: לִשְׁמֹר אֶת־בְּרִיתוֹ (lišmōr ʾeṯ-bərîtô)
  • Lišmōr (to keep, observe, guard, protect): Implies diligent adherence and faithfulness.
  • Bərîtô (His covenant): Crucial term. While the immediate context is the solemn oath of allegiance Zedekiah swore to Nebuchadnezzar, which made him a vassal king, this oath was understood as a divinely witnessed commitment. Breaking it was not just disloyalty to Babylon, but a breach of a covenant principle that ultimately stemmed from God's requirements for fidelity and truthfulness (Num 30:2, Psa 15:4). Thus, "His covenant" refers broadly to both the specific oath before God and the general demand for faithfulness in God's broader covenant with Israel.
• it might stand:
  • Hebrew: לַעֲמֹד לָהּ (laʿămōd lāh)
  • Laʿămōd (to stand, endure, continue, be established, abide): Signifies stability, security, and lasting existence.
  • The goal of Judah's humiliation and covenant keeping was its preservation, preventing complete annihilation. Their "standing" was contingent upon their humility and fidelity, rather than strength or alliances.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "that it might be a lowly kingdom, that it might not lift itself up": These two phrases together encapsulate the negative and positive aspects of God's intention regarding Judah's status. The "lowly kingdom" is the actual condition enforced by divine providence, and "not lifting itself up" is the required spiritual attitude and behavioral response—humility and submission, as opposed to prideful rebellion.
• "but that by keeping His covenant it might stand": This final phrase presents the indispensable condition for enduring existence. The covenant-keeping is the means, and "it might stand" is the desired outcome. This highlights that despite the judgment, God still offered a path to stability and continuation, conditional upon genuine obedience to the solemn commitment, both to the human suzerain and ultimately to God Himself.

Ezekiel 17 14 Bonus section

• The Sovereignty of God over Nations: This verse illustrates God's active role in establishing and humbling kingdoms, even through the actions of pagan rulers like Nebuchadnezzar (compare Isa 10:5-7, Jer 25:9). Nebuchadnezzar, despite his own motivations, served as an unwitting instrument in God's broader plan for Judah.
• The Weight of an Oath: The passage places immense theological weight on the oath sworn to the Babylonian king. While a political pact, because it was sworn by invoking divine names or in recognition of divine oversight, it became sacred in God's eyes. Breaking it was considered an offense against God, showing the high regard God places on covenant faithfulness and truthfulness, even in human agreements. This challenges the pragmatic view that only covenants explicitly named as "God's covenant" truly matter, teaching that integrity in all oaths reflects faithfulness to God.
• Preventive Judgment: God's action to humble Judah can be seen as a form of "preventive judgment" or discipline. Instead of immediate total destruction (which ultimately occurred due to disobedience), God sought to establish a dependent kingdom to prevent further spiritual downfall and potentially secure its continued existence, emphasizing God's mercy alongside His justice.

Ezekiel 17 14 Commentary

Ezekiel 17:14 unveils the underlying divine rationale for Jerusalem's reduced state after the first Babylonian deportation. It reveals God's disciplinary hand was not merely punitive but remedial. By making Judah a "lowly kingdom" under Babylonian rule, God intended to humble their pride and curb their inclination to rebel or seek self-exaltation. This humiliation was a spiritual discipline designed to cultivate humility and bring them to a point of faithfulness to His covenant, exemplified immediately by Zedekiah's oath of loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar, taken before God. The survival and stability of the kingdom, its ability to "stand," were made explicitly contingent upon this obedience and fidelity. Zedekiah's subsequent failure to keep this oath, interpreted by God as a direct violation of "His covenant," directly led to the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem and complete exile. The verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty, His moral demands for truth and fidelity, and His redemptive aim even within judgment.