Ezekiel 17 15

Ezekiel 17:15 kjv

But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

Ezekiel 17:15 nkjv

But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and many people. Will he prosper? Will he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?

Ezekiel 17:15 niv

But the king rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?

Ezekiel 17:15 esv

But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?

Ezekiel 17:15 nlt

"Nevertheless, this man of Israel's royal family rebelled against Babylon, sending ambassadors to Egypt to request a great army and many horses. Can Israel break her sworn treaties like that and get away with it?

Ezekiel 17 verses

Ezekiel 17 15 Meaning

Ezekiel 17:15 describes the act of King Zedekiah of Judah rebelling against his overlord, the king of Babylon. He did this by covertly dispatching emissaries to Egypt, seeking their military aid in the form of cavalry and a substantial army. The verse poses rhetorical questions about whether such a treacherous act—breaking a solemn covenant—will succeed or allow him to escape divine consequences. It implicitly foretells the failure of his rebellion and the futility of relying on human power over divine decrees.

Ezekiel 17 15 Context

Ezekiel 17:15 is part of an intricate allegory presented by God through Ezekiel, given to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. This allegory (Ezekiel 17:1-10) describes two great eagles, a cedar tree, and a vine, vividly illustrating the political drama unfolding in Judah. The first great eagle represents Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who took Jehoiachin (the topmost shoot of the cedar, representing Judah's king and nobility) into exile and replaced him with Zedekiah (the vine of low stature). Nebuchadnezzar made Zedekiah swear a solemn oath of allegiance. Verse 15 directly addresses Zedekiah's violation of this sacred covenant. Historically, after Jehoiachin's exile in 597 BC, Zedekiah was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar and had taken an oath of vassalage, often sworn in the name of Judah's God, YHWH. His subsequent action of seeking military alliance with Egypt was a direct breach of this binding covenant. The historical context is crucial: Judah was caught between two superpowers, Babylon and Egypt, and Zedekiah unwisely chose to rely on Egypt, disregarding prophetic warnings from both Jeremiah and Ezekiel. This act of disloyalty not only angered Babylon but also deeply offended God, who viewed the broken oath as an affront to His own name and sovereignty, as Babylon was, at that time, an instrument of God's judgment against Judah.

Ezekiel 17 15 Word analysis

• But (וַיִּמְרָד - vayyimmrad - conjunction 'and' combined with 'he rebelled'): This introductory particle links to the preceding narrative, pivoting the allegory from Zedekiah's elevation by Babylon to his act of disloyalty.
• he rebelled (מָרַד - marad): A strong Hebrew verb signifying revolt, defection, or treason. It denotes a deliberate act of defiance against a rightful authority or covenant, often implying profound disrespect and grave consequences. Biblically, it is used for rebellion against God (e.g., Deut 9:7) and earthly rulers, carrying the weight of breaking loyalty.
• against him (בּוֹ - bo - literally "in him"): Refers to the king of Babylon. The preposition signifies direct opposition, showing Zedekiah's active subversion of his appointed overlord.
• by sending (לִשְׁלֹחַ - lishlōaḥ - infinitive construct, "to send"): Describes the means by which Zedekiah carried out his rebellion, through diplomatic missions, which are typically acts of state.
• his messengers (מַלְאָכָיו - mal'akhāv - from מַלְאָךְ mal'akh, 'messenger' or 'angel'): These were official representatives of the king, implying a calculated and official state action, not merely a personal whim. The Hebrew word's dual meaning (messenger/angel) highlights their critical role as carriers of crucial information or intention.
• to Egypt (מִצְרָיִם - Mitsrayim): Egypt was a perennial source of temptation and, ultimately, disappointment for Israel and Judah as an unreliable ally. Prophets frequently warned against seeking its help, as it represented reliance on human strength and pagan power instead of God (Isa 30:1-7; 31:1-3).
• to give him (לָתֶת־לוֹ - lātēṯ-lō - "to give to him"): Expresses the specific purpose of the mission: to solicit military aid.
• horses (סוּסִים - susîm): A powerful symbol of military strength, wealth, and worldly reliance. God had specifically warned against kings multiplying horses for themselves from Egypt, lest their hearts turn away from Him (Deut 17:16). This action shows Zedekiah's turning away from God's way.
• and many troops (וְעַם־רָב - wəʿam-rav - "and much people/army"): Further emphasizes the extent of Zedekiah's pursuit of military power, underscoring a complete rejection of trusting God's provision or prophetic counsel regarding surrender to Babylon.
• Will he prosper? (הֲיִצְלָח - hǎyitslāḥ - interrogative + 'he will prosper'): This is a rhetorical question from God's perspective. It implies a definitive negative answer—no, he will not succeed in his rebellion. Prospering means achieving desired outcome, but Zedekiah's outcome was divinely ordained failure.
• Will he escape? (הֲיִמָּלֵט - hǎyimmālֵṭ - interrogative + 'he will escape'): Another rhetorical question, meaning he will certainly not avoid the consequences or divine judgment for his actions. The term denotes escape from danger or retribution.
• who does such things? (הַעֹשֶׂה אֵלֶּה - haʿōśeh ēlleh - "he who does these"): Identifies Zedekiah as the perpetrator of these treacherous acts, linking the consequences directly to his actions.
• Or can he break the covenant (וְהוּא הֵפֵר בְּרִית - wəhûʾ hēpēr bərîṯ - "and he broke covenant"): The breaking of the bərîṯ (covenant or treaty) is the core offense. Covenants in the ancient Near East were extremely serious, often invoked in the name of deities, carrying divine curses for breach. Zedekiah's covenant with Nebuchadnezzar would have involved invoking God's name, thus making it a transgression against God.
• and escape? (וְנִמְלָט - wənimlāṭ - "and escape"): Reiterates the impossibility of escaping divine and human justice after such a grave breach of trust and sacred obligation.

• But he rebelled against him, by sending his messengers to Egypt: This phrase vividly portrays Zedekiah's double treason. Firstly, he defied the authority of the Babylonian king, his appointed sovereign. Secondly, he did so by initiating diplomatic overtures to Egypt, thereby rejecting God's clear directive, communicated through Jeremiah, to submit to Babylon's yoke. This shows a trust in human political maneuvering over divine guidance.
• to give him horses and many troops: This describes the specific type of aid Zedekiah sought. It reveals a desire for physical military might, signifying a misplaced reliance on chariots and horses—things frequently warned against in Scripture (e.g., Deut 17:16; Ps 20:7). It points to a carnal security seeking rather than spiritual reliance.
• Will he prosper? Will he escape?: These powerful rhetorical questions express God's verdict and reveal the utter futility of Zedekiah's actions. The implied answer is a resounding 'no,' signaling the divine certainty of failure and inescapable judgment. It underscores God's sovereignty over the affairs of nations and His contempt for human schemes contrary to His will.
• Or can he break the covenant and escape?: This final question highlights the paramount offense: the violation of a solemn covenant (oath). In the ancient world, oath-breaking, especially one made under divine witness, was a heinous crime. God Himself had seen this oath sworn, making Zedekiah's action an affront directly against Him (Ezek 17:18-19), cementing the inevitability of His judgment.

Ezekiel 17 15 Bonus section

• The term "covenant" (בְּרִית - bərîṯ) here refers to a political treaty, but in a Hebrew context, such oaths often invoked God's name, elevating them to a sacred level. Zedekiah's actions thus amounted to despising God's name (Ezek 17:19).
• Zedekiah's decision to trust Egypt directly mirrored earlier kings of Judah and Israel who sought foreign alliances rather than turning to the Lord for deliverance, always resulting in disappointment and disaster. This consistent prophetic message underscored that seeking help from nations was akin to idolatry, as it misplaced trust from God to human power.
• The severity of Zedekiah's oath-breaking set the stage for Jerusalem's final destruction and the complete Babylonian exile, fulfilling numerous prophetic warnings (Jeremiah 24:8-10, 37:7). God demonstrated His absolute sovereignty over kings and nations, ensuring that no human plan or alliance could thwart His divine purposes for judgment and, ultimately, restoration.
• The passage reveals the limits of divine patience and the unbreakable principle that God always holds His people accountable, especially those in leadership, for their fidelity to covenants and trust in Him.

Ezekiel 17 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 17:15 encapsulates King Zedekiah's desperate and ultimately ruinous act of defiance. By sending messengers to Egypt for military support, he fundamentally violated the oath of loyalty he had sworn to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who had placed him on the throne of Judah. This was not merely a political maneuver but a spiritual rebellion. The covenant Zedekiah broke was, by implication, made under the observation of the covenant-keeping God. Thus, Zedekiah’s treachery against Babylon was simultaneously a direct offense against the Lord Himself (as explicated later in verses 18-19). His reliance on Egypt's military might, specifically horses and a large army, showcased a profound distrust in God's ability to protect or direct Judah's future, a pattern frequently condemned by the prophets (Isa 31:1-3; Jer 2:18-19).

The rhetorical questions in the verse—"Will he prosper? Will he escape?" and "can he break the covenant and escape?"—are not meant to seek information but to convey God's certain verdict. They underline the utter folly and certain doom awaiting Zedekiah. Divine judgment for oath-breaking and trusting in human alliances over God's ordained path was inevitable. This serves as a potent reminder that covenants, once made, hold solemn weight, and true security is found in obedience and reliance on God, not in fleeting political or military partnerships.