Ezekiel 17 18

Ezekiel 17:18 kjv

Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

Ezekiel 17:18 nkjv

Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact gave his hand and still did all these things, he shall not escape.' "

Ezekiel 17:18 niv

He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

Ezekiel 17:18 esv

He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape.

Ezekiel 17:18 nlt

For the king of Israel disregarded his treaty and broke it after swearing to obey; therefore, he will not escape.

Ezekiel 17 verses

Ezekiel 17 18 Meaning

Ezekiel 17:18 pronounces certain divine judgment upon King Zedekiah of Judah for his profound treachery. The verse declares that because Zedekiah deliberately scorned his sacred oath and violated the solemn covenant he made, specifically sealed by his own pledge of hand, and further pursued rebellious actions, he will face inescapable consequences from God. It highlights the divine seriousness of oath-breaking and covenant violation, establishing that such contempt for sacred commitments will not go unpunished.

Ezekiel 17 18 Context

Ezekiel chapter 17 presents the "Parable of the Two Eagles and the Vine," which serves as an allegorical prophecy concerning the political machinations and ultimate fate of the Kingdom of Judah. The first great eagle represents Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. He took the top of a cedar (King Jehoiachin and the nobility of Jerusalem) to Babylon and planted a native seed (Zedekiah) as king in Jerusalem, making Judah a vassal state. This planting was accompanied by a solemn covenant of loyalty and an oath of fealty, binding Zedekiah and Judah to Babylon. However, Zedekiah, represented by the vine, "rebelled" (v. 15) by seeking alliance with the "other great eagle," Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt, to throw off Babylonian rule. Ezekiel 17:18 falls within the Lord's direct indictment of Zedekiah for this specific act of breaking his sworn covenant, emphasizing the divine wrath that would follow such a betrayal. The prophet reveals that God Himself considers Zedekiah's broken oath not merely a political transgression against Nebuchadnezzar, but a direct affront against Him, as all solemn oaths were considered binding under divine witness in the Ancient Near East.

Ezekiel 17 18 Word analysis

• Seeing: (Hebrew: hinnēh - הִנֵּה). An emphatic interjection meaning "Behold!", "Indeed!", or "Surely!". It functions here to draw immediate attention to the grave reason for the upcoming judgment, presenting the causal link clearly. It's not just "since" but an undeniable truth.
• he despised: (Hebrew: bāzâ - בָּזָה). To scorn, to treat with contempt, to regard as worthless or insignificant. This indicates a deliberate and profound disrespect, not just a casual oversight. Zedekiah held the oath in utter disdain.
• the oath: (Hebrew: ’ālāh - אָלָה). A solemn sworn promise, often accompanied by imprecations or curses invoked upon the breaker. This oath, sworn by Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar, implicitly or explicitly involved an appeal to a higher power (ultimately God in the biblical worldview), making its violation a deeply spiritual offense.
• by breaking: (Hebrew: lēhāphēr - לְהָפֵר). The infinitive construct of the verb pārar, meaning "to annul," "to frustrate," "to violate," "to break." It describes the active undoing and nullifying of the agreement. This wasn't merely passively neglecting, but actively severing the bond.
• the covenant: (Hebrew: bĕrîṯ - בְּרִית). A solemn binding agreement or treaty, often accompanied by rituals or oaths. Here, it refers to the political vassal treaty Zedekiah made with Nebuchadnezzar, which God Himself ratified by allowing Nebuchadnezzar to establish Zedekiah. Breaking it had both political and spiritual ramifications.
• when, look, he had given his hand: (Hebrew: kî hinnēh nātan yāḏ - כִּי הִנֵּה נָתַן יָד). Lit. "for, behold, he gave a hand." The phrase "gave his hand" is an ancient Near Eastern idiom for making a solemn pledge, entering into an agreement, swearing allegiance, or becoming bound. It signifies a clear, intentional, and public commitment of fealty. The "look" (hinnēh) re-emphasizes the undeniable reality and visibility of this act of pledging allegiance.
• and done all these things: This refers to the full scope of Zedekiah's treacherous actions: consulting Egypt, forming alliances, preparing for war against Babylon, and generally undermining the vassal agreement. These actions proved the contempt mentioned earlier.
• he shall not escape: (Hebrew: lō’ yiṭṭūl - לֹא יִמָּלֵט). "He shall not escape," "he shall not be delivered," "he shall not get away." This is a definitive statement of absolute, inescapable judgment. God's retribution for such grave betrayal is certain and cannot be evaded by any human means. It underscores God's sovereignty over history and political outcomes.

• despised the oath by breaking the covenant: This phrase emphasizes the two-fold nature of Zedekiah's transgression: not only did he violate the formal agreement, but he did so from a heart of contempt, indicating a deliberate and disrespectful rejection of sacred duty.
• when, look, he had given his hand: This stresses the highly personal and public nature of Zedekiah's commitment. He personally sealed the agreement with a traditional gesture of solemn promise, making his subsequent betrayal all the more grievous.
• he shall not escape: This declarative statement forms the inevitable conclusion, signaling divine justice will be swift and unavoidable for such treachery. It highlights the futility of human schemes when they contradict God's sovereign will and despise His moral order.

Ezekiel 17 18 Bonus section

The concept of bĕrîṯ (covenant) is central to understanding the Bible, far transcending simple human contracts. In the ancient Near East, even secular treaties often invoked divine witnesses and curses upon violators, emphasizing their sacred dimension. For the Israelites, all covenants, including those between men, carried the implicit weight of the God of Israel as their ultimate enforcer. Therefore, Zedekiah's breach was not just a political miscalculation; it was a profound act of spiritual unfaithfulness. By making Nebuchadnezzar his king through an oath, Zedekiah effectively entered a covenant God was willing to uphold, seeing as He was using Babylon as His instrument of judgment on Judah. His subsequent alliance with Egypt was seen as a rebellion not only against Babylon but against God's established order. The "no escape" clause thus functions as a solemn warning that human attempts to evade God's will or solemn commitments made under His watch are ultimately futile.

Ezekiel 17 18 Commentary

Ezekiel 17:18 powerfully communicates God's severe condemnation of treachery and the sanctity of covenants and oaths. Zedekiah's deliberate scorn of his sworn fealty to Nebuchadnezzar was seen by God as a direct violation against His own divine order and authority. While an oath to an earthly king, it carried a divine weight because all solemn agreements were viewed as witnessed and enforced by the heavenly realm in ancient cultures, and God Himself had orchestrated Babylon's rise. Zedekiah's physical gesture of "giving his hand" represented a clear, public, and conscious act of commitment, rendering his subsequent rebellion utterly inexcusable. This verse establishes the profound truth that actions despising sacred bonds, particularly those involving an oath, bring inescapable divine judgment. It underscores God's faithfulness to His own word and His absolute justice in holding people accountable for their covenants.