Ezekiel 17:2 kjv
Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
Ezekiel 17:2 nkjv
"Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel,
Ezekiel 17:2 niv
"Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable.
Ezekiel 17:2 esv
"Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;
Ezekiel 17:2 nlt
"Son of man, give this riddle, and tell this story to the people of Israel.
Ezekiel 17 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 17:2 | "Son of man, put forth a riddle and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;" | Primary verse |
| Jeremiah 23:29 | "Is not my word like as a fire and like as a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" | God's word has power like a riddle/parable |
| Psalm 78:2 | "I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:" | David's use of parables |
| Proverbs 1:6 | "To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their deep sayings." | The nature of understanding parables |
| Matthew 13:3 | "And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;" | Jesus' extensive use of parables |
| Mark 4:34 | "And without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." | Jesus teaching in parables |
| John 10:6 | "This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto him." | Israel's lack of understanding |
| Isaiah 29:14 | "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." | God hides wisdom from the proud |
| Ezekiel 12:2 | "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not, they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house." | Israel's blindness/deafness |
| Ezekiel 2:3-4 | "And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have sinned, even unto this day. For they are impudent children and stiff hearted." | Ezekiel's mission context |
| Hosea 12:10 | "I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets." | God uses similitudes/prophets |
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." | God revealing through prophets |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18 | "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." | Parable/riddle as divine foolishness |
| Galatians 6:11 | "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand." | Emphasis on Ezekiel's personal role |
| Romans 1:21-23 | "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," | Israel's intellectual/spiritual state |
| Acts 7:51 | "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." | Israel's stubbornness |
| Ezekiel 2:5 | "And that they may know whether there were a prophet among them." | Purpose of prophetic message |
| 1 Corinthians 10:11 | "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." | Parables/history as examples |
| Habakkuk 2:2 | "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." | Clarity of prophetic messages |
| Luke 6:27-28 | "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you." | God's methods of revelation and correction |
| Deuteronomy 4:5-6 | "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." | Contrast to Israel's lack of wisdom |
Ezekiel 17 verses
Ezekiel 17 2 Meaning
The son of man, a prophetic designation for Ezekiel, is commanded to present a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel, symbolizing their future situation and divine judgment. The riddle and parable are intended to expose their foolishness and lack of understanding regarding their covenant relationship with God and their susceptibility to foreign powers.
Ezekiel 17 2 Context
Ezekiel 17:2 occurs within the broader context of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry to the exiled community in Babylon. This period (early 6th century BC) was marked by Jerusalem's impending fall and the consequences of Judah's covenant unfaithfulness. The nation of Judah, like a frail vine, had leaned on Egypt for political and military support instead of relying on God. This chapter's parable vividly illustrates the disastrous consequences of such misplaced trust, comparing the fragile vine to Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, and his ultimately failed rebellion against Babylon. The riddle and parable are God's method of revealing the stark reality of their political downfall and spiritual adultery, aimed at awakening them to their culpability.
Ezekiel 17 2 Word analysis
Son of man (Hebrew: בֶּן־אָדָם, ben-adam):
- A frequent self-designation of Ezekiel by God.
- Emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity in contrast to divine authority.
- Links him to all humanity, highlighting his role as a representative.
- Common in Ezekiel (93 times).
put forth (Hebrew: הִצֵּג, hitzeg):
- To set forth, present, place before.
- Suggests a deliberate and formal presentation.
a riddle (Hebrew: חִידָה, chidah):
- A difficult question or statement that requires solving.
- Implies obscurity, a puzzle, or a figurative statement needing interpretation.
- Suggests an intellectual challenge, meant to be puzzling and instructive.
- Associated with wisdom, but can also be used to conceal or deceive.
and speak (Hebrew: וּדְבַר, udvar):
- And say, speak, tell.
a parable (Hebrew: מָשָׁל, mashal):
- A comparison, likeness, allegory, proverb, saying.
- A narrative used to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth.
- Often uses common imagery to convey profound meaning.
unto the house of Israel (Hebrew: אֶל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, el-beit Yisrael):
- To the entire nation of Israel, often referring specifically to the kingdom of Judah at this time.
- Highlights the corporate nature of their sin and impending judgment.
Ezekiel 17 2 Bonus section
The pairing of "riddle" and "parable" is significant. While a parable often uses straightforward narrative, a riddle implies an element of cunning or hidden meaning that requires astute interpretation. Together, they serve to probe the audience's wisdom and willingness to understand God's sovereign plan, or their stubborn refusal to do so, reflecting Israel's consistent pattern of spiritual obtuseness recorded throughout Scripture. This prophetic method foreshadows Jesus' teaching in parables in the New Testament, where understanding was also linked to a willing heart and receptive spirit.
Ezekiel 17 2 Commentary
God commands Ezekiel to engage the house of Israel with a challenging riddle and an illustrative parable. This is not mere intellectual exercise, but a divinely orchestrated communication designed to expose Israel's misguided allegiances and their inability to discern truth from falsehood. The "riddle" hints at hidden truths and spiritual deception, while the "parable" uses familiar imagery to make divine judgments clear, albeit initially veiled. This method underscores their spiritual dullness and resistance to direct divine instruction, requiring a more profound engagement to reveal their predicament.