Ezekiel 17:20 kjv
And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.
Ezekiel 17:20 nkjv
I will spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and try him there for the treason which he committed against Me.
Ezekiel 17:20 niv
I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there because he was unfaithful to me.
Ezekiel 17:20 esv
I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there for the treachery he has committed against me.
Ezekiel 17:20 nlt
I will throw my net over him and capture him in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and put him on trial for this treason against me.
Ezekiel 17 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 30:2 | If a man vows a vow to the LORD... he shall not break his word... | Breaking a vow is against God. |
| Deut 29:20-21 | ...LORD will not spare him... every curse written in this book... | Consequences for covenant breaking. |
| 2 Chr 36:13 | He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God... | Zedekiah's rebellion and broken oath by God's name. |
| Isa 8:14-15 | And he shall be for a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling... | God's word as a snare to the disobedient. |
| Isa 24:5 | The earth is defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed laws... | Consequences of breaking divine covenants. |
| Jer 2:9 | Therefore I will yet plead with you, says the LORD... | God entering into legal judgment/dispute with His people. |
| Jer 25:9 | I will send and take all the families of the north, says the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar... my servant... | God uses Babylon as His instrument of judgment. |
| Jer 32:5 | And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I visit him... | Prophecy of Zedekiah's exile to Babylon. |
| Jer 39:5-7 | ...Zedekiah was taken captive. They brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar... put out Zedekiah’s eyes... | Fulfillment of Zedekiah's capture and blinding in Babylon. |
| Jer 48:44 | ...flee from the terror shall fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare... | God's inescapable judgment through snare imagery. |
| Ezek 12:13 | I will spread My net over him... he shall be brought to Babylon... | Direct parallel to Zedekiah's capture, confirming it. |
| Ezek 17:15 | But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt... | Zedekiah's rebellion leading to this judgment. |
| Ezek 17:16 | As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king resides... he shall die. | God's sworn judgment against Zedekiah. |
| Ezek 17:19 | Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely My oath that he despised... I will repay it... | Emphasizes the gravity of despising God's oath. |
| Hos 7:12 | When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air... | God's judgment using net/snare imagery against unfaithful Israel. |
| Psa 9:15 | The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. | Wicked caught in their own devices (echoes divine justice). |
| Job 18:8-10 | For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks upon a snare... | The wicked caught by snares for their actions. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Spiritual principle of consequences for actions, especially defiance. |
| Heb 6:16 | For people swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath is final confirmation... | Oath's binding nature and its implications before God. |
| Rev 19:11 | Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True... | God as judge, faithful to His word and promises of justice. |
| Amos 3:10-11 | For they do not know how to do right... so thus says the Lord GOD: An adversary shall surround the land... | God's judgment through an invading enemy, reflecting lack of righteousness. |
Ezekiel 17 verses
Ezekiel 17 20 Meaning
Ezekiel 17:20 prophesies the capture and judgment of Zedekiah, the king of Judah, by the Lord. It vividly describes God's direct intervention in Zedekiah's downfall, using the imagery of a hunter capturing prey in a net and snare. God declares that He Himself will bring Zedekiah to Babylon, where He will execute a legal judgment against him for his betrayal and treachery committed against Him. The verse underscores God's sovereignty over nations and His severe response to covenant-breaking, especially when an oath sworn in His name is violated.
Ezekiel 17 20 Context
Ezekiel 17:20 is the climax of a symbolic parable (Ezekiel 17:1-10) and its subsequent interpretation (Ezekiel 17:11-21). The parable depicts two great eagles and a vine, representing Babylon (first eagle), Egypt (second eagle), and King Zedekiah of Judah (the vine). Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had installed Zedekiah as a vassal king, extracting an oath of loyalty, likely sworn in the name of the Lord (Ezek 17:13). However, Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon by seeking a military alliance with Egypt, signifying a profound lack of faith in God and a clear violation of his sacred oath.
The preceding verses emphasize God's absolute displeasure with Zedekiah's treachery, specifically highlighting that breaking an oath sworn in His name is an affront directly against Him. The historical context is the period leading up to the final destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC) and the subsequent exile of its inhabitants to Babylon. The verse predicts Zedekiah's capture and removal to Babylon, not merely as a political consequence but as divine judgment, revealing God's hand in historical events and His unwavering commitment to justice for unfaithfulness.
Ezekiel 17 20 Word analysis
- And I will spread my net over him: This phrase emphasizes God's direct and active role in Zedekiah's capture. The imagery of spreading a net (רֶשֶׁת - reshet, a fowler's or hunter's net) signifies an inescapable capture. This is a deliberate, sovereign act by God, not merely a natural consequence or the sole action of human enemies. It illustrates that human resistance is futile against divine judgment.
- and he shall be taken in my snare: The addition of snare (מְצוּדָה - metsudah, a trap, net, or stronghold) intensifies the imagery of unavoidable capture. The repetition emphasizes the certainty and inescapable nature of God's judgment. It implies a hidden or cunning capture, showing Zedekiah's lack of foresight or recognition of God's active hand.
- and I will bring him to Babylon: This declarative statement further asserts God's complete control over Zedekiah's destiny. It explicitly states that his destination, Babylon, is not accidental but orchestrated by God Himself. This connects divine judgment with the chosen instrument of judgment, Babylon, highlighting God's use of pagan nations to execute His will upon His people for their unfaithfulness. It implies divine custody and removal.
- and will plead with him there: The Hebrew word for plead (נִשְׁפָּט - nishpat, a form of שָׁפַט - shaphat) signifies a legal and judicial process, not simply persuasion or begging. It means to execute judgment, to enter into controversy, to contend, to judge, or to punish. In this context, God will hold a tribunal, making Zedekiah face the full consequences and accusations of his sin in a judicial sense. This is a courtroom scenario, where God acts as both accuser and judge, establishing His just decree.
- for his trespass: The Hebrew term trespass (מַעֲלָם - ma'al) is a strong biblical term. It denotes an act of treachery, unfaithfulness, or apostasy, often specifically against God or against a sacred trust/covenant (Lev 5:15; Num 5:6-8; Jos 7:1; 2 Chr 28:22). It indicates a violation of sacred loyalty or a sacrilegious act. In Zedekiah's case, it refers to his broken oath sworn in God's name, which constitutes an act of betrayal directly against the Lord.
- which he hath trespassed against me: This final phrase personalizes the offense, explicitly stating that Zedekiah's unfaithfulness was directly "against Me" (God). It clarifies that the broken political alliance with Nebuchadnezzar, ratified by an oath sworn in the Lord's name, was fundamentally a breach of covenant with God Himself. This elevates Zedekiah's political action to a profound spiritual offense, warranting divine judgment.
Ezekiel 17 20 Bonus section
The active voice throughout Ezekiel 17:20—"I will spread," "I will bring," "I will plead"— underscores God's personal, direct, and determined involvement in Zedekiah's fate. It removes any doubt about whose hand is orchestrating these dire consequences, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty even over historical-political outcomes. The specific choice of "net" and "snare" imagery speaks to a strategic and certain capture, implying that Zedekiah's choices led him into a trap set by divine providence rather than mere geopolitical maneuvering. This judicial pleading (נישפט - nishpat) by God in Babylon is not a compassionate appeal but a confrontational one, bringing to bear the legal implications of a broken sacred oath, mirroring how human legal systems deal with perjury. This highlights that God’s righteousness demands justice for desecrated vows, reinforcing the eternal principle that fidelity to one’s word, especially when invoked by God’s name, holds ultimate spiritual significance.
Ezekiel 17 20 Commentary
Ezekiel 17:20 encapsulates the divine consequence of Zedekiah's egregious act of covenant-breaking. Far from a mere political failure, his rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, after swearing an oath by the name of the Lord, was interpreted as a direct ma'al (trespass) against God Himself. The Lord's imagery of "spreading His net" and ensnaring Zedekiah powerfully communicates His absolute sovereignty and inescapable judgment. This is not a human capture, but a divine intervention, where God actively directs the events, bringing Zedekiah specifically to Babylon, the instrument of His wrath. The concept of God "pleading with him there" emphasizes a judicial process, not negotiation. It highlights that God meticulously observes covenant integrity, especially when His name is invoked. This passage warns against underestimating God's demand for fidelity, even in geopolitical alliances, and teaches that human machinations cannot thwart divine will. Ultimately, Zedekiah faced public humiliation and judgment at the very hands of the power he sought to betray, fulfilling God's pronouncement.