Ezekiel 17 21

Ezekiel 17:21 kjv

And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.

Ezekiel 17:21 nkjv

All his fugitives with all his troops shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken."

Ezekiel 17:21 niv

All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken.

Ezekiel 17:21 esv

And all the pick of his troops shall fall by the sword, and the survivors shall be scattered to every wind, and you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken."

Ezekiel 17:21 nlt

And all his best warriors will be killed in battle, and those who survive will be scattered to the four winds. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.

Ezekiel 17 verses

Ezekiel 17 21 Meaning

Ezekiel 17:21 declares the judgment pronounced by God upon King Zedekiah of Judah for breaking his sworn allegiance to Babylon (and thereby to God) and seeking alliance with Egypt. The verse signifies that all of Zedekiah’s remaining loyalists and military forces, along with any who attempt to flee, will be decisively defeated and perish by the sword. Those few who survive the immediate slaughter will not find refuge or regroup but will be dispersed utterly in all directions. This catastrophic outcome is presented as an irrefutable demonstration of God’s sovereignty, a concrete manifestation that it is the LORD who has spoken and brought these things to pass, thus affirming the truth and power of His prophetic word.

Ezekiel 17 21 Context

Ezekiel chapter 17 presents an intricate allegorical riddle involving two great eagles and a vine, explaining Judah's political situation and its ultimate destruction. The first great eagle (v. 3) represents Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. He took a young twig (King Jehoiachin) from the top of the cedars (the royal house of Judah) and brought it to a land of trade (Babylon). He then planted a native seed (Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle) in a fertile field, which became a low, spreading vine (the kingdom of Judah under Babylonian vassalage). This vine was to remain low, under the eagle's shade, and keep its branches towards him, implying loyalty.

However, a second great eagle (v. 7), Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt, appears. The vine, representing King Zedekiah, faithlessly turned its roots and sent its branches towards this second eagle, seeking Egyptian aid to free itself from Babylonian rule and grow into a stronger kingdom. This action, despite the covenant made under oath to Babylon, constituted rebellion. Verses 15-20 detail God's furious response, declaring that because Zedekiah broke his oath – an oath sworn by God's name – he would face severe divine judgment. The "great oath" (v. 19) broken by Zedekiah was given by the Babylonian king but confirmed by Zedekiah swearing "by God." Therefore, breaking it was a profound act of disloyalty directly against God Himself. Verse 21 then details the specific outcomes of this broken covenant and rebellion.

Word Analysis

• And all his fugitives (וְכֹל אֲסִירָיו - vekol asirāyw):
  • Literally translates to "all his captives" or "all his prisoners," but in context here, "fugitives" (NIV, ESV) captures the nuance of Zedekiah’s inner circle or troops attempting to flee or escape during the final siege of Jerusalem, perhaps with Zedekiah himself.
  • Significance: These are the closest associates and military personnel loyal to King Zedekiah, facing divine retribution alongside him. It highlights their inescapable fate.
• with all his troops (בְּכָל אֲגַפָּיו - b'chol agappāyw):
  • Literally "with all his wings" or "all his flanks/companies." "Agap" (אגף) often refers to military detachments or the wings/flanks of an army.
  • Significance: Encompasses all Zedekiah's military forces, emphasizing their complete overthrow. The imagery of "wings" can subtly link back to the eagles, underscoring that Zedekiah's "wings" (his strength and supporters) will fail where the eagles' (Babylon and Egypt) operate with a different kind of power.
• shall fall by the sword (בַּחֶרֶב יִפֹּלוּ - bacherev yippōlû):
  • Yippōlû (יִפֹּלוּ): "they shall fall," denoting a decisive and irreversible defeat.
  • Bacherev (בַּחֶרֶב): "by the sword," specifying the means of death – military defeat and execution.
  • Significance: A common prophetic idiom for divine judgment through warfare, signifying violent death in battle or subsequent slaughter.
• and those who remain (וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים - v'hanish'arim):
  • Literally "and the remaining ones" or "the ones left."
  • Significance: Refers to the few who survive the initial sword attack, destined for another form of severe judgment.
• shall be scattered to every wind (לְכָל רוּחַ יִזָּרוּ - l'kol ruach yizzarû):
  • L'kol ruach (לְכָל רוּחַ): "to every wind," implying utter dispersion in all directions.
  • Yizzarû (יִזָּרוּ): "they shall be scattered/winnowed," as grain is scattered by wind during winnowing, leaving nothing substantial.
  • Significance: This powerful idiom depicts complete destitution, loss of community, home, and identity, signifying a total breakdown of national and social cohesion, a dire consequence for breaking covenant. It leaves no chance of regrouping.
• and you shall know (וִידַעְתֶּם - vidatem):
  • Vidatem (וידעתם): A direct address to the survivors and to future generations. This knowing is not mere intellectual understanding but an experiential realization through witnessing the prophetic word’s fulfillment.
  • Significance: It's a key motif throughout Ezekiel, affirming God's power and righteous judgment. The horrific events would prove Yahweh's identity and authority beyond doubt.
• that I am the LORD, who has spoken (כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה דִּבַּרְתִּי - ki ani Yahweh dibbarti):
  • Ani Yahweh (אני יהוה): "I am Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His self-existent, faithful, and sovereign nature.
  • Dibbarti (דבברתי): "I have spoken," highlighting the direct authorship and declarative power of God's word.
  • Significance: This foundational theological statement serves as God's personal signature on the prophecy. It asserts divine accountability, proving that the catastrophe is not accidental or purely political, but the direct consequence of God's revealed will and His faithfulness to His word. It vindicates God's honor against Zedekiah's treachery.

Ezekiel 17 21 Bonus section

The phrase "you shall know that I am the LORD" appears extensively throughout the book of Ezekiel, serving as a signature divine refrain (e.g., Ezek 6:7, 13; 7:4, 9; 11:10, 12; 12:16, 20; 13:9, 14, 21, 23; 14:8; 15:7; 16:62). In contexts of judgment like this verse, it underscores that divine actions are not random occurrences but purposeful, revealing God's true identity and authority. In contexts of restoration (Ezek 34:30; 37:13; 39:22, 28), it highlights His redemptive power. This recurring declaration in Ezekiel provides theological depth, asserting that both judgment and restoration ultimately serve to unveil God's character and secure His glory. The specific fulfillment of the prophetic word acts as a concrete demonstration that the prophecies originate from God Himself, distinguishing true prophecy from false and validating the prophet's divine commission. This divine declaration stands in direct contrast to the fleeting power of human alliances, particularly Zedekiah's misguided trust in Egypt over the covenant with the true sovereign God.

Ezekiel 17 21 Commentary

Ezekiel 17:21 serves as the climactic pronouncement of divine judgment, following the vivid parable of the two eagles and the vine. It meticulously details the consequences for King Zedekiah's profound spiritual and political treachery: his rejection of the Babylonian yoke and, more significantly, his breach of an oath made in the name of the LORD. God views this covenant, though imposed by a foreign king, as sacred because it involved His name. The verse is stark and unyielding, prophesying complete destruction and dispersion for all who supported Zedekiah’s rebellious pursuit of an Egyptian alliance. "Falling by the sword" depicts their military annihilation, while "scattered to every wind" vividly portrays the absolute dismantling of the remnant, preventing any semblance of national or military recovery. This multifaceted judgment underlines the severe nature of defying God’s established order and His sacred name. Ultimately, the devastating fulfillment of this prophecy would force an experiential "knowing" that YHWH, the God of Israel, is indeed sovereign and faithful to His declared word, executing His justice with absolute precision and power. The verse stands as a profound reminder that oaths sworn before God are inviolable and that trusting in human power over divine decree inevitably leads to catastrophic downfall.