Ezekiel 17 22

Ezekiel 17:22 kjv

Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

Ezekiel 17:22 nkjv

Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain.

Ezekiel 17:22 niv

"?'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Ezekiel 17:22 esv

Thus says the Lord GOD: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Ezekiel 17:22 nlt

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel's highest mountain.

Ezekiel 17 verses

Ezekiel 17 22 Meaning

Ezekiel 17:22 presents a divine promise of restoration and messianic hope following the judgments against Judah. It declares that God Himself, in contrast to human kings and foreign powers, will take a small, tender shoot from the highest part of the once-lofty Davidic line and plant it on Mount Zion. This act signifies the re-establishment of a righteous Davidic ruler and a flourishing, universally recognized kingdom, which, though starting humbly, will grow into a mighty, secure, and influential spiritual and physical dwelling for God's people.

Ezekiel 17 22 Context

Ezekiel 17 opens with an elaborate riddle or allegory involving two great eagles, a cedar tree, and a vine, which the prophet is commanded to present to the "house of Israel." This imagery graphically depicts Judah's political alliances and eventual downfall. The first eagle represents Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who takes King Jehoiachin (the topmost shoot of the cedar) into exile in Babylon (Ezek 17:3-6) and sets up Zedekiah as a vassal king. The vine represents Zedekiah and Judah, who then breaks the oath of loyalty to Babylon by turning to Egypt (the second eagle) for military aid (Ezek 17:7-10). God severely condemns Zedekiah for this covenant-breaking (Ezek 17:11-21), highlighting His abhorrence of broken vows and unfaithfulness. Directly after this pronouncement of judgment, Ezekiel 17:22 pivots dramatically. It shifts from the actions of human kings and foreign powers to a solemn divine promise, an oracle of hope and future restoration, asserting God's personal and sovereign intervention to re-establish a true, righteous lineage from David. The historical context is the eve of Judah's final destruction and exile, a time of deep national despair and uncertainty regarding the future of the Davidic dynasty.

Ezekiel 17 22 Word analysis

• Thus says the Lord God: אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (Adonai Yahweh): A definitive prophetic formula asserting divine authority. It marks a direct message from the sovereign Creator God. This emphasizes the certainty and truth of the subsequent prophecy, directly contrasting human deceptions and failures in the preceding verses.
• I myself: The Hebrew pronoun אֲנִי (anī) for "I" is explicit and stressed. This underscores God's personal, sovereign initiative, setting Him apart from the "eagles" (Babylon, Egypt) and human kings previously mentioned in the chapter. It guarantees His direct, unfailing action.
• will take: אֶקַּח (eqqaḥ): A strong verb denoting active selection and purposeful action. It speaks of a deliberate, sovereign choice by God, not an accidental occurrence or human intervention.
• a sprig: The Hebrew word often refers to a branch or shoot, here indicating a young, viable, yet small part of the whole. This highlights a new beginning, originating from the fallen house of David but in a modest, often unnoticed, form.
• from the lofty top: מִצַּמֶּרֶת (mittzameret): Refers to the highest foliage or crown of a tree. This indicates that the "sprig" retains its royal lineage and high origin from the prominent Davidic dynasty, even as that dynasty has fallen from its glory. It's from the legitimate, though now humbled, source.
• of the cedar: הָאֶרֶז (hā’erez): The cedar is a majestic, strong, and symbolic tree of Lebanon, representing the kingdom of Judah and the Davidic dynasty, which had fallen from its previous splendor. Taking a sprig from it suggests the preservation of a remnant from a once-great but now diminished power.
• and will set it out: This phrase is combined with "pluck" in the original. The verb וְגָדַעְתִּי (vegad'atī) literally means "I will cut off," but in this context, it implies cutting for transplanting and nurturing, not for destruction. It's a precise separation for a new purpose.
• I will pluck from its topmost shoots: מֵרֹאשׁ יָנוֹקֹתָיו (mero'sh yanoqotayv): Specifically, from the fresh, young shoots that emerge from the top. This reinforces the idea of new, vital life coming from the very best (royal) part of the cedar, but still in its most vulnerable, tender form.
• a tender one: רַךְ (rakh) and יָנוֹקָה (yānoqah): "Rakh" means tender or delicate, implying youth and vulnerability. "Yanoqah" means a suckling, a young shoot or seedling. These words collectively emphasize the fragility, smallness, and dependence of this chosen shoot, underscoring God's care required for its growth, and prophetically, the Messiah's humble origins.
• and I myself will plant it: וּנְטַעְתִּי (uneta'tī): Reiterates divine agency and purpose. God will actively secure its place. Planting signifies growth, stability, and future flourishing, in direct contrast to the scattering and destruction brought by human powers.
• on a high and lofty mountain: הַר־גָּבֹהַ וְתָלוּל (har-gavōah vetālūl): "Gāvōah" means high, and "tālūl" means exalted or conspicuous. This signifies a prominent, secure, and visible location. This mountain is universally understood as Mount Zion in Jerusalem, symbolic of God's holy dwelling place, His future kingdom, and a place of preeminence for the Messianic reign, distinct from worldly kingdoms.

• "I myself will take... and I myself will plant it": This double emphasis on God's personal agency powerfully conveys His sovereign will and capability. It is a stark contrast to the previous allegory where human powers (eagles, kings) manipulated branches and plants for their own political ends, which invariably led to judgment. God's act is one of ultimate purpose and faithfulness.
• "a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar... a tender one": This phrase beautifully encapsulates both the Davidic royal lineage ("lofty top of the cedar") and the humble, seemingly insignificant state of its next manifestation ("tender one," "sprig"). It hints at the Messiah who, though of royal descent, would not appear as an earthly king of power but with a meek and dependent beginning (Isa 11:1).
• "plant it on a high and lofty mountain": This imagery directly foreshadows the establishment of God's unshakable, elevated, and universally recognized kingdom. The "high and lofty mountain" transcends any mere geographical location, representing a spiritual and political dominion that will be exalted above all nations and where God's righteous rule will be manifest (Isa 2:2-4, Mic 4:1-2).

Ezekiel 17 22 Bonus section

This prophecy from Ezekiel 17:22-24, where God personally takes a small, vulnerable shoot and plants it on Mount Zion, is a clear messianic prophecy pointing towards the first and second comings of Christ. It addresses the continuation of the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7) at a time when that covenant seemed utterly broken due to the sin of Judah and the Babylonian conquest. The smallness of the shoot contrasts with the grand "cedar" but echoes the truth that God often works through humble, overlooked beginnings (Zech 4:10). The image of the tree growing into a magnificent cedar provides shelter for all kinds of birds (Ezek 17:23), illustrating the universal scope of the Messiah's kingdom, welcoming people from all nations into its refuge and shade (cf. Matt 13:31-32). This foreshadows the church and the ultimate gathering of believers into Christ's kingdom. It serves as a reminder that God's plan is not thwarted by human unfaithfulness, but rather fulfilled through His sovereign and redemptive work.

Ezekiel 17 22 Commentary

Ezekiel 17:22 acts as a profound divine promise, contrasting God's unwavering faithfulness with Judah's repeated treachery and human rulers' political maneuvering. Following the detailed allegory of judgment, this verse signals a decisive shift to a message of future hope and restoration, moving from human failure to divine intervention. God pledges to personally initiate a new work of salvation for His people. The "sprig" or "tender one" from the "lofty top of the cedar" symbolically represents a chosen descendant from the fallen Davidic dynasty—specifically, the Messiah. This chosen one will arise from seemingly humble beginnings, yet will bear the lineage of a king. God will not allow human pride or political machinations to destroy His ultimate plan. His act of "planting" on a "high and lofty mountain" (Mount Zion) signifies the establishment of an everlasting, preeminent, and righteous kingdom, founded by Him alone, that will stand firm against all adversaries and provide universal shelter and flourishing for His people. This prophetic vision provided crucial comfort and assurance to a people facing exile and the apparent end of their kingdom.