Ezekiel 17:3 kjv
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:
Ezekiel 17:3 nkjv
and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "A great eagle with large wings and long pinions, Full of feathers of various colors, Came to Lebanon And took from the cedar the highest branch.
Ezekiel 17:3 niv
Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: A great eagle with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon. Taking hold of the top of a cedar,
Ezekiel 17:3 esv
say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
Ezekiel 17:3 nlt
Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: "A great eagle with broad wings and long feathers,
covered with many-colored plumage,
came to Lebanon.
He seized the top of a cedar tree
Ezekiel 17 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:49 | "The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as an eagle swooping down..." | Eagle as swift, destructive judgment |
| Jer 48:40 | "For behold, he shall swoop like an eagle and spread his wings against Moab." | Eagle as symbol of conquering foe, likely Babylon |
| Jer 49:22 | "Behold, he shall mount up and fly like an eagle and spread his wings against Bozrah..." | Eagle imagery for Nebuchadnezzar's conquests |
| Hab 1:8 | "Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than evening wolves... they fly like an eagle swift to devour." | Chaldeans (Babylonians) depicted with eagle-like speed |
| Hos 8:1 | "Set the trumpet to your lips! He comes like an eagle against the house of the LORD..." | Judgment on Israel, fast and inevitable |
| Lam 4:19 | "Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens; they chased us on the mountains..." | Babylon's swiftness in pursuit |
| Isa 2:13 | "...and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan;" | Cedars as symbols of pride and power targeted by God's judgment |
| Isa 10:34 | "He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an iron axe, and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall." | Lebanon as symbol of national pride brought down |
| Jer 22:6 | "For thus says the LORD concerning the house of the king of Judah: 'You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon...'" | Lebanon as symbol of Judah's majesty |
| Zech 11:1 | "Open your doors, O Lebanon, that fire may devour your cedars!" | Lebanon's destruction prophesied |
| Ps 92:12 | "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon." | Cedars represent strength, but also subject to God's will |
| 2 Kgs 24:10-17 | Describes Jehoiachin's captivity and Zedekiah's appointment by Babylon. | Historical event mirroring the "top of the cedar" |
| 2 Chr 36:9-10 | Account of Jehoiachin's reign, surrender, and exile to Babylon. | Corresponds to the cedar's top being taken |
| Jer 24:1-7 | Fig tree vision after Jehoiachin's exile, distinguishing good from bad figs. | Contextual aftermath of Jehoiachin's captivity |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise..." | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers |
| Dan 4:17 | "...that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will..." | Divine control over empires and rulers (Nebuchadnezzar's later experience) |
| Eze 12:12-14 | Ezekiel's prophecy of Zedekiah's attempt to escape Jerusalem. | Prophetic foreshadowing of Judah's ultimate fall |
| Isa 5:1-7 | Parable of the vineyard, similar prophetic method for illustrating Judah's rebellion. | Use of a natural symbol for Israel's judgment |
| Jdg 9:8-15 | Jotham's parable of the trees choosing a king. | Early example of an allegorical parable in Israel |
| Matt 24:28 | "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." | Echoes predatory bird imagery in judgment |
| Rev 12:14 | "But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she might fly..." | Eagle can also symbolize divine protection in a different context |
Ezekiel 17 verses
Ezekiel 17 3 Meaning
Ezekiel 17:3 introduces a symbolic parable declared by the Lord GOD through the prophet. It describes a "great eagle" that comes to "Lebanon" and takes "the top of the cedar." This imagery represents the powerful King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (the great eagle) exercising his dominion over Judah (symbolized by Lebanon and its cedar forest). The act of taking "the top of the cedar" directly signifies the deportation of Judah's King Jehoiachin and the nation's elite to Babylon during the first siege in 597 BC, marking the subjugation of the Davidic monarchy.
Ezekiel 17 3 Context
Ezekiel 17 forms a vivid parable concerning the geopolitical struggles and faithlessness of Judah during the Babylonian exile. Chapter 17 is structured as a riddle (v. 2) or allegory presented to the "rebellious house," specifically addressing those still in Judah or recently exiled. The context begins with Ezekiel already in Babylon during the first deportation (597 BC), meaning King Jehoiachin had been taken captive and King Zedekiah installed by Nebuchadnezzar as a vassal ruler in Jerusalem.
Verse 3 introduces the first part of this complex riddle: the arrival of a great eagle. Historically, this points to Nebuchadnezzar's first intervention in Judah, culminating in the siege of Jerusalem, Jehoiachin's capture, and the removal of the upper echelons of society. The following verses will elaborate on this event and then introduce a second eagle and a vine, leading to Zedekiah's later rebellion against Babylon by seeking alliance with Egypt. The parable reveals God's interpretation (vv. 11-21), demonstrating divine sovereignty over both the political maneuvers of nations and Judah's fate. It challenges any notions of self-reliance or reliance on foreign powers instead of God.
Culturally, Lebanon was renowned throughout the ancient Near East for its vast cedar forests, supplying timber for magnificent temples and palaces (e.g., Solomon's Temple). Cedars of Lebanon thus symbolized majesty, strength, pride, and royalty, frequently representing the kings or leaders of Judah in prophetic literature.
Ezekiel 17 3 Word analysis
- and say: This immediately follows a divine command to Ezekiel (Eze 17:2, "Son of man, propound a riddle... and speak a parable"). It underscores that the ensuing words are a direct message from God, delivered through His prophet.
- 'Thus says the Lord GOD: (Heb. כֹּ֥ה אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִה֙, koh amar Adonai YHVH) This is a standard prophetic formula, signifying that the message is an authoritative, unalterable divine oracle from the sovereign Lord, not human conjecture. "Lord GOD" combines Adonai (Master) and YHVH (Yahweh, the covenant name of God), emphasizing His absolute authority and personal involvement with Israel.
- A great eagle: (Heb. נֶֽשֶׁר֙ גָּד֖וֹל, nesher gadol) The term nesher can denote both eagle and vulture. Here, coupled with "great," it strongly implies a powerful, dominant, and swift bird of prey. In the context of the Ancient Near East and prophetic literature, the eagle is a recurring symbol for mighty conquering empires or kings, known for their predatory nature and extensive reach. This specifically represents Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.
- with great wings: (Heb. גְּדֹ֣ל כְּנָפַ֔יִם, g'dol k'nafayim) Refers to the vast geographical extent of the eagle's domain. The "wings" symbolize the comprehensive power and influence of the Babylonian empire, which spanned wide territories. It indicates Nebuchadnezzar's extensive reach and swiftness in military campaigns.
- long feathers: (Heb. אֶ֤רֶךְ הַנּוֹצָה֙, erekh hannoẓah) Further amplifies the image of vastness and thoroughness. The length of its plumage suggests wide coverage and deep impact, implying the enduring or far-reaching consequences of Babylon's power. It could also hint at the detail and scope of the empire's administration.
- full of plumage of varied colors: (Heb. מָלֵ֣א הַצִּפּוֹר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹ֔ו הָרִכְמָ֔ה, male' haẓẓippor 'asher lo ha-rikhmah) This phrase is vivid. Tsippor (bird) is used metonymically for the "bird's skin" or "body" of feathers. Rikhmáh means "brocade," "variegated work," or "embroidery." It suggests a rich, diverse, and ornate appearance. This points to the Babylonian Empire's wealth, the diverse peoples it ruled, its splendor, the array of military forces it commanded, and perhaps its deceptive attractiveness to other nations.
- came to Lebanon: (Heb. בָּ֣א אֶל־הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן, ba' el ha-L'vanon) The verb "came" indicates a deliberate, direct, and powerful approach. "Lebanon" (Har-Ha-Levanon) was famous for its majestic cedars, symbolic of grandeur, strength, and national pride. In prophecy, Lebanon often represents the nation of Judah, especially its leadership and monarchy, which prided itself on its perceived strength and majesty, much like the mighty cedars.
- and took the top of the cedar: (Heb. וַיִּקַּ֛ח אֶת־רֹ֥אשׁ הָאָֽרֶז, vayyiqqaḥ et ro'sh ha'erez) The action "took" (verb laqach) denotes an act of forceful seizure or removal. "The top of the cedar" (rosh ha'erez) refers to the uppermost part, the most prominent and distinguished element. This unequivocally symbolizes the capture and deportation of Judah's King Jehoiachin in 597 BC by Nebuchadnezzar. It signifies the removal of the highest royal authority and the beginning of the kingdom's systematic dismantlement, without completely uprooting the entire nation (which is depicted later).
Ezekiel 17 3 Bonus section
- The detail in describing the eagle's plumage (great wings, long feathers, varied colors) goes beyond simply identifying the king; it underscores the comprehensive and awe-inspiring nature of the Babylonian power wielded against Judah. This imagery aims to convey both the glory and the overwhelming might of the empire chosen by God to execute His judgment.
- While the initial reference to Lebanon and the cedar is a direct historical allegory, it also implicitly challenges the self-perception of Judah's royalty. They might have seen themselves as majestic and enduring as the cedars, but God's prophet illustrates how easily their "top" could be taken, and their grandeur brought low, highlighting their dependence not on their own might but on God's protection, which they had forfeited.
Ezekiel 17 3 Commentary
Ezekiel 17:3 serves as the dramatic opening of a profound divine parable. The "great eagle" personifies Nebuchadnezzar, whose Babylonian empire extended far beyond its core territory, reflected in its "great wings" and "long feathers." The "plumage of varied colors" highlights the opulence, extensive resources, and multinational character of this empire. The targeting of "Lebanon" and its "cedars" powerfully represents God's judgment directed toward Judah's royal line and its perceived strength, specifically Jerusalem's Davidic dynasty. The precise act of taking "the top of the cedar" refers to the historical event of King Jehoiachin's capture and exile to Babylon in 597 BC. This was not a mere political incident but a deliberate act of divine sovereignty. God, through the eagle, orchestrated this removal to humble a prideful Judah, demonstrating that no king or nation stood outside His ultimate authority. It initiated a phase of deep humiliation for Judah, stripping it of its figurehead but allowing the "seed" (later described as Zedekiah) to remain, albeit under subservience. This prophetic vision emphasizes God's control over Gentile powers to execute His will and judgment upon His disobedient people.