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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 17:4 | He plucked off the highest branch of its young twigs and brought it into a land of merchants... | Ezekiel 17 |
| 2 Kings 24:10 | At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem... | 2 Kings 24 |
| Jeremiah 22:24 | As I live, declares the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would tear you off | Jeremiah 22 |
| Jeremiah 25:9 | ...I will send for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land... | Jeremiah 25 |
| Daniel 2:37 | You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given dominion, power, and might, and glory; | Daniel 2 |
| Daniel 4:22 | it is you yourself, O king! You have grown and become strong, and your greatness has extended... | Daniel 4 |
| Hosea 10:8 | ...The high places of wickedness shall be destroyed... | Hosea 10 |
| Isaiah 14:13 | You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high... | Isaiah 14 |
| Psalm 89:27 | I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. | Psalm 89 |
| Proverbs 25:1 | These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. | Proverbs 25 |
| 2 Chronicles 36:10 | At the end of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, along with the coveted articles from the house of the LORD, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. | 2 Chronicles 36 |
| Ezekiel 19:10 | Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the waters; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant waters. | Ezekiel 19 |
| Amos 6:13 | You who make yourselves triumph by your iniquity, and say, “Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim?” | Amos 6 |
| Luke 1:52 | He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; | Luke 1 |
| Revelation 17:12 | And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast. | Revelation 17 |
| Revelation 18:2 | He cried out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons... | Revelation 18 |
| Zechariah 11:2 | Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, because the goodly trees are destroyed... | Zechariah 11 |
| Jeremiah 52:2 | And Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. | Jeremiah 52 |
| Lamentations 4:1 | How the gold has become dull, the purest gold has changed! The stones of the sanctuary lie scattered at the head of every street. | Lamentations 4 |
| 2 Samuel 7:14 | I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. | 2 Samuel 7 |
| Psalm 132:11 | The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “Of the fruit of your body I will set on your throne." | Psalm 132 |
| Ezekiel 19:5-9 | He took young lions and brought them up and taught them to catch prey. ...Then the nations round about heard of him, and he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains to the land of Egypt. | Ezekiel 19 |
| Isaiah 10:5-6 | “Lo, I am sending a scourge on it, the anger of the LORD, the rod of my wrath... | Isaiah 10 |
| Nahum 3:19 | There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news of you clap their hands over you. For who has not passed you in your evil? | Nahum 3 |
Ezekiel 17 verses
Ezekiel 17 3 Meaning
This verse introduces a powerful analogy concerning Jerusalem and its royal line. The eagle represents a great king, specifically Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The great eagle, with its magnificent wings and plumage, symbolizes the power, expanse, and splendor of Nebuchadnezzar's empire and his conquest of Jerusalem. The sharp "beak" refers to his piercing authority and military might.
Ezekiel 17 3 Context
Ezekiel chapter 17 is a prophetic oracle given during the Babylonian exile. It addresses Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his covenant infidelity. The prophecy uses the metaphor of eagles to represent great imperial powers that alternately attempt to control Jerusalem. The first eagle symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar, who conquered Judah and Jerusalem. The "highest branch" that he plucks off refers to Zedekiah, whom he installs as king after dethroning Jehoiachin. The verse describes the power and dominion of Nebuchadnezzar's empire. The broader context of Ezekiel's prophecy is God's judgment on Judah for its unfaithfulness and a promise of future restoration.
Ezekiel 17 3 Word analysis
- Take (Lamed-vav-ayin): To grasp, seize, carry away. Denotes the act of forceful acquisition and control.
- Great (Gadol): Large, mighty, important. Emphasizes the king's significant power and influence.
- Eagle (Nesher): Typically represents a powerful empire or ruler, known for its keen eyesight and dominance in the air. It can also symbolize judgment or destruction. In ancient Near Eastern symbolism, eagles were often associated with imperial power.
- Wings (Kanaph): Literally "wing" or "edge," can also denote a large expanse or dominion, extending over a territory. It highlights the vast reach of the eagle's power.
- Full (Male): Abundant, complete. Indicates the thoroughness of the eagle's coverage and control.
- Feathers (Orah): Plumage, feathers. Together with "wings" and "many colors," it paints a picture of outward glory, strength, and perhaps deceptive splendor.
- Many colors (Rekanesim): Patched, variegated. This suggests a mixture of different peoples or nations brought under the dominion of the eagle, or a complex and perhaps deceptive outward appearance.
- Camouflaged (Me-yulem): Sheltered, came into, shaded by. It suggests that the eagle's might provides protection or shade, and that Jerusalem sought refuge or alliance under its power, rather than solely relying on God. This also implies a measure of entrapment.
Group Analysis: The phrase "great eagle with mighty wings, long feathers, and full of many colors, coming to Lebanon, to pluck off its highest branch" depicts Nebuchadnezzar's overwhelming power, the extent of his empire, and his targeted conquest of Jerusalem, symbolized as a cedargrove. The "highest branch" signifies the royal line of David, specifically referring to the king on the throne, whom Nebuchadnezzar would remove. The "camouflage" aspect highlights the deceitful or overpowering nature of this foreign king's influence, under which Judah places its trust.
Ezekiel 17 3 Bonus section
The symbolism of eagles in the ancient world often represented powerful rulers and empires, as seen in Mesopotamian and Egyptian art. Nebuchadnezzar's capture of Jehoiachin and Zedekiah, and his assertion of dominion over Judah, directly mirrored the behavior described by the eagle imagery. The prophecy functions as both a denunciation of Zedekiah's reliance on foreign powers (like Egypt, mentioned later in the chapter) and a pronouncement of God's ultimate sovereignty, even through instruments of judgment like Nebuchadnezzar. The prophecy, therefore, exposes the futility of trusting in earthly kingdoms rather than in the Lord.
Ezekiel 17 3 Commentary
The image of the great eagle vividly portrays the overwhelming imperial power of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. Its "mighty wings" and "full feathers" speak of dominion and strength that stretched far and wide, overshadowing other nations. The "many colors" could suggest the diverse nations and peoples subject to Babylon's rule. By "coming to Lebanon" (a metaphor for the prominent house of David in Jerusalem, like a towering cedar) and plucking off its "highest branch" (referring to Jehoiachin or Zedekiah), the verse underscores Jerusalem's vulnerability and the decisive nature of Babylonian conquest. It highlights a king who, by force and with far-reaching influence, asserted his authority over the Judean monarchy, setting himself up as the supreme power in the region. This act is presented as an aggressive takeover, removing the legitimate leadership and placing it in a foreign land, thereby disrupting God's chosen covenant line.