Ezekiel 17:4 kjv
He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.
Ezekiel 17:4 nkjv
He cropped off its topmost young twig And carried it to a land of trade; He set it in a city of merchants.
Ezekiel 17:4 niv
he broke off its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.
Ezekiel 17:4 esv
He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and carried it to a land of trade and set it in a city of merchants.
Ezekiel 17:4 nlt
and plucked off its highest branch.
He carried it away to a city filled with merchants.
He planted it in a city of traders.
Ezekiel 17 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 17:4 | He took... its seed. | Eagle’s presumption |
| 2 Kings 24:10-16 | Jehoiachin captured, riches taken to Babylon. | Historical fulfillment |
| 2 Chron 36:10 | Zedekiah made king, taken captive to Babylon. | Historical fulfillment |
| Jer 22:24-28 | Descendant of David like a despised, broken pot. | God's judgment on royalty |
| Jer 52:11 | Zedekiah's eyes were put out, bound with bronze chains. | Further fulfillment |
| Psalm 18:2 | The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. | Contrast of power sources |
| Isaiah 40:31 | Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. | Divine strength contrasted |
| Daniel 4:22 | It is you, O king! You have become great and reach to the skies, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. | Nebuchadnezzar’s dominion |
| Romans 11:18 | do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. | Warning against pride |
| Matthew 24:28 | "Wherever there is a dead body, the vultures will gather." | Symbolism of vultures/eagles |
| Galatians 5:1 | For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. | Warning against bondage |
| Revelation 18:1-3 | Babylon's judgment and plunder. | Empires falling |
Ezekiel 17 verses
Ezekiel 17 4 Meaning
This verse uses a powerful metaphor of an eagle, representing a powerful king or kingdom, alighting upon the cedar. The action signifies an invasion and seizure of royal authority.
Ezekiel 17 4 Context
Ezekiel chapter 17 presents a series of prophetic parables, vividly illustrating God's judgment on Jerusalem and its king. This specific verse is part of a complex allegory where a great eagle is sent by the LORD. This eagle is generally understood to represent Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The "tall cedar" symbolizes the Davidic monarchy, specifically Zedekiah, the king of Judah at the time. The verse describes the initial act of conquest and usurpation by this foreign power.
Ezekiel 17 4 Word Analysis
- And: Connects the action of the eagle to the preceding description or introduction.
- He: Refers to the "great eagle" previously mentioned, representing a powerful entity, Nebuchadnezzar.
- took: Hebrew: לָקַח (laqach) - denotes taking, seizing, grasping; signifying the act of conquest and dominion.
- of: Indicates possession or origin.
- the: Definite article.
- tallest: Hebrew: גְּבֹהִים (gebohim) - high, lofty, elevated; emphasizing the prominence and majesty of the cedar.
- of: Preposition indicating relation.
- the: Definite article.
- top: Hebrew: קָצָה (qatsah) - extremity, highest point, tip; the peak of the tree, symbolizing the highest rank or authority.
- branches: Hebrew: עֲנָפֶיהָ (anapheyha) - its branches; plural of עָנָף (anaph), suggesting the royal succession or the constituent parts of the kingdom.
- He: Again, referring to the eagle/Nebuchadnezzar.
- picked: Hebrew: מָרַט (marat) - to pluck off, strip bare, shave; suggesting a violent and deliberate removal of these elements.
- off: Indicates separation.
- its: Possessive pronoun.
- uppermost: Hebrew: רָאשִׁים (ro’shim) - heads, tops, chiefs; again pointing to the highest and most important parts.
- of: Preposition of relation.
- its: Possessive pronoun.
- sprigs: Hebrew: מְרַטָּם (merattem) - its fine shoots or topmost leaves, pl. of מְרָט (merat), meaning plucked or shorn; emphasizing the finest, most tender, and symbolic parts being removed.
- and: Conjunction.
- He: Eagle/Nebuchadnezzar.
- brought: Hebrew: הֵבִיא (hevi) - to bring, lead, carry; conveying transport into exile or captivity.
- it: Refers to the picked sprigs/shoots.
- to: Indicates direction or destination.
- a: Indefinite article.
- land: Hebrew: אָרֶץ (erets) - land, country, earth; specifying the destination, Babylon.
- of: Preposition of relation.
- merchants: Hebrew: סֹחֲרִים (socharim) - traders, merchants; sometimes interpreted as "kingdoms" or "traffickers," possibly referring to the commercial or tributary states of Babylon.
- and: Conjunction.
- placed: Hebrew: שָׂם (sam) - to put, set, place; establishing control and ownership.
- it: The plundered branches.
- in: Preposition of location.
- a: Indefinite article.
- city: Hebrew: קִרְיָה (qiryah) - city, town; the center of political power and administration.
- of: Preposition of relation.
- traders: Hebrew: סֹחַר (sochar) - traffic, merchandise, place of trade; often understood as "commerce," or in context, suggesting a city renowned for its commerce or as a center for capturing spoils and revenues.
Ezekiel 17 4 Bonus Section
The imagery of an eagle in the Bible can have dual interpretations. While often symbolizing power, dominance, and divine judgment (Deut 28:49; Jer 48:40), it can also be associated with rapaciousness and foreign oppressors. The careful selection and plucking of specific branches, rather than a general uprooting, highlights a strategic despoiling of the highest leadership and potential heirs, ensuring future vulnerability for Judah. The mention of "merchants" or "traders" might allude to the economic exploitation that followed military conquest, a hallmark of empires like Babylon.
Ezekiel 17 4 Commentary
The eagle, an emblem of power and sovereignty in the ancient Near East, powerfully symbolizes the Babylonian empire and its king, Nebuchadnezzar. This mighty king did not merely conquer; he systematically dismantled the symbolic representation of Judah's royalty and independence. By plucking the "tallest of the top branches" and the "uppermost of its sprigs," Nebuchadnezzar targeted the Davidic lineage and the very essence of the Davidic covenant. These symbolic parts were then brought to a land of "merchants" or "trade," indicating Babylon's vast empire built on tribute, spoils, and commerce. Placing them in a "city of traders" suggests Jerusalem’s royal treasures and future leadership were now subject to Babylonian economic and political control. This act foreshadows the eventual captivity of Zedekiah and the near destruction of Davidic rule.