Ezekiel 17 9

Ezekiel 17:9 kjv

Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.

Ezekiel 17:9 nkjv

"Say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots, Cut off its fruit, And leave it to wither? All of its spring leaves will wither, And no great power or many people Will be needed to pluck it up by its roots.

Ezekiel 17:9 niv

"Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.

Ezekiel 17:9 esv

"Say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots.

Ezekiel 17:9 nlt

"So now the Sovereign LORD asks:
Will this vine grow and prosper?
No! I will pull it up, roots and all!
I will cut off its fruit
and let its leaves wither and die.
I will pull it up easily
without a strong arm or a large army.

Ezekiel 17 verses

Ezekiel 17 9 Meaning

Ezekiel 17:9, as part of a riddle and oracle, unequivocally declares that the vine, symbolizing King Zedekiah and the kingdom of Judah, will utterly fail in its rebellious endeavor. The verse uses a series of rhetorical questions to emphasize that it will not prosper, but rather suffer complete destruction: its roots will be pulled up, its fruit cut off, and all its foliage will wither. The verse highlights that this devastation will not be brought about by human strength or large armies, but by God's sovereign and decisive action as a direct consequence of Zedekiah's breach of oath.

Ezekiel 17 9 Context

Ezekiel chapter 17 introduces a profound parable delivered by God to Ezekiel, meant to illuminate the political and spiritual folly of King Zedekiah of Judah. The narrative describes a great eagle (representing Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon) coming to Lebanon (symbolizing Jerusalem) and taking the highest branch of a cedar (King Jehoiachin) and planting it in a foreign land. He then establishes a lowly vine (Zedekiah), planting it by abundant waters, under an oath of fealty, expecting it to remain low and loyal. However, a second great eagle (representing Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt) appears. The vine, unfaithfully breaking its solemn oath sworn in God's name to Babylon, turns its roots and branches towards this second eagle, seeking strength and water, hoping for military aid to rebel against Babylon. Verse 9 rhetorically poses the question of whether this rebellious act will succeed, swiftly responding with a resounding "no" and detailing the vine's impending utter destruction. The historical context is Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon (589-587 BCE) by forming an alliance with Egypt, directly contravening the vassal treaty that was consecrated in the name of Yahweh. The verse emphasizes that this act of treachery and faithlessness will be met with decisive divine judgment, demonstrating God's sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations.

Ezekiel 17 9 Word analysis

• Say: This imperative (Hebrew: אֱמֹר, emor) signals a divine command, establishing the prophetic word's authority through Ezekiel.
• 'Thus says the Lord God': (Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, koh amar Adonay Yahweh). This formulaic declaration stamps the pronouncement with the absolute authority and unchallengeable certainty of the covenant-keeping, sovereign God of Israel.
• Will it prosper?: (Hebrew: הֲתִצְלָח, hă-titslakh from the root צָלַח, tsalach - to advance, succeed, be prosperous). This is a strong rhetorical question demanding a negative answer. It signifies the absolute futility of the vine's (Zedekiah's) plans, underscoring that human schemes are powerless against divine judgment.
• Will it not pull up its roots?: (Hebrew: הֲלוֹא אֶת שָׁרָשֶׁיהָ יְנַתֵּק, hălō ’et shāreshèhā yinattek from נָתַק, natak - to tear or pull off, utterly remove; שֹׁרֶשׁ, shoresh - root). Another forceful rhetorical question demanding an affirmative response. It describes a foundational, complete, and irreversible destruction. Not merely surface damage, but eradication from its very source of life, signaling the end of the kingdom's existence.
• and cut off its fruit: (Hebrew: וְאֶת־פִּרְיָהּ יְקֹשׁשׁ, vĕ-'et-piryah yeqōshēsh from קָצַץ, qatsats - to cut off; פְּרִי, peri - fruit). The fruit symbolizes progeny, offspring, or output. Cutting it off means preventing any future generation or yield, signifying the end of Judah's potential for flourishing and continuity of its royal line.
• so that it withers—all its fresh sprouting leaves withering—: (Hebrew: וְיָבֵשׁ כֹּל־טַאלֹת צִמְחָהּ תִּיבָשׁ, vĕ-yāvẽsh kol-tal’ot tsimkhāh tivash from יָבֵשׁ, yabesh - to be dry, wither; טָאלוּת, tal'ot - new sprouts, tendrils, suckers). This detailed description emphasizes comprehensive desiccation. "Wither" (יָבֵשׁ) describes the general state, while "all its fresh sprouting leaves" (כֹּל־טַאלֹת צִמְחָהּ) points to even the newest, most hopeful growth being affected. The repetition of the root "wither" underscores the total and irreversible loss of life and vigor.
• and not by a strong arm or many people?: (Hebrew: וְלֹא בִּזְרוֹעַ חֲזָקָה וּבְעַם־רָב, vĕlō bizrōaḥ chăzāqāh ū-vĕ‘am-rav; זְרוֹעַ חֲזָקָה, zĕrōaḥ chăzāqāh - strong arm; עַם רָב, ‘am rav - many people). This pivotal statement emphasizes divine agency. It explicitly states that Judah's downfall will not be accomplished by the overwhelming military power or numbers of an enemy. While Babylon will be God's instrument, this phrase asserts that the ultimate cause is God's own direct decree and action, making it clear that human might is irrelevant when God acts in judgment.

Words-group analysis:

• "Will it prosper? Will it not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit?": These chained rhetorical questions dramatically forecast inevitable failure and total destruction. They highlight a divine verdict against the rebellion, starting from its foundational supports (roots) to its external manifestations (fruit). This sequence powerfully conveys the absolute certainty of the downfall, leaving no room for human hope or strategic maneuver.
• "...so that it withers—all its fresh sprouting leaves withering...": This segment reinforces the comprehensive nature of the destruction. The image of universal desiccation, encompassing even newly emerging growth, implies that there will be no chance of recovery, re-sprouting, or a future for the kingdom as it once was. It's an image of complete death.
• "...and not by a strong arm or many people?": This concluding assertion is profoundly theological. It explicitly rules out human agency (either through great military might or sheer numerical superiority) as the ultimate cause of Judah's destruction. Instead, it places the emphasis firmly on God's sovereign hand, implying that He is the true orchestrator of events, judging unfaithfulness independent of typical worldly power dynamics. It undermines human pride and places all power with God.

Ezekiel 17 9 Bonus section

The concept of the "strong arm" often refers metaphorically to God's own power (e.g., Ex 3:19, Deut 5:15), making the negation here particularly poignant. It implies that while God could have destroyed Judah through His "strong arm" directly, He instead allows human agents to carry out the physical devastation, yet ensures that the ultimate reason and power behind it are His, not merely a military conquest. This reinforces the theological principle that no human force can thwart God's plans or avert His judgment once decreed. The breaking of the covenant oath was considered a severe religious offense, as God was witness to the agreement (as implied by Eze 17:18-19, where God declares, "My oath that he swore, and My covenant that he broke, I will bring upon his own head"). Therefore, the withering of the vine signifies not just political downfall, but also spiritual demise and separation from God's favor due to faithlessness.

Ezekiel 17 9 Commentary

Ezekiel 17:9 serves as a definitive prophecy of Judah's impending doom under King Zedekiah. The rhetorical questions employed convey a message of certain destruction for the rebellious vine. Its very foundation ("roots") will be ripped up, its productive capacity ("fruit") terminated, and all its vitality ("fresh sprouting leaves") will completely wither. This depicts a comprehensive, irreversible annihilation. The verse's profound theological statement comes at its conclusion: this judgment will not be primarily the result of the might of Babylon's army ("not by a strong arm or many people"). While God used Babylon as His instrument, the core message is that Judah's demise is a divinely decreed consequence of Zedekiah's perfidy and the kingdom's faithlessness, particularly their breaking of a sacred oath made in God's name. The verse asserts God's absolute sovereignty over nations and His righteous judgment against treachery and reliance on human alliances over divine commands. It teaches that disobedience, especially the breaking of oaths, incurs the sure and decisive judgment of the Lord, making all human strength inconsequential in the face of His divine will.