Ezekiel 17:1-10 · Bible study

Ezekiel 17:1-10 Commentary: Divine Riddle

Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say

Meaning in one sentence

How Ezekiel 17:1-10 uses a prophetic formula and allegory to indict Judah's rebellion against Babylon and trust in Egypt.

Research Summary

Meaning: A prophetic allegory indicting Judah’s rebellion against Babylon and trust in Egypt, promising certain judgment from God.
Key words: Riddle (Hebrew chidah), parable (mashal); first eagle = Nebuchadnezzar; second eagle = Pharaoh Hophra; vine = Zedekiah.
Main debate: Minimal; the major figures are universally identified. Some debate whether “Lebanon” represents Jerusalem or the mountain region.
Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over nations; the folly of trusting human alliances over covenant faithfulness.
Best use: Preaching on God’s judgment of unfaithfulness, the danger of worldly security, and the necessity of keeping vows.

Translation Comparison

BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020

¹Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

²“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel

³and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

⁴He plucked off its topmost shoot, carried it to the land of merchants, and planted it in a city of traders.

⁵He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow.

⁶It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and yielded branches and sent out shoots.

⁷But there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed, so that he might water it.

⁸It had been planted in good soil by abundant waters in order to yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’

⁹So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Will it flourish? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its foliage will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots.

¹⁰Even if it is transplanted, will it flourish? Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’”

WEB World English Bible 2000

¹Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

²“Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

³and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers which had various colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.

⁴He cropped off the topmost of its young twigs, and carried it to a land of traffic. He planted it in a city of merchants.

⁵“‘“He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree.

⁶It grew and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him. So it became a vine, produced branches, and shot out sprigs.

⁷“‘“There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. Behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot out its branches toward him, from the ground where it was planted, that he might water it.

⁸It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might produce branches and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a good vine.”’

⁹“Say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Will it prosper? Won’t he pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, that it may wither, that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? It can’t be raised from its roots by a strong arm or many people.

¹⁰Yes, behold, being planted, will it prosper? Won’t it utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the ground where it grew.”’”

KJV King James Version 1769

¹And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

²Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

³And 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:

⁴He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

⁵He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

⁶And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

⁷There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

⁸It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

⁹Say 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.

¹⁰Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.

ASV American Standard Version 1901

¹And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

²Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

³and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:

⁴he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it unto a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.

⁵He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a willow-tree.

⁷There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.

⁸It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

⁹Say thou, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from the roots thereof.

¹⁰Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the beds where it grew.

YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898

¹And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

²`Son of man, put forth a riddle, and use a simile unto the house of Israel,

³and thou hast said: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: The great eagle, great-winged, long-pinioned, Full of feathers, that hath diverse colours, Hath come in unto Lebanon, And it taketh the foliage of the cedar,

⁴The top of its tender twigs it hath cropped, And it bringeth it in to the land of Canaan. In a city of merchants it hath placed it.

⁵And it taketh of the seed of the land, And doth put it in a field of seed, To take by many waters, In a conspicuous place it hath set it.

⁶And it springeth up, and becometh a spreading vine, humble of stature, To turn its thin shoots toward itself, And its roots are under it, And it becometh a vine, and maketh boughs, And sendeth forth beauteous branches.

⁷And there is another great eagle, Great-winged, and abounding with feathers, And lo, this vine hath bent its roots toward him, And its thin shoots it hath sent out toward him, To water it from the furrows of its planting,

⁸On a good field, by many waters, it is planted, To make branches, and to bear fruit, To be for an goodly vine.

⁹Say: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: It prospereth--its roots doth he not draw out, And its fruit cut off, and it is withered? In all the leaves of its springing it withereth, And not by great strength, and by a numerous people, To lift it up by its roots.

¹⁰And lo, the planted thing--doth it prosper? When come against it doth the east wind, Doth it not utterly wither? On the furrows of its springing it withereth.'

Darby Darby Bible 1890

¹And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

²Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,

³and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings, long-pinioned, full of feathers, which was of divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar.

⁴He cropped off the top of its young shoots, and carried it into a merchants' land; he set it in a city of traders.

⁵And he took of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, he set it as a willow tree.

⁶And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, so that its branches should turn toward him, and the roots thereof be under him; and it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

⁷And there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers; and behold, from the beds of her plantation, this vine did bend her roots unto him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it.

⁸It was planted in a good field by many waters, that it might bring forth branches and bear fruit, that it might be a noble vine.

⁹Say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, that it may wither? All its fresh sprouting leaves shall wither, even without a great arm and many people to pluck it up by its roots.

¹⁰And behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither when the east wind toucheth it? It shall wither in the beds where it grew.

Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899

¹And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

²Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel,

³And say: Thus saith the Lord God; A large eagle with great wings, long-limbed, full of feathers, and of variety, came to Libanus, and took away the marrow of the cedar.

⁴He cropped off the top of the twigs thereof: and carried it away into the land of Chanaan, and he set it in a city of merchants.

⁵And he took of the seed of the land, and put it in the ground for seed, that it might take a firm root over many waters: he planted it on the surface of the earth.

⁶And it sprung up and grew into a spreading vine of low stature, and the branches thereof looked towards him: and the roots thereof were under him. So it became a vine, and grew into branches, and shot forth sprigs.

⁷And there was another large eagle, with great wings, and many feathers: and behold this vine, bending as it were her roots towards him, stretched forth her branches to him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

⁸It was planted in a good ground upon many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and bear fruit, that it might become a large vine.

⁹Say thou: Thus saith the Lord God: Shall it prosper then? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and strip off its fruit, and dry up all the branches it hath shot forth, and make it wither: and this without a strong arm, or many people to pluck it up by the root?

¹⁰Behold, it is planted: shall it prosper then? shall it not be dried up when the burning wind shall touch it, and shall it not wither in the furrows where it grew?

Verse in Context

1 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

3 and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers which had various colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.

4 He cropped off the topmost of its young twigs, and carried it to a land of traffic. He planted it in a city of merchants.

5 “‘“He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree.

6 It grew and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him. So it became a vine, produced branches, and shot out sprigs.

7 “‘“There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. Behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot out its branches toward him, from the ground where it was planted, that he might water it.

8 It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might produce branches and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a good vine.”’

9 “Say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Will it prosper? Won’t he pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, that it may wither, that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? It can’t be raised from its roots by a strong arm or many people.

10 Yes, behold, being planted, will it prosper? Won’t it utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the ground where it grew.”’”

11 Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

12 “Say now to the rebellious house, ‘Don’t you know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took its king, and its princes, and brought them to him to Babylon.

Scholars' Consensus

Commentators agree that the opening line “Yahweh’s word came to me” is not a formulaic flourish. It grounds the entire riddle in divine authority. As Gill notes, “the riddle is not the prophet’s, nor the parable his, but the Lord God’s.” The following allegory is therefore a revelation, not a human invention. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown add that the word “riddle” (Hebrew chidah) derives from a root meaning “sharp”, it is meant to stimulate serious thought. The allegory itself is read consistently: the first great eagle is Nebuchadnezzar; the top of the cedar is the exiled King Jehoiachin and the nobles; the seed of the land is Zedekiah, appointed as a vassal; the second eagle is Pharaoh of Egypt. The vine’s attempt to reach for another eagle represents Zedekiah’s rebellion and his perfidious covenant-breaking. The closing questions, “Will it prosper? Won’t he pull up its roots?”, are God’s own verdict: such treachery cannot stand. The consensus holds that the parable indicts Judah’s political infidelity and announces certain judgment, with the eastern wind symbolizing Babylon’s destructive power.

How settled is the interpretation?

Interpretive difficulty: Low

What is clear: The riddle is a divine allegory about Judah’s political situation between Babylon and Egypt, and the judgment that follows Zedekiah’s rebellion and broken covenant.

What Scholars Agree and Debate

Topic	Agreed	Debated
Identity of the first eagle	Almost all commentators identify the first great eagle as King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.	No significant debate; a unanimous identification across traditions.
Identity of the seed of the land	The seed planted is Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, made king as a vassal.	No debate. All sources agree.
Meaning of 'Lebanon' in verse 3	Lebanon is a place of cedars and represents the royal house of Judah, possibly Jerusalem.	Some (Calvin mentions unnamed interpreters) take Lebanon literally as the mountain; others see it as a metaphor for Jerusalem, based on references like Jeremiah 22:23. The difference does not affect the main interpretation.
The second eagle's identity	It is the king of Egypt, specifically Pharaoh Hophra (Apries).	No debate; all commentators agree.

Historical & Cultural Context

The years around 593 BC were a tightening noose for Judah. Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon had already deported the young king Jehoiachin and many nobles in 597 BC (2 Kings 24:8, 17). In Jehoiachin’s place, the Babylonian king set up Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, as a puppet ruler. Zedekiah took an oath of fealty to Babylon, a covenant sworn in Yahweh’s name (2 Chronicles 36:13). The “land of traffic” and “city of merchants” in verse 4 is Babylon, famous for its trade routes and commerce on the Tigris and Euphrates. The “seed of the land” planted in “fruitful soil” is Zedekiah himself, a native of Judah, not a foreign satrap, placed on the throne to keep the Davidic line alive in submission.

But Zedekiah chafed under the yoke. Egypt, under Pharaoh Hophra (Apries, 589, 570 BC), still posed as a rival power. During this period, a faction in Jerusalem agitated for an alliance with Egypt, hoping to throw off Babylon’s control. The prophet Ezekiel, already in exile in Babylon, sees this hope as both foolish and faithless. The second eagle in the riddle is Egypt, impressive but ultimately no match for Babylon. The “east wind” that withers the vine is the Babylonian army, which historically marched from the northeast. The riddle’s punch, that the vine cannot be saved even “by a strong arm or many people”, echoes the reality that no Egyptian army could rescue a rebellious vassal. The whole allegory serves as God’s indictment of those who trust in treaties rather than in Him.

Textual Notes

The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The wording is stable across the major manuscript traditions, with the variations limited to minor scribal differences (e.g., “Canaan” in some Hebrew manuscripts vs “merchant city” in the Masoretic Text, but these do not alter meaning).

Reception History

In Jewish tradition, this riddle was understood as a historical allegory for Judah’s punishment and the futility of seeking Egyptian aid. Christian interpreters from the patristic period onward read the passage through a typological lens: the first eagle sometimes prefigured Christ’s judgment, or the vine represented the church under God’s care. The Protestant Reformers, including Calvin, focused on the political lesson about covenant faithfulness and the danger of trusting alliances over God. In modern preaching, the passage is often used to challenge believers to examine where they look for security, whether in political systems, wealth, or personal relationships, rather than in God alone. The riddle’s form has also been valued as an example of prophetic pedagogy: truth that must be puzzled out to be owned.

Preaching This Verse

Three-point outline

The God who speaks in the everyday: Ezekiel’s riddle uses images from the natural world, eagles, cedars, vines, to communicate a divine verdict. God can use familiar symbols to confront His people with hidden truth (vv. 1, 4).
The seduction of a second hope: The vine was already well-planted (v. 8) but turned toward another eagle. Zedekiah had everything he needed under Babylon’s suzerainty, yet he lusted after Egypt. Trusting worldly alliances is a form of infidelity (vv. 7, 8).
No treaty can save when God has said “wither”: The repeated question “Will it prosper?” (vv. 9, 10) receives an unmistakable answer: the east wind will blow, and the vine will die. When God determines judgment, no human power can reverse it.

Five-point outline

The prophetic formula as guarantee: “Yahweh’s word came to me” sets the stage for a message that is not human opinion but divine decree (v. 1).
The riddle as invitation: The command to “tell a riddle” forces the hearer to work for understanding, exposing the complacency of those who think they are safe (v. 2).
The eagle’s sovereignty: The first eagle acts with total freedom, cropping, planting, and setting boundaries. Nebuchadnezzar’s power is real, but it is still God’s tool (vv. 3, 4).
The vine’s ingratitude: Planted in good soil with abundant water, the vine had every advantage, yet it stretched toward Egypt. Gratitude is the forgotten foundation of faithfulness (vv. 5, 6).
God’s question at the end of history: “Shall it prosper?” is not a request for information. It is a verdict delivered as a question that leaves no answer but “No.” The doom is sure (vv. 9, 10).

Illustration hooks

The marriage vow broken: A couple who made solemn promises but began secretly contacting an old partner. The former partner seemed more exciting, but the trust was shattered. Zedekiah broke his oath to Babylon, and to God.
The plant that refuses to root: A gardener carefully transplants a shrub into rich soil, waters it daily, and gives it sun. But the shrub keeps sending out roots sideways, toward a crack in the wall where no water flows. It is choosing the wrong source of life.
The patient who ignores the diagnosis: A doctor tells a patient to rest and follow a simple treatment. Instead, the patient travels to another country for a miracle cure, and the original condition worsens. Egypt was Zedekiah’s false miracle.

Questions your congregation is asking

Why would God use a pagan king like Nebuchadnezzar to discipline His own people?
How do I know when God is speaking through circumstances, not just through Scripture?
What does “covenant-breaking” look like in my everyday decisions, at work, in relationships, in my trust patterns?

Leading a Discussion

This passage is a riddle wrapped in a prophetic formula. Before opening the meaning, the hearer has to sit with the allegory. Ezekiel’s original audience was “the house of Israel”, people who thought they could play Babylon against Egypt and win. In your group, let the images do their work before you explain them. The goal is not merely to identify the historical figures, but to let God’s question land: “Will it prosper?” Trusting in anything other than God will not.

Discussion questions

Read Ezekiel 17:1, 10 slowly. What images stand out to you? What feelings do the eagle, the cedar, the vine, and the east wind stir?
Why do you think God told this story as a riddle rather than a direct announcement? What does that say about how He wanted His people to respond?
The vine was planted in good soil by abundant waters (v. 8). Yet it turned toward the second eagle. What “good soil” has God given you that you might be tempted to undervalue while looking elsewhere?
Twice God asks, “Will it prosper?” (vv. 9, 10). How would you answer that question for the vine? For yourself, when you consider the things you are trusting in?
The east wind is a natural force that cannot be resisted. What does that image tell you about God’s sovereign control over the political powers of any age?
How does the historical context, Judah between Babylon and Egypt, parallel the pressures Christians feel today between competing loyalties?
If you were Zedekiah’s adviser, what would you say to him after hearing this riddle? What might that word be for your own life this week?

What the Commentators Say

8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.

Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826

Clarke interprets Ezekiel’s riddle as a precise historical allegory, identifying the great eagle with Nebuchadnezzar and the cedar branch with King Jehoiachin. He reads the vine as Zedekiah, planted by Babylon yet seeking support from the second eagle, Egypt. The question “Shall it prosper?” foretells Judah’s total collapse under Zedekiah, ending the monarchy.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832

Barnes identifies the two eagles as the kings of Babylon and Egypt, the cedar top as Jeconiah, and the vine as Zedekiah. He stresses that seeking Egypt's help was a delusive hope, since Zedekiah owed his throne to Babylon. The chapter closes with a promise that a very different son of David will restore God's people in the Messiah's kingdom.

Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564

Calvin's main point is that the Jews were foolish to trust in their own safety after breaking God's covenant. Zedekiah's revolt against Babylon, despite being treated humanely, was both ungrateful and suicidal. Without God's help, even a small force could destroy them, proving their hope in Egypt was empty.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880

The commentator identifies the great eagle as Nebuchadnezzar, the cedar top as king Jehoiachin and the princes taken to Babylon, and the vine as Zedekiah planted as a dependent ruler. The second great eagle is the king of Egypt, and the vine's betrayal consists of turning away from Babylon toward Egypt. This political treachery brings certain judgment.

Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748

Gill sees the riddle of the two eagles and the vine as a rebuke for breaking covenant not only with God but also with the king of Babylon. He emphasizes that the allegory is God's own, designed to fix the Jews' attention on their ingratitude and treachery toward their Babylonian benefactor.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871

JFB emphasizes that Zedekiah's revolt against Babylon was not driven by hardship or oppression, but by sheer ambition, pride, and ingratitude. God will not allow such gratuitous treason to succeed; the vine of Judah will wither even with Egypt's help, because Babylon acts as God's instrument of judgment.

Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876

Keil-Delitzsch insists the parable's eagle, cedar, and vine are not borrowed from Babylonian symbolism; they are genuine Israelite figures rooted in the Old Testament. The first eagle is Nebuchadnezzar, the cedar top Jehoiachin, and the vine-stock Zedekiah, who would have prospered under Babylon but instead pined for Egypt and faced ruin.

Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857

Lange treats the riddle as a deliberately veiled speech meant to force the hearer into active reflection, so the impression sinks deeper. The eagle doing what eagles never do and the willow turning into a vine create contradictions that convert the parable into a genuine riddle.

Cross-References

Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)

Judges 9:8	The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
Judges 9:15	“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
Judges 14:12	Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing;
Judges 14:19	Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck thirty men of them. He took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.
II Samuel 12:1	Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor.
II Samuel 12:4	A traveler came to the rich man, and he didn’t want to take of his own flock and of his own herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
Ezekiel 20:49	Then I said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”
Ezekiel 24:3	Utter a parable to the rebellious house, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says, “Put the cauldron on the fire. Put it on, and also pour water into it.

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.

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