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Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Ezekiel 17:6

A spreading vine of low stature. — Had Zedekiah been faithful to his oath and allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar and to his higher allegiance to God, Israel might have been fruitful and prosperous as a dependent kingdom.

Whose branches turned towards him. — Better, That its branches might turn towards him, and its roots might be under him. This was Nebuchadnezzar’s object — to make of Israel a flourishing kingdom, which should yet be entirely dependent upon himself and helpful to him in his great struggle with the power of Egypt; and hence his especial rage when his politic arrangements were frustrated by Zedekiah’s treachery and folly.

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See also Ezekiel 17:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Ezekiel 17:6. _A SPREADING VINE OF LOW STATURE_] The Jewish state having then no height of dominion, it must abide under the wings or branches of the Chaldean king. _WHOSE BRANCHES TURNED TOWAR...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    SPREADING - On the ground, not trained to a pole, that it might have no other prop but Nebuchadnezzar. As a vine it was less majestic than a cedar Ezekiel 17:3; but compare Psalms 80:10. WHOSE BRANCHE...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Ezekiel 17:1. The great eagle mentioned first is Nebuchadnezzar. (See Jeremiah 48:40; Jeremiah 49:22). He came to Lebanon and took the highest branch of the cedar, the symbol of the house of David, wh...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EZEKIEL 17. THE PERFIDIOUS KING. Jerusalem, as we have seen, is to be punished for her guilty past and her perfidious people (Ezekiel 17:16), but no less for her guilty present and her perfidious king...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TURNED TOWARD HIM. Zedekiah being dependent upon Nebuchadnezzar....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The riddle of the great eagle (1) Ezekiel 17:1 introduction. The great, broadwinged, speckled eagle came to Lebanon, and broke off the top of the cedar, carrying it to the merchant-land, Babylon the...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _of low stature_ This refers to the dependent nature of Zedekiah's kingdom, as tributary to the lord superior. Cf. Isaiah 16:8: Hosea 10:1. _whose branches turned_ Or, THAT ITS BRANCHES MIGHT TURN …...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    A SPREADING VINE OF LOW STATURE— This implies, that though Zedekiah was opulent and at ease, yet he was without force, without authority, and wholly dependent on the king of Chaldea....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    IV. THE KING: A LOWLY VINE 17:1-21 In chapter 17 Ezekiel turns his attention to King Zedekiah back in Jerusalem. This vassal king had committed an act of treachery against Nebuchadnezzar by breaking h...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And 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...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ZEDEKIAH'S PERFIDY AND ITS PUNISHMENT Zedekiah had been placed on the throne of Judah as a vassal of Babylon, but was led by his nobles to intrigue with Egypt and to throw off the Babylonian yoke. The...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EZEKIEL: ‘THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM GOD’ THE *SIN OF JUDAH AND THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD EZEKIEL CHAPTER S 1 TO 24 _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 17 * This chapter contains a puzzle and its meaning. Two po...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּצְמַ֡ח וַ יְהִי֩ לְ גֶ֨פֶן סֹרַ֜חַת

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE END OF THE MONARCHY Ezekiel 12:1; Ezekiel 17:1; Ezekiel 19:1 IN spite of the interest excited by Ezekiel's prophetic appearances, the exiles still received his prediction of the fall of Jerusalem...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Commanded by Jehovah, the prophet then put forth a riddle. A great eagle came on Lebanon, and took off the top of the cedar, planting the young twigs in a land of traffic, a city of merchants. Moreove...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And it grew, and became (d) a spreading vine of (e) low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Towards him. Nabuchodonosor, to whom Sedecias swore allegiance. (Challoner) --- Literally, "to it," eam, the eagle. (Haydock) --- The dominions of Sedecias were extensive, but weak, and dependant on...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Perhaps this great eagle represents Nebuchadnezzar, who carried Jeconiah, when quite a youth, and, like a tender twig, unable to resist any bird of prey, into Babylon. 2 Kings 24:8. The land of traffi...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Chapter 17 present the judgment of Zedekiah for despising the oath that Nebuchadnezzar made him take in the name of Jehovah. Israel not having been able to stand in integrity before God, Jehovah had c...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND IT GREW,.... King Zedekiah reigned and prospered, and the kingdom flourished under him: AND BECAME A SPREADING VINE OF LOW STATURE; not so flourishing as it had been heretofore, in former reigns;...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And 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....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _A great eagle with great wings_ The eagle is the king of birds, swift, strong, and rapacious. And this great eagle, according to all interpreters, represents Nebuchadnezzar. Its “greatness, long wing...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And it grew and became a spreading vine, though no longer the cedar of David, OF LOW STATURE, WHOSE BRANCHES TURNED TOWARD HIM, namely, they were intended to turn toward the eagle in humble submission...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE RIDDLE ITSELF...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-10 Mighty conquerors are aptly likened to birds or beasts of prey, but their destructive passions are overruled to forward God's designs. Those who depart from God, only vary their crimes by changin...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    IT GREW; both the king and kingdom. BECAME A SPREADING VINE; took root, grew up to a tolerable condition of riches, plenty, and prosperity. OF LOW STATURE; but never reached the height of the cedar. N...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ezekiel 17:6 grew H6779 (H8799) spreading H5628 (H8802) vine H1612 low H8217 stature H6967 branches H1808 turned...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “And say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh, ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which was many-coloured, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar. He cropped off the topm...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Parable of the great eagle. Rebellion of Zedekiah and its results. CHARACTERS: God, Ezekiel, Zedekiah, Pharaoh. CONCLUSION: He who breaks covenant with God, and tramples the directions of...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ezekiel 17:2. _Put forth a riddle._ A parable, or ingenious allegory, that the acumen of the composition may attract attention from the rulers of Judah. This parable is likewise ingeniously explained...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel._ PROPHECY IN PARABLE The word “riddle” may in this connection mean parable, picture, symbol; whatever will excite and in...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 17:1 If ch. Ezekiel 16:1 can be said to express a theological point of view, ch. Ezekiel 17:1

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE HUMILIATION AND EXALTATION OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID (Chap 17) EXEGETICAL NOTES.—The word of prophecy in this chapter is introduced in the way of a riddle and a parable (Ezekiel 17:2). The parable its...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION EZEKIEL 17:2 PUT FORTH A RIDDLE, etc. Again there is an interval of silence, till another theme is suggested to the prophet's mind and worked out elaborately. This he describes as a "riddl...

  • The Typology of Scripture by Patrick Fairbairn

    CHAPTER 17. THE PARABLE OF THE TWO GREAT EAGLES, AND THE CROPPING OF THE CEDAR OF LEBANON. Ezekiel 17:1. _And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,_ Ezekiel 17:2. _Son of man, put forth a riddle,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in chapter 17 he speaks a parable of a great eagle. And this is where some of these harebrained people begin to spiritualize and try to read the United States into prophecy. Because there is an ea...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Ezekiel 17:14; Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 16:19...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Of low stature — They grew and flourish, while they owned their state tributary to Babylon. Toward him — Nebuchadnezzar as their protector, and sovereign lord. The roots — All the firmness, fruitfulne...

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