Berean Standard Bible

Ezekiel 17

(Matthew 13:24–30)

1Now the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068cameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961to meאֵלַ֥י'e.LaiH413,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2“Sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of manאָדָ֕ם'a.DamH120,poseח֥וּדchudH2330a riddleחִידָ֖הchi.DahH2420;speak a parableוּמְשֹׁ֣ל מָשָׁ֑לu.me.Shol ma.ShalH4911 H4912toאֶל־'el-H413the houseבֵּ֖יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478

3and tell them thatוְאָמַרְתָּ֞ve.'a.mar.TaH559this is whatכֹּה־koh-H3541the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136GODיְהוִ֗הYah.wehH3069saysאָמַ֣ר׀'a.MarH559: ‘A greatהַגָּדוֹל֙ha.ga.dOlH1419eagleהַנֶּ֤שֶׁרha.Ne.sherH5404with greatגְּד֤וֹלge.DolH1419wingsהַכְּנָפַ֙יִם֙ha.ke.na.Fa.yimH3671and longאֶ֣רֶךְ'E.rekhH750pinionsהָאֵ֔בֶרha.'E.verH83,fullמָלֵא֙ma.Le'H4392of feathersהַנּוֹצָ֔הha.no.TzahH5133אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834of many colorsהָֽרִקְמָ֑הha.rik.MahH7553,cameבָּ֚אba'H935toאֶל־'el-H413Lebanonהַלְּבָנ֔וֹןha.le.va.NonH3844and took awayוַיִּקַּ֖חvai.yi.KachH3947אֶת־'et-H853the topצַמֶּ֥רֶתtza.Me.retH6788of the cedarהָאָֽרֶז׃ha.'A.rezH730.

4אֵ֛ת'etH853He plucked offקָטָ֑ףka.TafH6998its topmostרֹ֥אשׁroshH7218shootיְנִֽיקוֹתָ֖יוye.ni.ko.TavH3242,carried itוַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙vay.vi.'E.huH935toאֶל־'el-H413the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of merchantsכְּנַ֔עַןke.Na.'anH3667,and plantedשָׂמֽוֹ׃sa.MoH7760it in a cityבְּעִ֥ירbe.'IrH5892of tradersרֹכְלִ֖יםro.khe.LimH7402.

5He tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947some of the seedמִזֶּ֣רַעmi.Ze.ra'H2233of the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776and plantedוַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּvai.yi.te.Ne.huH5414it in fertileזָ֑רַעZa.ra'H2233soilבִּשְׂדֵה־bis.deh-H7704;he placedקָ֚חkachH3947itbyעַל־'al-H5921abundantרַבִּ֔יםra.BimH7227watersמַ֣יִםMa.yimH4325andset it outשָׂמֽוֹ׃sa.MoH7760like a willowצַפְצָפָ֖הtzaf.tza.FahH6851.

6It sproutedוַיִּצְמַ֡חvai.yitz.MachH6779and becameוַיְהִי֩vay.HiH1961a spreadingסֹרַ֜חַתso.Ra.chatH5628vineלְגֶ֨פֶןle.Ge.fenH1612,lowשִׁפְלַ֣תshif.LatH8217in heightקוֹמָ֗הko.MahH6967,with branchesדָּלִיּוֹתָיו֙da.li.yo.TavH1808turnedלִפְנ֤וֹתlif.NotH6437toward himאֵלָ֔יו'e.LavH413;yet its rootsוְשָׁרָשָׁ֖יוve.sha.ra.ShavH8328remainedיִֽהְי֑וּyih.YuH1961where it stoodתַּחְתָּ֣יוtach.TavH8478.So it becameוַתְּהִ֣יva.te.HiH1961a vineלְגֶ֔פֶןle.Ge.fenH1612and yieldedוַתַּ֣עַשׂva.Ta.'asH6213branchesבַּדִּ֔יםba.DimH905and sent outוַתְּשַׁלַּ֖חva.te.sha.LachH7971shootsפֹּארֽוֹת׃po.RotH6288.

7But there wasוַיְהִ֤יvay.HiH1961anotherאֶחָד֙'e.ChadH259greatגָּד֔וֹלga.DolH1419eagleנֶֽשֶׁר־ne.sher-H5404with greatגְּד֥וֹלge.DolH1419wingsכְּנָפַ֖יִםke.na.Fa.yimH3671and manyוְרַב־ve.rav-H7227feathersנוֹצָ֑הno.TzahH5133.And beholdוְהִנֵּה֩ve.hi.NehH2009,thisהַזֹּ֜אתha.ZotH2063vineהַגֶּ֨פֶןha.Ge.fenH1612bentכָּֽפְנָ֧הka.fe.NahH3719its rootsשָׁרֳשֶׁ֣יהָsho.ro.Shei.haH8328toward himעָלָ֗יו'a.LavH5921.It stretched outשִׁלְחָה־shil.chah-H7971its branchesוְדָֽלִיּוֹתָיו֙ve.da.li.yo.TavH1808to himfrom its plantingמַטָּעָֽהּ׃ma.ta.'AhH4302bedמֵעֲרֻג֖וֹתme.'a.ru.GotH6170,so that he might water itלְהַשְׁק֣וֹתle.hash.KotH8248אוֹתָ֔הּ'o.TahH853.

8Itהִ֣יאhi'H1931had been plantedשְׁתוּלָ֑הshe.tu.LahH8362inאֶל־'el-H413goodטּ֛וֹבTovH2896soilשָׂ֥דֶהSa.dehH7704byאֶל־'el-H413abundantרַבִּ֖יםra.BimH7227watersמַ֥יִםMa.yimH4325in order to yieldלַעֲשׂ֤וֹתla.'a.SotH6213branchesעָנָף֙'a.NafH6057and bearוְלָשֵׂ֣אתve.la.SetH5375fruitפֶּ֔רִיPe.riH6529and becomeלִהְי֖וֹתlih.YotH1961a splendidאַדָּֽרֶת׃ ס'a.Da.retH155vineלְגֶ֥פֶןle.Ge.fenH1612.’

9So you are to tell themאֱמֹ֗ר'e.MorH559that this is whatכֹּ֥הkohH3541the Lordאֲדֹנָ֥י'a.do.NaiH136GODיְהֹוִ֖הYah.wehH3069saysאָמַ֛ר'a.MarH559: ‘Will it flourishתִּצְלָ֑חtitz.LachH6743?Will it notהֲלוֹא֩ha.lO'H3808אֶת־'et-H853be uprootedיְנַתֵּ֜קye.na.TekH5423וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853שָׁרָשֶׁ֨יהָsha.ra.Shei.haH8328and strippedיְקוֹסֵ֣סye.ko.SesH7082of its fruitפִּרְיָ֣הּ׀pir.YahH6529so that it shrivelsוְיָבֵ֗שׁve.ya.VeshH3001?Allכָּל־kol-H3605its foliageטַרְפֵּ֤י צִמְחָהּ֙tar.Pei tzim.ChahH2965 H6780will witherתִּיבָ֔שׁti.VashH3001!It will not takeוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808a strongגְּדוֹלָה֙ge.do.LahH1419armבִזְרֹ֤עַviz.Ro.a'H2220or manyרָ֔בRavH7227peopleוּבְעַם־u.ve.'am-H5971to pullלְמַשְׂא֥וֹתle.mas.'otH5375it upאוֹתָ֖הּ'o.TahH853by its rootsמִשָּׁרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃mi.sha.ra.Shei.haH8328.

10וְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009Even if it is transplantedשְׁתוּלָ֖הshe.tu.LahH8362,will it flourishהֲתִצְלָ֑חha.titz.LachH6743?Will it notהֲלוֹא֩ha.lO'H3808completely witherH3001when the eastהַקָּדִים֙ha.ka.DimH6921windר֤וּחַRu.achH7307strikesכְגַ֨עַתkhe.Ga.'atH5060?It will witherH3001onעַל־'al-H5921the bedעֲרֻגֹ֥ת'a.ru.GotH6170where it sproutedצִמְחָ֖הּtzim.ChahH6780.’”

The Parable Explained

11Then the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068cameוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961to meאֵלַ֥י'e.LaiH413,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

12“Nowנָא֙na'H4994say toאֱמָר־'e.mor-H559this rebelliousהַמֶּ֔רִיha.Me.riH4805houseלְבֵ֣יתle.VeitH1004: ‘Do you notהֲלֹ֥אha.Lo'H3808knowיְדַעְתֶּ֖םye.da'.TemH3045whatמָה־mah-H4100these thingsאֵ֑לֶּה'E.lehH428mean?’Tellאֱמֹ֗ר'e.MorH559them, ‘Beholdהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009,the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֤לba.VelH894cameבָ֨אva'H935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389,carried offוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947אֶת־'et-H853its kingמַלְכָּהּ֙mal.KahH4428וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and officialsשָׂרֶ֔יהָsa.Rei.haH8269,and brought them backוַיָּבֵ֥אvai.ya.Ve'H935אוֹתָ֛ם'o.TamH853with himאֵלָ֖יו'e.LavH413to Babylonבָּבֶֽלָה׃ba.Ve.lahH894.

13He tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947a member of the royalהַמְּלוּכָ֔הha.me.lu.KhahH4410familyמִזֶּ֣רַעmi.Ze.ra'H2233and madeוַיִּכְרֹ֥תvai.yikh.RotH3772a covenantבְּרִ֑יתbe.RitH1285with himאִתּ֖וֹ'i.ToH854,puttingוַיָּבֵ֤אvai.ya.Ve'H935himאֹתוֹ֙'o.ToH853under oathבְּאָלָ֔הbe.'a.LahH423וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853.Then he carried awayלָקָֽח׃la.KachH3947the leading menאֵילֵ֥י'ei.LeiH352of the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776,

14so that the kingdomמַמְלָכָ֣הmam.la.KhahH4467would beלִֽהְיוֹת֙lih.yOtH1961brought lowשְׁפָלָ֔הshe.fa.LahH8217,unableלְבִלְתִּ֖יle.vil.TiH1115to lift itself upהִתְנַשֵּׂ֑אhit.na.Se'H5375,survivingלְעָמְדָֽהּ׃le.'a.me.DahH5975onlyby keepingלִשְׁמֹ֥רlish.MorH8104אֶת־'et-H853his covenantבְּרִית֖וֹbe.ri.ToH1285.

15But this king rebelledוַיִּמְרָד־vai.yim.rod-H4775against Babylonby sendingלִשְׁלֹ֤חַlish.Lo.achH7971his envoysמַלְאָכָיו֙mal.'a.KhavH4397to Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714to ask forלָֽתֶת־la.tet-H5414horsesסוּסִ֖יםsu.SimH5483and a largeרָ֑בRavH7227armyוְעַם־ve.'am-H5971.Will he flourishהֲיִצְלָ֤חha.yitz.LachH6743?Will the one who doesהָעֹשֵׂ֣הha.'o.SehH6213suchאֵ֔לֶּה'E.lehH428things escapeהֲיִמָּלֵט֙ha.yi.ma.LetH4422?Can he breakוְהֵפֵ֥רve.he.FerH6565a covenantבְּרִ֖יתbe.RitH1285and yet escapeוְנִמְלָֽט׃ve.nim.LatH4422?’

16‘As surely asאִם־ לֹ֗א'im- Lo'H518 H3808Iאָ֗נִי'A.niH589liveחַי־chai-H2416,’declaresנְאֻם֮ne.'UmH5002the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136GODיְהוִה֒Yah.wehH3069, ‘he will dieיָמֽוּת׃ya.MutH4191inבְתוֹךְ־ve.tokh-H8432Babylonבָּבֶ֖לba.VelH894,in the landבִּמְקוֹם֙bim.kOmH4725of the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428who enthroned himהַמַּמְלִ֣יךְha.mam.LikhH4427אֹת֔וֹ'o.ToH853,whoseאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834oathאָ֣לָת֔וֹ'a.la.ToH423he despisedבָּזָה֙ba.ZahH959אֶת־'et-H853and whoseוַאֲשֶׁ֥רva.'a.SherH834covenantבְּרִית֑וֹ אִתּ֥וֹbe.ri.To 'i.ToH1285 H854he brokeהֵפֵ֖רhe.FerH6565אֶת־'et-H853.

17Pharaohפַרְעֹה֙far.'OhH6547with his mightyגָּד֜וֹלga.DolH1419armyבְחַ֨יִלve.Cha.yilH2428and vastרָ֗בRavH7227hordeוּבְקָהָ֣לu.ve.ka.HalH6951will notוְלֹא֩ve.Lo'H3808helpיַעֲשֶׂ֨הya.'a.SehH6213himאוֹת֤וֹ'o.ToH853in battleבַּמִּלְחָמָ֔הba.mil.cha.MahH4421,when rampsסֹלְלָ֖הso.le.LahH5550are builtבִּשְׁפֹּ֥ךְbish.PokhH8210and siege wallsדָּיֵ֑קda.YekH1785constructedוּבִבְנ֣וֹתu.viv.NotH1129to destroyלְהַכְרִ֖יתle.hakh.RitH3772manyרַבּֽוֹת׃ra.BotH7227livesנְפָשׁ֥וֹתne.fa.ShotH5315.

18He despisedוּבָזָ֥הu.va.ZahH959the oathאָלָ֖ה'a.LahH423by breakingלְהָפֵ֣רle.ha.FerH6565the covenantבְּרִ֑יתbe.RitH1285.Seeing thatוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009he gaveנָתַ֥ןna.TanH5414his hand in pledgeיָד֛וֹya.DoH3027yet didעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605theseאֵ֥לֶּה'E.lehH428things,he will notלֹ֥אlo'H3808escapeיִמָּלֵֽט׃ סyi.ma.LetH4422!’

19Thereforeלָכֵ֞ןla.KhenH3651this is whatכֹּה־koh-H3541the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136GODיְהוִה֮Yah.wehH3069saysאָמַ֨ר'a.MarH559: ‘Asאָנִי֒'a.NiH589surely asאִם־ לֹ֗א'im- Lo'H518 H3808I liveחַי־chai-H2416,I will bring downוּנְתַתִּ֖יוu.ne.ta.TivH5414upon his headבְּרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃be.ro.ShoH7218My oathאָֽלָתִי֙'a.la.TiH423thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he despisedבָּזָ֔הba.ZahH959and My covenantוּבְרִיתִ֖יu.ve.ri.TiH1285thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he brokeהֵפִ֑ירhe.FirH6331.

20I will spreadוּפָרַשְׂתִּ֤יu.fa.ras.TiH6566My netרִשְׁתִּ֔יrish.TiH7568over himעָלָיו֙'a.LavH5921and catch himוְנִתְפַּ֖שׂve.nit.PasH8610in My snareבִּמְצֽוּדָתִ֑יbim.tzu.da.TiH4686.I will bring himוַהֲבִיאוֹתִ֣יהוּva.ha.vi.'o.Ti.huH935to Babylonבָבֶ֗לָהva.Ve.lahH894and execute judgmentוְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֤יve.nish.pa.TiH8199upon himאִתּוֹ֙'i.ToH854thereשָׁ֔םShamH8033for the treasonמָֽעַל־ma.'al-H4603אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he committedמַעֲל֖וֹma.'a.LoH4604against Me.

21וְאֵ֨תve.'EtH853Allכָּל־kol-H3605his choiceמִבְרָחָ֤יוmiv.ra.chovH4015בְּכָל־be.kholH3605troopsאֲגַפָּיו֙'a.ga.PavH102will fallיִפֹּ֔לוּyi.Po.luH5307by the swordבַּחֶ֣רֶבba.Che.revH2719,and those who surviveוְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖יםve.ha.nish.'a.RimH7604will be scatteredיִפָּרֵ֑שׂוּyi.pa.Re.suH6566to everyלְכָל־le.kholH3605windר֣וּחַRu.achH7307.Then you will knowוִידַעְתֶּ֕םvi.da'.TemH3045thatכִּ֛יkiH3588Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589,the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,have spokenדִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ סdi.Bar.tiH1696.’

22This is whatכֹּ֤הkohH3541the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136GODיְהוִ֔הYah.wehH3069saysאָמַר֙'a.MarH559: ‘Iאָ֗נִי'A.niH589will take a shootוְלָקַ֣חְתִּיve.la.Kach.tiH3947from the loftyהָרָמָ֖הha.ra.MahH7311topמִצַּמֶּ֧רֶתmi.tza.Me.retH6788of the cedarהָאֶ֛רֶזha.'E.rezH730,and I will set it outוְנָתָ֑תִּיve.na.Ta.tiH5414.I will pluckאֶקְטֹ֔ף'ek.TofH6998a tender sprigרַ֣ךְrakhH7390from its topmostמֵרֹ֤אשׁme.RoshH7218shootsיֹֽנְקוֹתָיו֙yo.ne.ko.TavH3127,and Iאָ֔נִי'A.niH589will plant itוְשָׁתַ֣לְתִּיve.sha.Tal.tiH8362onעַ֥ל'alH5921a highגָּבֹ֖הַga.Vo.haH1364and loftyוְתָלֽוּל׃ve.ta.LulH8524mountainהַר־har-H2022.

23I will plant itאֶשְׁתֳּלֶ֔נּוּ'esh.to.Le.nuH8362on the mountainבְּהַ֨רbe.HarH2022heightsמְר֤וֹםme.RomH4791of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478so that it will bearוְנָשָׂ֤אve.na.Sa'H5375branchesעָנָף֙'a.NafH6057;it will yieldוְעָ֣שָׂהve.'A.sahH6213fruitפֶ֔רִיFe.riH6529and becomeוְהָיָ֖הve.ha.YahH1961a majesticאַדִּ֑יר'a.DirH117cedarלְאֶ֣רֶזle.'E.rezH730.Birdsצִפּ֣וֹרtzi.PorH6833of everyכֹּ֚לkolH3605kindכָּנָ֔ףka.NafH3671כָּל־kol-H3605will nestוְשָׁכְנ֣וּve.sha.khe.NuH7931under itתַחְתָּ֗יוtach.TavH8478,taking shelterתִּשְׁכֹּֽנָּה׃tish.Ko.nahH7931in the shadeבְּצֵ֥לbe.TzelH6738of its branchesדָּלִיּוֹתָ֖יוda.li.yo.TavH1808.

24Then allכָּל־kol-H3605the treesעֲצֵ֣י'a.TzeiH6086of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֗הha.sa.DehH7704will knowוְֽיָדְע֞וּve.ya.de.'UH3045thatכִּ֣יkiH3588Iאֲנִ֤י'a.NiH589am the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068.I bringהִשְׁפַּ֣לְתִּי׀hish.Pal.tiH8213the tallגָּבֹ֗הַga.Vo.haH1364tree downעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086and make the lowשָׁפָ֔לsha.FalH8217treeעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086tallהִגְבַּ֙הְתִּי֙hig.Bah.tiH1361.I dry upהוֹבַ֙שְׁתִּי֙ho.Vash.tiH3001the greenלָ֔חLachH3892treeעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086and make the witheredיָבֵ֑שׁya.VeshH3002treeעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086flourishוְהִפְרַ֖חְתִּיve.hif.Rach.tiH6524.Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589,the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,have spokenדִּבַּ֥רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696,and I have doneוְעָשִֽׂיתִי׃ פve.'a.Si.tiH6213it.’”

(Matthew 13:24–30)

The Parable Explained

Commentaries on Ezekiel 17