Ezekiel 17:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these [things], he shall not escape.

Complete Jewish Bible:

because he despised the oath by breaking the covenant to which he had sworn allegiance; having done all these things, he will not escape unpunished.'

Berean Standard Bible:

He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Seeing that he gave his hand in pledge yet did all these things, he will not escape!’

American Standard Version:

For he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet hath done all these things; he shall not escape.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Seeing he despised^{H959} the oath^{H423} by breaking^{H6565} the covenant^{H1285}, when, lo, he had given^{H5414} his hand^{H3027}, and hath done^{H6213} all these things, he shall not escape^{H4422}.

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Commentary for Ezekiel 17:18

Ezekiel 17:18 is a part of a larger allegory found in Ezekiel 17, which uses the imagery of two eagles and a vine to convey a message of judgment against Judah and its king, Zedekiah. The historical context of this verse is set during the Babylonian exile, specifically around 592-570 BCE. At this time, Judah had become a vassal state to Babylon, and King Zedekiah had taken an oath of loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, in order to secure his throne.

The verse speaks to the gravity of breaking an oath and violating a covenant. In the allegory, the vine (representing Zedekiah) despises the oath by breaking the covenant, despite having given his hand (a gesture signifying the confirmation of an agreement) and doing all these things (referring to the actions that demonstrated his commitment). The consequence of such treachery is clear: he shall not escape. This indicates that Zedekiah's actions in rebelling against Babylon would lead to dire consequences, both for him and for the people of Judah.

The themes present in this verse include the sanctity of oaths and covenants, the accountability of leaders for their actions, and the inevitability of divine judgment when commitments are broken. Ezekiel, as a prophet, is delivering a message from God, emphasizing that no one, not even a king, can escape the consequences of their unfaithfulness and betrayal. This verse underscores the importance of integrity and loyalty in the eyes of God, and serves as a warning to those in positions of power against taking their commitments lightly.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H959
   There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּזָה
   Transliteration: bâzâh
   Pronunciation: baw-zaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to disesteem; despise, disdain, contemn(-ptible), [phrase] think to scorn, vile person.
   
2. Strong's Number: H423
   There are 52 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָלָה
   Transliteration: ʼâlâh
   Pronunciation: aw-law'
   Description: from אָלָה; an imprecation; curse, cursing, execration, oath, swearing.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6565
   There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּרַר
   Transliteration: pârar
   Pronunciation: paw-rar'
   Description: a primitive root; to break up (usually figuratively), i.e. to violate, frustrate; [idiom] any ways, break (asunder), cast off, cause to cease, [idiom] clean, defeat, disannul, disappoint, dissolve, divide, make of none effect, fail, frustrate, bring (come) to nought, [idiom] utterly, make void.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1285
   There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּרִית
   Transliteration: bᵉrîyth
   Pronunciation: ber-eeth'
   Description: from בָּרָה (in the sense of cutting (like בָּרָא)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4422
   There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָלַט
   Transliteration: mâlaṭ
   Pronunciation: maw-lat'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparks; deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone, let go, preserve, save, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] surely.