Ezekiel 17:16

[As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place [where] the king [dwelleth] that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, [even] with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

As I live {H2416}, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, surely in the place {H4725} where the king {H4428} dwelleth that made him king {H4427}, whose oath {H423} he despised {H959}, and whose covenant {H1285} he brake {H6565}, even with him in the midst {H8432} of Babylon {H894} he shall die {H4191}.

"'As I live,' says Adonai ELOHIM, 'in the place where the king who gave him his throne lives, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, there with him in Bavel I swear that he will die.

โ€˜As surely as I live,โ€™ declares the Lord GOD, โ€˜he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke.

As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

Commentary

Ezekiel 17:16 is a powerful declaration of divine judgment against King Zedekiah of Judah, delivered by the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. This verse is part of an elaborate allegory of two great eagles and a vine, where God reveals the consequences of Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon.

Context

The "king that made him king" is Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. After the first siege of Jerusalem and the capture of King Jehoiachin (around 597 BC), Nebuchadnezzar placed Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, on the throne of Judah. Zedekiah was required to swear a solemn oath of allegiance, effectively making Judah a vassal state. However, Zedekiah sought an alliance with Egypt, breaking his oath and covenant with Babylon, an act seen by God as a direct rebellion against His appointed authority and His will for Judah's submission. This defiance is detailed in 2 Chronicles 36:13.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Unwavering Word: The phrase "As I live, saith the Lord GOD" is a divine oath, emphasizing the absolute certainty and unchangeable nature of God's pronouncements. His word will be fulfilled.
  • Consequences of Covenant Breaking: Zedekiah's breaking of the oath, even to a pagan king like Nebuchadnezzar, was a serious transgression. In ancient Near Eastern culture, such oaths were often invoked in the name of deities, making their violation a spiritual offense. God holds leaders accountable for their integrity.
  • Futility of Human Schemes: Zedekiah's reliance on Egypt and his defiance of Babylon were attempts to circumvent God's plan, which ultimately proved futile. The prophecy ensures that his rebellion will lead to his downfall in the very place of his betrayal.
  • Justice and Retribution: The judgment is precise: Zedekiah will die "with him in the midst of Babylon," implying he will be brought to Nebuchadnezzar's domain, where his life will end, fulfilling the prophecy of his capture and death, as also seen in 2 Kings 25:7.

Linguistic Insights

The divine oath, "As I live, saith the Lord GOD," is a powerful affirmation of God's own existence and truthfulness. In Hebrew, it's often expressed as ื—ึทื™ ืึธื ึดื™ (chai ani), meaning "I am alive" or "by my life." This phrase underscores the absolute certainty of the prophecy's fulfillment because God Himself is the guarantor. The term "covenant" (Hebrew: ื‘ึผึฐืจึดื™ืช, berit) refers to a solemn, binding agreement, whether between God and humanity or between people/nations. Its violation carried severe consequences.

Significance and Application

Ezekiel 17:16 serves as a profound reminder of God's unwavering justice and sovereignty over all earthly affairs. It teaches us the importance of integrity and faithfulness to commitments, even when made under duress or to those we consider adversaries. More importantly, it highlights the danger of relying on human alliances and schemes rather than trusting in God's ultimate plan and submitting to His will. For believers today, this verse underscores that God sees and judges all acts of betrayal and disobedience, and His word will always come to pass, urging us to live lives of truth and integrity before Him and others. We are called to be people of our word, reflecting the faithfulness of God Himself, who is true to His new covenant promises.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 12:13

    My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon [to] the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.

  • Jeremiah 52:11

    Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

  • Exodus 8:2

    And if thou refuse to let [them] go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:

  • Exodus 20:7

    Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

  • Jeremiah 39:7

    Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.

  • Jeremiah 32:4

    And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;

  • Jeremiah 32:5

    And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
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