¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set [it]; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant [it] upon an high mountain and eminent:
Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; I will also take {H3947} of the highest branch {H6788} of the high {H7311} cedar {H730}, and will set {H5414} it; I will crop off {H6998} from the top {H7218} of his young twigs {H3127} a tender one {H7390}, and will plant {H8362} it upon an high {H1364} mountain {H2022} and eminent {H8524}:
"Adonai ELOHIM says, 'From the top of this tall cedar, from its highest branch, I will take a shoot and plant it myself on a high and prominent mountain.
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain:
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Isaiah 53:2
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him. -
Zechariah 6:12
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: -
Zechariah 6:13
Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. -
Ezekiel 20:40
For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. -
Isaiah 11:1
¶ And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: -
Isaiah 11:5
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. -
Psalms 2:6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Ezekiel 17:22 marks a pivotal shift in the allegorical prophecy of the two eagles and the great cedar, moving from divine judgment to a profound promise of future restoration and Messianic hope. Following the condemnation of Judah's kings for their rebellion against Babylon, this verse introduces a powerful declaration of God's ultimate sovereignty and His plan to establish a new, righteous kingdom.
Context
Chapter 17 opens with an elaborate riddle concerning a great eagle (Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) who came to Lebanon and took the highest branch of a cedar (King Jehoiachin of Judah) to a land of merchants. Another great eagle (Pharaoh of Egypt) then enticed a vine (King Zedekiah) to turn from the first eagle, breaking a solemn oath. God condemns this treachery, promising to uproot the vine. However, Ezekiel 17:22 introduces a contrasting divine act: God Himself will intervene to plant a new, humble shoot from the same royal lineage, signaling a future work of salvation distinct from the immediate judgment.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV's "tender one" translates the Hebrew word raq (רַךְ), meaning "soft," "tender," or "young." This term intentionally contrasts with the "high cedar" and its "highest branch," emphasizing the humble origins of this future ruler. While the cedar represents strength and majesty, the "tender one" suggests vulnerability and perhaps an unexpected, gentle beginning for the one who would ultimately be exalted. The "high mountain and eminent" signifies a place of supreme authority and visibility, underscoring the universal nature of this future kingdom.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 17:22 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that even when human leaders fail and circumstances seem dire, God remains sovereign and faithful to His promises. The prophecy's fulfillment in Jesus Christ demonstrates that God's greatest work often begins in humility and grows into unparalleled glory. This verse encourages us to place our hope not in earthly powers or human schemes, but in God's divine plan, which culminates in the eternal reign of His Son, the "tender twig" who became the mighty King. It reassures us that God will ultimately bring about His purposes, establishing His righteous kingdom on earth.