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Ezekiel 17:4

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He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

He cropped off {H6998} the top {H7218} of his young twigs {H3242}, and carried {H935} it into a land {H776} of traffick {H3667}; he set {H7760} it in a city {H5892} of merchants {H7402}.

He cropped off the topmost of its young twigs, carried them to a land of traders and set them down in a city of merchants.

He plucked off its topmost shoot, carried it to the land of merchants, and planted it in a city of traders.

he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it unto a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 17:4 is a pivotal part of an intricate riddle presented by God to the prophet Ezekiel, an allegory designed to explain the recent political upheaval in Judah. This riddle, involving two great eagles and a vine, vividly symbolizes the actions of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (the first "great eagle") concerning the kingdom of Judah (the "great cedar" or vine). Specifically, this verse refers to the first Babylonian deportation of King Jehoiachin (also known as Jeconiah) and many prominent citizens from Jerusalem in 597 BC. The "young twigs" symbolize Jehoiachin and the leading men of Judah, who were forcibly removed from their homeland. Ezekiel himself was among these exiles, making this prophecy deeply personal and historically relevant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates God's ultimate control over human history and the actions of nations. Nebuchadnezzar's military and political maneuvers, though seemingly independent, are presented as instruments of God's sovereign plan and judgment against Judah for their unfaithfulness and covenant breaking.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The "cropping off" and exile are direct repercussions of Judah's persistent rebellion against God and their misguided reliance on foreign alliances rather than divine protection. This serves as a stark warning about the inevitable consequences of spiritual apostasy.
  • Symbolism of Exile: Being carried into a "land of traffick" and a "city of merchants" (Babylon) emphasizes the radical shift from the sacred land of promise and the spiritual center of Jerusalem to a secular, commercial, and foreign environment. This highlights the loss of Judah's unique identity, autonomy, and privileges as God's chosen people in their homeland.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "land of traffick" (Hebrew: 'eretz kĕna'an, though often translated as "land of Canaan," here refers idiomatically to a land characterized by trade and commerce, like ancient Canaan) and "city of merchants" underscore Babylon's reputation as a bustling commercial hub. This imagery contrasts sharply with Jerusalem's spiritual significance, emphasizing the profound displacement and disorientation experienced by the exiles. The verb "cropped off" (Hebrew: qāṭaf) conveys a forceful, decisive act of removal, signifying the abrupt and irreversible nature of the deportation.

Deeper Meaning and Application

Ezekiel 17:4 serves as a profound reminder that God's judgment is real and that He orchestrates historical events, even through human leaders and empires, to accomplish His divine purposes. For the original audience, it provided an explanation for their painful exile and revealed the futility of trusting in earthly powers over God. For believers today, this verse underscores the critical importance of spiritual faithfulness and obedience. It calls us to recognize God's unwavering sovereignty in all circumstances, even amidst trials or global upheavals, and to place our trust in His ultimate plan. Like the exiles who were later instructed to seek the peace of the city where they were exiled, we are called to live faithfully wherever God places us. Furthermore, the broader riddle in Ezekiel 17 also contains a promise of future restoration, where God Himself will plant a new, tender twig (Ezekiel 17:22), ultimately fulfilled in the person of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 51:13 (2 votes)

    O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, [and] the measure of thy covetousness.

  • Revelation 18:11 (2 votes)

    And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

  • Revelation 18:19 (2 votes)

    And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

  • Isaiah 43:14 (2 votes)

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry [is] in the ships.

  • Revelation 18:3 (2 votes)

    For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

  • Isaiah 47:15 (2 votes)

    Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, [even] thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.