Ezekiel 17:3

“And say, thus saith the Lord God, &c.] The riddle is not the prophet’s, nor the parable his, but the Lord God’s; and exceeding beautiful and apt it is, to signify the things designed by it; the wisdom of God is greatly displayed in it: a great eagle; which is Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, as it is explained, (<261712>Ezekiel 17:12); who is compared to an eagle for his power and authority, that being the king of birds, and for his swiftness and voracity in conquering and subduing kingdoms; (see <244840>Jeremiah 48:40); with great wings; so the Babylonish monarchy is signified by a lion with eagle’s wings, (<270704>Daniel 7:4); and the two parts of the Roman empire, into which it was divided…”

“eagle--the king of birds. The literal Hebrew is, "the great eagle." The symbol of the Assyrian supreme god, Nisroch; so applied to "the great king" of Babylon, his vicegerent on earth (Jer 48:40; Jer 49:22). His "wings" are his great forces. Such symbols were familiar to the Jews, who saw them portrayed on the great buildings of Babylon; such as are now seen in the Assyrian remains. long-winged--implying the wide extent of his empire. full of feathers--when they have been renewed after moulting; and so in the full freshness of renovated youth (Psa 103:5; Isa 40:31). Answering to the many peoples which, as tributaries, constituted the strength of Babylon: divers colours--the golden eagle,…”

“A great eagle ... - Probably the golden eagle, whose plumage has the variety of color here depicted. The eagle (the king of birds) is a natural representative of monarchs (compare, Jeremiah 48:40), and was an Assyrian emblem. With great wings, Iongwinged - literally, “great of wing, long of pinion,” because he has swept victoriously over widely distant lands - of divers colors, because his subjects are of various races and tongues. Jerusalem is here called “Lebanon” because Lebanon is the proper home of the cedar. The “highest branch” or “topshoot” is Jeconiah, the rightful king of Jerusalem, the “young twigs” are his children and the princes carried by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. return to…”

“A great eagle - Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is compared to a great eagle, the king of birds, swift, strong, rapacious. Great wings - Mighty provinces on each side of his kingdom. Long winged - His kingdom was widely extended. Full of feathers - And full of people. Divers colours - Who were of divert nations, languages and manners. Lebanon - Jerusalem the chief city of the country where this great, fruitful and pleasant hill was. And took - Took, captive and carried away with him the king of Judah, Jehoiachin. The cedar - The nation. Ezekiel 17:4”

“17:3-6 Babylon was the city filled with merchants (see 16:29).”

“A great: Nebuchadnezzar, so called from his towering ambition and rapaciousness. Eze 17:7, Eze 17:12-21; Deu 28:49; Jer 4:13, Jer 48:40, Jer 49:16; Lam 4:19; Hos 8:1; Mat 24:28 great wings: Extensive empire, both in length and breadth. Dan 2:38, Dan 4:22, Dan 7:4 full: Numerous subjects, of various nations, and of different languages and manners. divers colours: Heb. embroidering came: Came against Judah and Jerusalem. Eze 17:12; Kg2 24:10-16; Ch2 36:9, Ch2 36:10; Jer 22:23-28, Jer 24:1 the highest: Jeconiah, whom he took captive to Babylon. the cedar: The royal and ancient family of David. Ezekiel 17:4”