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Ezekiel 17:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 17:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Ezekiel 17:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
3and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:
4he 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.
5He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a willow-tree.
6And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
7There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.
← Ezekiel 17:3Ezekiel 17:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He cropped off the top of his young twigs, &c.] By which are meant the princes of the land, or the several branches of the royal family; the top of which was King Jeconiah, who was but young and tender, being but eighteen years of age when he began his reign, and this was within three months after; and who was no more able to withstand the force of the king of Babylon, than a tender twig so ravenous a bird as an eagle, (<122408>2 Kings 24:8); whose superior power and strength is signified by the cropping off of a tender twig: and carried it into a land of traffic; not into the land of Canaan, as the Septuagint, and some other versions, literally render it; but into Babylon, which was become…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“land of traffic . . . merchants--Babylon (Kg2 24:15-16), famous for its transport traffic on the Tigris and Euphrates. Also, by its connection with the Persian Gulf, it carried on much commerce with India.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A land of traffick - The land of Babylon. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The top - Both the king of Judah, now eighteen years old, and the nobles and chief of the land. Into a land - Babylon, which was a city of mighty trade. Ezekiel 17:5”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the top: The princes of Judah. into: Isa 43:14, Isa 47:15; Jer 51:13; Rev 18:3, Rev 18:11-19 a land: Chaldea a city: Babylon, which by means of the Euphrates and Tigris, had communications with the richest and most distant nations. Ezekiel 17:5”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 17 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification