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Ezekiel 17:5

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 17:5 say?

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

The verse

He 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.
Ezekiel 17:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
8It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.
← Ezekiel 17:4Ezekiel 17:6 →
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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 took also of the seed of the land, &c.] Of the land of Judea, a native of it, not a stranger; not one of another country, a Babylonian; not one of his own nobles or princes, did Nebuchadnezzar, the eagle, take and set upon the throne of Judea, but one of their own, even one of the king’s seed, of the blood royal, as it is explained, (<261713>Ezekiel 17:13), Mattaniah, the uncle of Jeconiah, whom the king of Babylon called Zedekiah, and made him king in his room: and planted it in a fruitful field; in the land of Judea, and in Jerusalem the royal city: he placed [it] by great waters; many people, (<661715>Revelation 17:15); over whom he ruled, and by whom he was supported in his royal…”
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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
“seed of the land--not a foreign production, but one native in the region; a son of the soil, not a foreigner: Zedekiah, uncle of Jehoiachin, of David's family. in a fruitful field--literally, a "field of seed"; that is, fit for propagating and continuing the seed of the royal family. as a willow--derived from a Hebrew root, "to overflow," from its fondness for water (Isa 44:4). Judea was "a land of brooks of water and fountains" (Deu 8:7-9; compare Joh 3:23).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He took also of the seed of the land - Zedekiah the king’s uncle, not a Babylonian satrap, was made king. 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 seed - Mattaniah, whom he called Zedekiah. Planted - Settled him on the throne of Judah. As a willow - The prophet compares this new made king to a willow, which grows no where so well as near great waters. Ezekiel 17:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the seed: Zedekiah, brother to Jeconiah. Eze 17:13; Kg2 24:17; Jer 37:1 planted it in a fruitful field: Heb. put it in a field of seed, Made him king of Judea. Deu 8:7-9 he placed: Made him dependent on Babylon, the city of great waters, as the willow is on humidity. Eze 19:11, Eze 19:12; Isa 15:7, Isa 44:4 Ezekiel 17:6”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification