Ezekiel 17:7

Verse

But there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed, so that he might water it.

American Standard Version (1901)

There 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.

Bible in Basic English

And there was another eagle with great wings and thick feathers: and now this vine, pushing out its roots to him, sent out its branches in his direction from the bed where it was planted, so that he might give it water.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And there was another large eagle, with great wings, and many feathers: and behold this vine, bending as it were her roots towards him, stretched forth her branches to him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

Free Bible Version

But there was another great eagle that had large wings and many feathers. This vine sent out its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from where it had been planted, wanting him to water it.

King James (Authorized) Version

There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

Translation for Translators

But there was another huge eagle that had strong wings and beautiful feathers. And some of the roots of the vine grew toward that eagle, and its branches also turned toward it, hoping that the eagle would bring more water to it.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers. Behold! This vine turned its roots toward the eagle, and it spread out its branches toward the eagle from the place it had been planted so it would be watered.

Noah Webster Bible

There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and behold, this vine did bend her roots towards him, and shot forth her branches towards him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

World English Bible

“‘“There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. Behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot out its branches toward him, from the ground where it was planted, that he might water it.

Young's Literal Translation

And there is another great eagle, Great-winged, and abounding with feathers, And lo, this vine hath bent its roots toward him, And its thin shoots it hath sent out toward him, To water it from the furrows of its planting,

Context

The Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

⁶It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and yielded branches and sent out shoots. ⁷But there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed, so that he might water it. ⁸It had been planted in good soil by abundant waters in order to yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’

Summary

In Ezekiel 17:7, the prophet Ezekiel uses a parable involving a great eagle to symbolize the powerful Babylonian empire. The eagle takes the top of a cedar tree and carries it to a land of trade and sets it in a city of merchants, representing the conquest of Judah and the exile of its people to Babylon. This imagery serves as a warning to the Israelites about the consequences of their rebellion against God and their alliances with foreign powers. The verse underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God and trusting in His protection rather than seeking security through worldly alliances.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Another great eagle - Pharaoh-hophra, or Apries, king of Egypt. With great wings - Extensive dominion. And many feathers - Numerous subjects. Did bend her roots - Looked to him for support in her intended rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar.