Ezekiel 17:3

1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel

and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

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

5 He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.
KJV
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:
WEB
and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers which had various colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
ASV
and 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:
DARBY
and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings, long-pinioned, full of feathers, which was of divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar.
BLB
and say, thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘[A] great eagle, great of wings and long of pinions, full of feathers that [are] unto it of many colors, came to Lebanon, and took [from] the treetop of the cedar.
ÅB
og si: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Den store ørn med de store vinger og de lange svingfjær, med full fjærham og brokete farger, kom til Libanon og tok bort toppen av sederen.
OTB
Si til dem: ‘Dette sier den suverene Herren: En mektig ørn med store vinger, lange fjær og en full fjærdrakt av forskjellige farger kom til Libanon og tok toppen av en seder.
B1930
og si: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Den store ørn med de store vinger og de lange svingfjær, med full fjærham og brokete farver, kom til Libanon og tok bort toppen av sederen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 48:40

    For this is what the LORD says: “Behold, an eagle swoops down and spreads his wings against Moab.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 8:1

    Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 4:22

    you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 17:7

    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.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 24:1

    After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, as well as the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalsmiths from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 49:16

    The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 36:9–10

    Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 22:23–28

    O inhabitant of Lebanon, nestled in the cedars, how you will groan when pangs of anguish come upon you, agony like a woman in labor.”

    Read in context