That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
Parallel translations
- WEB that the kingdom might be brought low, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
- BSB so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant.
- NKJV that the kingdom might be brought low and not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
- NASB so that the kingdom would be humbled, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant so that it might continue.
- NLT so Israel would not become strong again and revolt. Only by keeping her treaty with Babylon could Israel survive.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The kingdom was kept low so that it could survive only by keeping the covenant. Humble faithfulness was the path to stability.
Overview
God explains that Judah's reduced status was the divinely permitted condition for its continued existence. By keeping the covenant with Babylon, the realm could stand; by breaking it, it would fall. The verse frames submission to God-ordained discipline as the way of life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ezek 29:14And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.
- Neh 9:36–37Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:
- Jer 27:12–17I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
- 1 Sam 2:30Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
- Lam 5:10Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.
- 1 Sam 2:7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
- Ezek 17:6And 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.
- Matt 22:17–21Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
- Jer 38:17Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:
- Deut 28:43The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 17:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.