that the kingdom might be brought low, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
Parallel translations
- KJV That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of 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 back the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth; and they shall be there a base kingdom.
- Neh 9:36–37“Behold, we are servants today, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it.
- Jer 27:12–17I spoke 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 2:30“Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever.’ But now Yahweh says, ‘Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.
- Lam 5:10Our skin is black like an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.
- 1 Sam 2:7Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up.
- Ezek 17:6It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him. So it became a vine, produced branches, and shot out sprigs.
- Matt 22:17–21Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
- Jer 38:17Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Yahweh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you will go out to the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul will live, and this city will not be burned with fire. You will live, along with your house.
- Deut 28:43The foreigner who is among you will mount up above you higher and higher, and you will come down lower and lower.
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.