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.
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘“He also took some of the seed of the land, and planted it in fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree.
- KJV He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.
- NKJV Then he took some of the seed of the land And planted it in a fertile field; He placed it by abundant waters And set it like a willow tree.
- NASB He also took from the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil, a meadow beside abundant waters; he set it like a willow.
- NLT He also took a seedling from the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside a broad river, where it could grow like a willow tree.
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 eagle plants seed from the land in fertile soil like a willow, picturing Zedekiah set up as a vassal king. God permits even subjugation to serve His ends.
Overview
This 'seed of the land' is Zedekiah, installed by Babylon as a dependent king in Judah (2 Kings 24:17). Planted by 'many waters,' he is given conditions to thrive if he remains loyal. The image sets up the test of whether Judah will accept God-ordained discipline or rebel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Deut 8:7–9For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and fountains and springs that flow through the valleys and hills;
- Isa 44:4They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.
- Isa 15:7So they carry their wealth and belongings over the Brook of the Willows.
- 2 Kgs 24:17Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.
- Ezek 19:11–12It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage.
- Ezek 17:13He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land,
- Jer 37:1Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made Zedekiah son of Josiah the king of Judah, and he reigned in place of Coniah son of Jehoiakim.
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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 17:5 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
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