Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, November 26th, 2025
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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THE MESSAGE

Ezekiel 17:14

The Great Tree Is Made Small and the Small Tree Great God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, make a riddle for the house of Israel. Tell them a story. Say, ‘ God , the Master, says: "‘A great eagle with a huge wingspan and long feathers, In full plumage and bright colors, came to Lebanon And took the top off a cedar, broke off the top branch, Took it to a land of traders, and set it down in a city of shopkeepers. Then he took a cutting from the land and planted it in good, well-watered soil, like a willow on a riverbank. It sprouted into a flourishing vine, low to the ground. Its branches grew toward the eagle and the roots became established— A vine putting out shoots, developing branches. "‘There was another great eagle with a huge wingspan and thickly feathered. This vine sent out its roots toward him from the place where it was planted. Its branches reached out to him so he could water it from a long distance. It had been planted in good, well-watered soil, And it put out branches and bore fruit, and became a noble vine. "‘ God , the Master, says, Will it thrive? Won't he just pull it up by the roots and leave the grapes to rot And the branches to shrivel up, a withered, dead vine? It won't take much strength or many hands to pull it up. Even if it's transplanted, will it thrive? When the hot east wind strikes it, won't it shrivel up? Won't it dry up and blow away from the place where it was planted?'" God 's Message came to me: "Tell this house of rebels, ‘Do you get it? Do you know what this means?' "Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its leaders back to Babylon. He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, making him swear his loyalty. The king of Babylon took all the top leaders into exile to make sure that this kingdom stayed weak—didn't get any big ideas of itself—and kept the covenant with him so that it would have a future.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Citizens;   Covenant;   Zedekiah;   Scofield Reference Index - Parables;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Babylon;   Swearing Falsely;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Zedekiah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Egypt;   Ezekiel;   Zedekiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Allegory;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Riddle;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hananiah;   Jerusalem;   Oath;   Zedekiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Covenant;   Exile;   Ezekiel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jeremiah;   Vine, Vineyard;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Zedekiah ;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Pha'raoh,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Zedekiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Base;   Covenant, in the Old Testament;   Zedekiah (2);   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Alliances;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
so that the kingdom would be humble and not exalt itself but would keep his covenant in order to endure.
Hebrew Names Version
that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
King James Version
That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
English Standard Version
that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand.
New American Standard Bible
so that the kingdom would be humbled, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant so that it might continue.
New Century Version
to make the kingdom weak so it would not be strong again. Then the kingdom of Judah could continue only by keeping its agreement with the king of Babylon.
Amplified Bible
so that the kingdom would be in subjection, unable to restore itself and rise again, but that by keeping his covenant it might continue.
World English Bible
that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
Geneva Bible (1587)
That the kingdome might be in subiection, and not lift it selfe vp, but keepe their couenant, and stand to it.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant that it might continue.
Legacy Standard Bible
that the kingdom might become lowly, not lifting itself up, but keeping his covenant that it might continue.
Berean Standard Bible
so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, keeping his covenant to survive.
Contemporary English Version
so that the rest of the people of Judah would obey only him and never gain control of their own country again.
Complete Jewish Bible
so that this kingdom of his would stay humble and not develop aspirations of its own; rather, it would keep his covenant and live accordingly.
Darby Translation
that the kingdom might be abased, that it might not lift itself up, that it might keep his covenant in order to stand.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Judah became a weak kingdom that could not turn against King Nebuchadnezzar. The people were forced to keep the agreement Nebuchadnezzar made with the new king of Judah.
George Lamsa Translation
That the kingdom might be humbled, and that they might keep his covenant, and stand by him.
Good News Translation
to keep the nation from rising again and to make sure that the treaty would be kept.
Lexham English Bible
so that they would be a humble kingdom and not lift itself up to keep his covenant in order for it to stand.
Literal Translation
that the kingdom might be low, that it might not lift itself up to keep its covenant, that it might stand.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that the londe might be holden in subieccion, and not to rebelle, but kepe the couenaunt, and fulfill it.
American Standard Version
that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
Bible in Basic English
So that the kingdom might be made low with no power of lifting itself up, but might keep his agreement to be his servants.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
that his might be a lowly kingdom, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
King James Version (1611)
That the kingdome might bee base, that it might not lift it selfe vp, but that by keeping of his Couenant it might stand.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
That the kyngdome might be holden in subiection, and not lift vp it selfe, but kepe the couenaunt, and stande to it.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
that it may become a weak kingdom, so as never to lift itself up, that he may keep his covenant, and establish it.
English Revised Version
that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that it be a meke rewme, and be not reisid, but that it kepe the couenaunt of hym, and holde it.
Update Bible Version
that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
Webster's Bible Translation
That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, [but] that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
New English Translation
so it would be a lowly kingdom which could not rise on its own but must keep its treaty with him in order to stand.
New King James Version
that the kingdom might be brought low and not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
New Living Translation
so Israel would not become strong again and revolt. Only by keeping her treaty with Babylon could Israel survive.
New Life Bible
so that the nation would be under his power and not become strong again. It could only last by keeping his agreement.
New Revised Standard
so that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and that by keeping his covenant it might stand.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That, the kingdom might be abased, so as not to lift itself up, - By the keeping of his covenant, might be made to stand.
Douay-Rheims Bible
That it may be a low kingdom and not lift itself up, but keep his covenant and observe it.
Revised Standard Version
that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and that by keeping his covenant it might stand.)
Young's Literal Translation
That the kingdom may be humble, That it may not lift itself up, To keep his covenant -- that it may stand.

Contextual Overview

1 God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, make a riddle for the house of Israel. Tell them a story. Say, ‘ God , the Master, says: "‘A great eagle with a huge wingspan and long feathers, In full plumage and bright colors, came to Lebanon And took the top off a cedar, broke off the top branch, Took it to a land of traders, and set it down in a city of shopkeepers. Then he took a cutting from the land and planted it in good, well-watered soil, like a willow on a riverbank. It sprouted into a flourishing vine, low to the ground. Its branches grew toward the eagle and the roots became established— A vine putting out shoots, developing branches. 7"‘There was another great eagle with a huge wingspan and thickly feathered. This vine sent out its roots toward him from the place where it was planted. Its branches reached out to him so he could water it from a long distance. It had been planted in good, well-watered soil, And it put out branches and bore fruit, and became a noble vine. 9"‘ God , the Master, says, Will it thrive? Won't he just pull it up by the roots and leave the grapes to rot And the branches to shrivel up, a withered, dead vine? It won't take much strength or many hands to pull it up. Even if it's transplanted, will it thrive? When the hot east wind strikes it, won't it shrivel up? Won't it dry up and blow away from the place where it was planted?'" 11 God 's Message came to me: "Tell this house of rebels, ‘Do you get it? Do you know what this means?' "Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its leaders back to Babylon. He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, making him swear his loyalty. The king of Babylon took all the top leaders into exile to make sure that this kingdom stayed weak—didn't get any big ideas of itself—and kept the covenant with him so that it would have a future. "‘But he rebelled and sent emissaries to Egypt to recruit horses and a big army. Do you think that's going to work? Are they going to get by with this? Does anyone break a covenant and get off scot-free? "‘As sure as I am the living God, this king who broke his pledge of loyalty and his covenant will die in that country, in Babylon. Pharaoh with his big army—all those soldiers!—won't lift a finger to fight for him when Babylon sets siege to the city and kills everyone inside. Because he broke his word and broke the covenant, even though he gave his solemn promise, because he went ahead and did all these things anyway, he won't escape. "‘Therefore, God , the Master, says, As sure as I am the living God, because the king despised my oath and broke my covenant, I'll bring the consequences crashing down on his head. I'll send out a search party and catch him. I'll take him to Babylon and have him brought to trial because of his total disregard for me. All his elite soldiers, along with the rest of the army, will be killed in battle, and whoever is left will be scattered to the four winds. Then you'll realize that I, God , have spoken. "‘ God , the Master, says, I personally will take a shoot from the top of the towering cedar, a cutting from the crown of the tree, and plant it on a high and towering mountain, on the high mountain of Israel. It will grow, putting out branches and fruit—a majestic cedar. Birds of every sort and kind will live under it. They'll build nests in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will recognize that I, God , made the great tree small and the small tree great, made the green tree turn dry and the dry tree sprout green branches. I, God , said it—and I did it.'" 13The Great Tree Is Made Small and the Small Tree Great God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, make a riddle for the house of Israel. Tell them a story. Say, ‘ God , the Master, says: "‘A great eagle with a huge wingspan and long feathers, In full plumage and bright colors, came to Lebanon And took the top off a cedar, broke off the top branch, Took it to a land of traders, and set it down in a city of shopkeepers. Then he took a cutting from the land and planted it in good, well-watered soil, like a willow on a riverbank. It sprouted into a flourishing vine, low to the ground. Its branches grew toward the eagle and the roots became established— A vine putting out shoots, developing branches. "‘There was another great eagle with a huge wingspan and thickly feathered. This vine sent out its roots toward him from the place where it was planted. Its branches reached out to him so he could water it from a long distance. It had been planted in good, well-watered soil, And it put out branches and bore fruit, and became a noble vine. "‘ God , the Master, says, Will it thrive? Won't he just pull it up by the roots and leave the grapes to rot And the branches to shrivel up, a withered, dead vine? It won't take much strength or many hands to pull it up. Even if it's transplanted, will it thrive? When the hot east wind strikes it, won't it shrivel up? Won't it dry up and blow away from the place where it was planted?'" God 's Message came to me: "Tell this house of rebels, ‘Do you get it? Do you know what this means?' "Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its leaders back to Babylon. He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, making him swear his loyalty. The king of Babylon took all the top leaders into exile to make sure that this kingdom stayed weak—didn't get any big ideas of itself—and kept the covenant with him so that it would have a future. "‘But he rebelled and sent emissaries to Egypt to recruit horses and a big army. Do you think that's going to work? Are they going to get by with this? Does anyone break a covenant and get off scot-free? "‘As sure as I am the living God, this king who broke his pledge of loyalty and his covenant will die in that country, in Babylon. Pharaoh with his big army—all those soldiers!—won't lift a finger to fight for him when Babylon sets siege to the city and kills everyone inside. Because he broke his word and broke the covenant, even though he gave his solemn promise, because he went ahead and did all these things anyway, he won't escape. "‘Therefore, God , the Master, says, As sure as I am the living God, because the king despised my oath and broke my covenant, I'll bring the consequences crashing down on his head. I'll send out a search party and catch him. I'll take him to Babylon and have him brought to trial because of his total disregard for me. All his elite soldiers, along with the rest of the army, will be killed in battle, and whoever is left will be scattered to the four winds. Then you'll realize that I, God , have spoken. "‘ God , the Master, says, I personally will take a shoot from the top of the towering cedar, a cutting from the crown of the tree, and plant it on a high and towering mountain, on the high mountain of Israel. It will grow, putting out branches and fruit—a majestic cedar. Birds of every sort and kind will live under it. They'll build nests in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will recognize that I, God , made the great tree small and the small tree great, made the green tree turn dry and the dry tree sprout green branches. I, God , said it—and I did it.'" 14The Great Tree Is Made Small and the Small Tree Great God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, make a riddle for the house of Israel. Tell them a story. Say, ‘ God , the Master, says: "‘A great eagle with a huge wingspan and long feathers, In full plumage and bright colors, came to Lebanon And took the top off a cedar, broke off the top branch, Took it to a land of traders, and set it down in a city of shopkeepers. Then he took a cutting from the land and planted it in good, well-watered soil, like a willow on a riverbank. It sprouted into a flourishing vine, low to the ground. Its branches grew toward the eagle and the roots became established— A vine putting out shoots, developing branches. "‘There was another great eagle with a huge wingspan and thickly feathered. This vine sent out its roots toward him from the place where it was planted. Its branches reached out to him so he could water it from a long distance. It had been planted in good, well-watered soil, And it put out branches and bore fruit, and became a noble vine. "‘ God , the Master, says, Will it thrive? Won't he just pull it up by the roots and leave the grapes to rot And the branches to shrivel up, a withered, dead vine? It won't take much strength or many hands to pull it up. Even if it's transplanted, will it thrive? When the hot east wind strikes it, won't it shrivel up? Won't it dry up and blow away from the place where it was planted?'" God 's Message came to me: "Tell this house of rebels, ‘Do you get it? Do you know what this means?' "Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its leaders back to Babylon. He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, making him swear his loyalty. The king of Babylon took all the top leaders into exile to make sure that this kingdom stayed weak—didn't get any big ideas of itself—and kept the covenant with him so that it would have a future. 15 "‘But he rebelled and sent emissaries to Egypt to recruit horses and a big army. Do you think that's going to work? Are they going to get by with this? Does anyone break a covenant and get off scot-free? 16"‘As sure as I am the living God, this king who broke his pledge of loyalty and his covenant will die in that country, in Babylon. Pharaoh with his big army—all those soldiers!—won't lift a finger to fight for him when Babylon sets siege to the city and kills everyone inside. Because he broke his word and broke the covenant, even though he gave his solemn promise, because he went ahead and did all these things anyway, he won't escape. 19"‘Therefore, God , the Master, says, As sure as I am the living God, because the king despised my oath and broke my covenant, I'll bring the consequences crashing down on his head. I'll send out a search party and catch him. I'll take him to Babylon and have him brought to trial because of his total disregard for me. All his elite soldiers, along with the rest of the army, will be killed in battle, and whoever is left will be scattered to the four winds. Then you'll realize that I, God , have spoken.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the kingdom: Ezekiel 17:6, Ezekiel 29:14, Deuteronomy 28:43, 1 Samuel 2:7, 1 Samuel 2:30, Nehemiah 9:36, Nehemiah 9:37, Lamentations 5:10, Matthew 22:17-21

base: Or, low; a tributary kingdom, dependent on the king of Babylon.

but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand: Heb. to keep his covenant, to stand to it, Jeremiah 27:12-17, Jeremiah 38:17

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 24:14 - the poorest sort Ezekiel 26:7 - a king Ezekiel 29:15 - the basest

Cross-References

Genesis 17:20
"And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I'll also bless him; I'll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He'll father twelve princes; I'll make him a great nation. But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year."
Genesis 17:24
Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised. His son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. Abraham and Ishmael were circumcised the same day together with all the servants of his household, those born there and those purchased from outsiders—all were circumcised with him.
Leviticus 18:29
"Those who do any of these abhorrent things will be cut off from their people. Keep to what I tell you; don't engage in any of the abhorrent acts that were practiced before you came. Don't pollute yourselves with them. I am God , your God."
Psalms 55:20
And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends; his life betrayed his word. All my life I've been charmed by his speech, never dreaming he'd turn on me. His words, which were music to my ears, turned to daggers in my heart.
Isaiah 24:5
Earth is polluted by its very own people, who have broken its laws, Disrupted its order, violated the sacred and eternal covenant. Therefore a curse, like a cancer, ravages the earth. Its people pay the price of their sacrilege. They dwindle away, dying out one by one. No more wine, no more vineyards, no more songs or singers. The laughter of castanets is gone, the shouts of celebrants, gone, the laughter of fiddles, gone. No more parties with toasts of champagne. Serious drinkers gag on their drinks. The chaotic cities are unlivable. Anarchy reigns. Every house is boarded up, condemned. People riot in the streets for wine, but the good times are gone forever— no more joy for this old world. The city is dead and deserted, bulldozed into piles of rubble. That's the way it will be on this earth. This is the fate of all nations: An olive tree shaken clean of its olives, a grapevine picked clean of its grapes.
1 Corinthians 11:27
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
1 Corinthians 11:29
If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That the kingdom might be base,.... Low or humble; its king but a viceroy, a tributary to the king of Babylon; and the subjects obliged to a tax, payable to him; and this is intended by the vine being of "low stature", Ezekiel 17:6;

that it might not lift up itself; above other neighbouring kingdoms and states; and particularly that it might not rebel against Nebuchadnezzar, but be kept in a dependence on him, and subjection to him:

[but] that by keeping of his covenant it might stand; continue a kingdom, and Zedekiah king of it; so that it was for their good that such a covenant was made, and it was their interest to keep it; for, had it not been made, it would have ceased to have been a kingdom, and would have become a province of the Babylonian monarchy, and have been put under the government of one of Nebuchadnezzar's princes or captains; and, should they break it, would endanger the ruin of their state, as the event showed. In the Hebrew text it is, "to keep his covenant, to make it stand"; or, "to stand to it" y; that is, as it should seem, to make the covenant stand firm. The Targum is,

"that it might keep his covenant, and serve him;''

Nebuchadnezzar.

y לשמר את בריתו לעמדה "ad custodiendum pactum ejus, ad astandum ei", Montanus; "ad servandum foedus suum, ad consistendumm", Starckius.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 17:14. That the kingdom might be base — Have no political consequence, and at last sink into a miserable government under Gedaliah.


 
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