Ezekiel 17:22
New International Version
“’This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

New Living Translation
“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain.

English Standard Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

King James Bible
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

New King James Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain.

New American Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

NASB 1995
Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

NASB 1977
Thus says the Lord GOD, “I shall also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I shall pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I shall plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Lord Yahweh, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on an exalted and lofty mountain.

Amplified Bible
Thus says the Lord GOD, “I Myself will take a twig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Christian Standard Bible
“ ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high towering mountain.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high towering mountain.

American Standard Version
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain:

Contemporary English Version
Someday, I, the LORD, will cut a tender twig from the top of a cedar tree, then plant it on the peak of Israel's tallest mountain,

English Revised Version
Thus saith the Lord GOD: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of his young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: I, too, will take hold of the top of a cedar tree. I will break off the highest twig and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Good News Translation
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "I will take the top of a tall cedar and break off a tender sprout; I will plant it on a high mountain,

International Standard Version
This is what the Lord GOD says, "I'm also going to take a shoot from the top of a cedar and plant it. I'll pluck off its delicate twigs and transplant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Majority Standard Bible
This is what the Lord GOD says: ?I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

NET Bible
"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: "'I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it. I will pluck from the top one of its tender twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

New Heart English Bible
"Thus says the Lord GOD: 'I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain:

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the Lord GOD, I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon a high mountain and eminent:

World English Bible
“The Lord Yahweh says: ‘I will also take some of the lofty top of the cedar, and will plant it. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said Lord YHWH: I have taken of the foliage of the high cedar, "" And I have set [it], "" I crop a tender one from the top of its tender shoots, "" And I have planted [it] on a high and lofty mountain.

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: I have taken of the foliage of the high cedar, And I have set it, From the top of its tender shoots a tender one I crop, And I -- I have planted it on a mountain high and lofty.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah: And I took from the foliage of the cedar, and I gave from the head; I will pluck its suckers a tender one, and I planted upon a mountain of height and heaped up.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord God: I myself will take of the marrow of the high cedar, and will set it: I will crop off a tender twig from the top of the branches thereof, and I will plant it on a mountain high and eminent.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take from the kernel of the exalted cedar, and I will establish it. I will tear off a tender twig from the top of its branches, and I will plant it on a mountain, lofty and exalted.

New American Bible
Thus says the Lord GOD: I, too, will pluck from the crest of the cedar the highest branch. From the top a tender shoot I will break off and transplant on a high, lofty mountain.

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD God: I will also take one of the choicest branches of the highest cedar, and I will clip it; I will crop off from the top of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon high and lofty mountains;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: “I shall take from the choice of high cedars, and from the top I shall cut off its heart and I shall plant it on the high and lofty mountains
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the Lord GOD: Moreover I will take, even I, of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high mountain and eminent;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For thus saith the Lord; I will even take of the choice branches of the cedar from the top thereof, I will crop off their hearts, and I will plant it on a high mountain:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable Explained
21All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’ 22This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.…

Cross References
Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Zechariah 6:12-13
And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD. / Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’

Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.

Psalm 80:15
the root Your right hand has planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself.

Jeremiah 33:15
In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Isaiah 4:2
On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel’s survivors.

Zechariah 3:8
Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.

Isaiah 60:21
Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.

Hosea 14:5-6
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. / His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.

Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Luke 1:32-33
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, / and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Revelation 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

John 15:1-5
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on an high mountain and eminent:

highest

Ezekiel 34:29
And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.

Psalm 80:15
And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.

Isaiah 4:2
In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

a tender

Isaiah 53:2
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

upon

Ezekiel 20:40
For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

Ezekiel 40:2
In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.

Psalm 2:6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

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Ezekiel 17
1. Under the parable of two eagles and a vine
11. is shown God's judgment upon Jerusalem for revolting from Babylon to Egypt
22. God promises to plant the cedar of the Gospel














This is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase introduces a divine proclamation, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. In Hebrew, "Lord GOD" is "Adonai Yahweh," underscoring both the personal and covenantal nature of God. This introduction sets the stage for a message that is not merely prophetic but carries the weight of divine intention and promise. It reminds the reader of God's ultimate control over history and His faithfulness to His word.

I Myself will take a shoot
The imagery of God personally taking a "shoot" is rich with symbolism. The Hebrew word for "shoot" is "yoneqet," which can also mean a tender branch or sprout. This suggests new beginnings and hope. The personal involvement of God ("I Myself") highlights His direct intervention in the affairs of His people, indicating a hands-on approach to the fulfillment of His promises.

from the lofty top of the cedar
The "cedar" is a symbol of strength and majesty, often associated with the nation of Israel and its kings. The "lofty top" suggests the highest and most noble part, indicating that God will choose something of great value and potential. Historically, cedars of Lebanon were renowned for their quality and were used in the construction of the Temple, symbolizing both beauty and durability.

and set it out
The act of setting out the shoot implies careful planting and nurturing. This phrase suggests God's intentionality and purpose in His actions. It reflects the idea of God as a gardener, cultivating His people and His plans with precision and care. The imagery evokes a sense of hope and future growth under God's guidance.

I will break off a tender sprig
The "tender sprig" represents something young and delicate, yet full of potential. The Hebrew word "rach" conveys softness and newness. This action of breaking off signifies a deliberate choice by God to initiate something new and transformative. It speaks to the renewal and restoration that God promises to His people.

and plant it on a high and lofty mountain
Mountains in biblical literature often symbolize places of revelation and divine encounter. The "high and lofty mountain" suggests a place of prominence and visibility. By planting the sprig here, God is indicating that this new growth will be significant and exalted. It points to the establishment of a kingdom or leadership that will be seen and recognized by all, aligning with messianic expectations of a future, righteous reign.

(22) I will also take.--In what has passed all has been done according to God's will, but yet through human instrumentality: Israel has been punished, Jehoiachin has been, and Zedekiah is about to be, carried into captivity, as God designed; yet Nebuchadnezzar has done it all for his own purposes. Now God Himself directly interposes, and takes a scion of the same "high cedar," the royal house of David. In accordance with the allegory, this can only be an his tropical personage, and from the description which follows, this person can only be the Messiah. So it has been understood by nearly all interpreters, Jewish and Christian.

A tender one.--This epithet is used of the Messiah in reference to the lowliness of His immediate human origin and condition. (Comp. Isaiah 53:2.) David applies the same expression to himself (2Samuel 3:39), and to Solomon (1Chronicles 22:5; 1Chronicles 29:1), in reference to their want of strength for the work required of them as the heads of Israel. This figure of the Messiah as a scion of the royal tree of David, though naturally growing out of the allegory here, had been used by the prophets long before, as in Isaiah 11:1, and the name "the Branch" had almost become a distinctive title for Him (Isaiah 4:2; Jeremiah 23:5, &c). . . .

Verse 22. - From the message of deserved chastisement the prophet passes to the promise of restoration. The cedar of Israel is not dead. Jehovah would, in his own time, take the highest branch, tender and slender though it might be, the true heir of David's house, and deal with it far otherwise than the Chaldean conqueror had done. The latter had carried off the branch to the "land of traffick" - sc. had brought Jeconiah to Babylon. Jehovah would plant his branch upon the "mountain of the height of Israel" (Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1). It was not to be as a willow in a low place, but to flourish, true to its origin as a cedar, so that "all fowl of every wing" should dwell in the shadow of its branches (comp. Ezekiel 31:3-9, where the same imagery is used of Assyria; and Matthew 13:32). As with like prophecies in Isaiah 11:1 and Isaiah 53:2 (where the "tender one" finds a parallel), the words paint an ideal never historically realized, but finding a partia1 fulfilment in Zerubbabel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple, merging in the still unfulfilled vision of the kingdom of the Messiah and the restoration of Israel. To Ezekiel, as to other prophets, it was not given to know the times and the seasons, or even the manner of the fulfilment of his hopes; and when he uttered the words, the vision may have seemed not tar off, but nigh at hand.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This is what
כֹּ֤ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

says:
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘I
אָ֗נִי (’ā·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will take a shoot
וְלָקַ֣חְתִּי (wə·lā·qaḥ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3947: To take

from the lofty
הָרָמָ֖ה (hā·rā·māh)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

top
מִצַּמֶּ֧רֶת (miṣ·ṣam·me·reṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6788: Fleeciness, foliage

of the cedar,
הָאֶ֛רֶז (hā·’e·rez)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 730: A cedar tree

and I will set [it] out.
וְנָתָ֑תִּי (wə·nā·ṯāt·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

I will pluck
אֶקְטֹ֔ף (’eq·ṭōp̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6998: To pluck off or out

a tender sprig
רַ֣ךְ (raḵ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7390: Tender, delicate, soft

from its topmost
מֵרֹ֤אשׁ (mê·rōš)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

shoots,
יֹֽנְקוֹתָיו֙ (yō·nə·qō·w·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3127: A young shoot, twig

and I
אָ֔נִי (’ā·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will plant it
וְשָׁתַ֣לְתִּי (wə·šā·ṯal·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8362: To transplant

on
עַ֥ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a high
גָּבֹ֖הַ (gā·ḇō·ha)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1364: Elevated, powerful, arrogant

and lofty
וְתָלֽוּל׃ (wə·ṯā·lūl)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8524: To mock, deceive, trifle with

mountain.
הַר־ (har-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 17:22 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: I will (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 17:21
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