Ezekiel 17:9
New International Version
“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.

New Living Translation
“So now the Sovereign LORD asks: Will this vine grow and prosper? No! I will pull it up, roots and all! I will cut off its fruit and let its leaves wither and die. I will pull it up easily without a strong arm or a large army.

English Standard Version
“Say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers, so that all its fresh sprouting leaves wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it from its roots.

Berean Standard Bible
So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Will it flourish? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its foliage will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots.

King James Bible
Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.

New King James Version
“Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots, Cut off its fruit, And leave it to wither? All of its spring leaves will wither, And no great power or many people Will be needed to pluck it up by its roots.

New American Standard Bible
Say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers—so that all its sprouting shoots wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again.

NASB 1995
“Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers— so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again.

NASB 1977
“Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers—so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again.

Legacy Standard Bible
Say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Will it succeed? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it dries up—so that all its sprouting leaves dry up? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again.

Amplified Bible
Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Ask, “Will it thrive? Will he (Nebuchadnezzar) not uproot it and strip off its fruit so that all its sprouting leaves will wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to uproot it [ending Israel’s national existence].

Christian Standard Bible
“You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Will it flourish? Will he not tear out its roots and strip off its fruit so that it shrivels? All its fresh leaves will wither! Great strength and many people will not be needed to pull it from its roots.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You are to say: This is what the Lord GOD says: Will it flourish? Will he not tear out its roots and strip off its fruit so that it shrivels? All its fresh leaves will wither! Great strength and many people will not be needed to pull it from its roots.

American Standard Version
Say thou, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from the roots thereof.

Contemporary English Version
Now tell me, Ezekiel, do you think this grapevine will live? Or will the first eagle pull it up by its roots and pluck off the grapes and let its new leaves die? The eagle could easily kill it without the help of a large and powerful army.

English Revised Version
Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither; even without great power or much people to pluck it up by the roots thereof?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Tell the nation of Israel, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: Will this vine live and grow? Won't the first eagle uproot it and tear off its fruit? Then it will wither. All the leaves on its branches will wither. It won't take much strength or many people to pull the vine up by its roots.

Good News Translation
"So I, the Sovereign LORD, ask: Will this vine live and grow? Won't the first eagle pull it up by its roots, pull off the grapes, and break off the branches and let them wither? It will not take much strength or a mighty nation to pull it up.

International Standard Version
"Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says, "Will it prosper? Won't he pull up its roots, and strip it bare so all its fresh foliage dries up? It won't be by great strength or by a great army that it will be uprooted.

Majority Standard Bible
So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ?Will it flourish? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its foliage will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots.

NET Bible
"'Say to them: This is what the sovereign LORD says: "'Will it prosper? Will he not rip out its roots and cause its fruit to rot and wither? All its foliage will wither. No strong arm or large army will be needed to pull it out by its roots.

New Heart English Bible
"Say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? And not by a strong arm or many people can it be raised from its roots.

Webster's Bible Translation
Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, that it may wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by its roots.

World English Bible
“Say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Will it prosper? Won’t he pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, that it may wither, that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? It can’t be raised from its roots by a strong arm or many people.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Say, Thus said Lord YHWH: It prospers—does he not draw out its roots, "" And cut off its fruit, and it is withered? [In] all the leaves of its springing it withers, "" And not by great strength, or by numerous people, "" To lift it up by its roots.

Young's Literal Translation
Say: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: It prospereth -- its roots doth he not draw out, And its fruit cut off, and it is withered? In all the leaves of its springing it withereth, And not by great strength, and by a numerous people, To lift it up by its roots.

Smith's Literal Translation
Say, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? shall he not pluck up its roots, and cut off its fruit, and dry up all the fresh foliage of its springing up? It shall be dried up, and not in its great strength, and by much people to lift it up from its roots.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Say thou: Thus saith the Lord God: Shall it prosper then? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and strip off its fruit, and dry up all the branches it hath shot forth, and make it wither: and this without a strong arm, or many people, to pluck it up by the root?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Speak: Thus says the Lord God: What if it does not prosper? Should he not pull up its roots, and strip off its fruit, and dry up all the branches that it has produced, and let it wither, though he is without a strong arm and without many people to pull it up by the root?

New American Bible
Say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Can it thrive? Will he not tear up its roots and strip its fruit? Then all its green leaves will wither— neither strong arm nor mighty nation is needed to uproot it.

New Revised Standard Version
Say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Will it prosper? Will he not pull up its roots, cause its fruit to rot and wither, its fresh sprouting leaves to fade? No strong arm or mighty army will be needed to pull it from its roots.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Say now, Thus says the LORD God: It shall not prosper, but its roots shall be cut off, and its fruit shall dry up; and all the foliage which it has put forth shall wither; and it will not require a strong arm, nor many people to pluck it up by its roots.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Say, ‘Thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: it shall not prosper, but its roots shall be cut off and its fruit shall rot, and they shall dry up and all the leaves of its growth shall dry up and many shall uproot it from its roots, not by an high arm and not by the Gentiles
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Say thou: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up the roots thereof, And cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither, Yea, wither in all its sprouting leaves? Neither shall great power or much people be at hand When it is plucked up by the roots thereof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord; Shall it prosper? shall not the roots of her tender stem and her fruit be blighted? yea, all her early shoots shall be dried up, and that not by a mighty arm, nor by many people, to tear her up from her roots.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine
8It had been planted in good soil by abundant waters in order to yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’ 9So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Will it flourish? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its foliage will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots. 10Even if it is transplanted, will it flourish? Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’ ”…

Cross References
Jeremiah 12:2
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Isaiah 5:5-6
Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled. / I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”

Hosea 9:16
Ephraim is struck down; their root is withered; they cannot bear fruit. Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.

Matthew 21:19
Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.

Luke 13:6-9
Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. / So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ / ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ...

Psalm 80:12-13
Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit? / The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.

Isaiah 27:11
When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.

Jeremiah 11:16-17
The LORD once called you a flourishing olive tree, beautiful with well-formed fruit. But with a mighty roar He will set it on fire, and its branches will be consumed. / The LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you on account of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have brought upon themselves, provoking Me to anger by burning incense to Baal.”

John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Matthew 3:10
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Mark 11:20-21
As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots. / Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.”

Isaiah 40:24
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.

Jeremiah 18:7-10
At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. / But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring. / And if at another time I announce that I will build up and establish a nation or kingdom, ...

Romans 11:17-22
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...

Isaiah 10:33-34
Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. / He will clear the forest thickets with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.


Treasury of Scripture

Say you, Thus said the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.

Shall it.

Ezekiel 17:10,15-17
Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew…

Numbers 14:41
And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.

2 Chronicles 13:12
And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

shall he.

2 Kings 25:4-7
And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain…

Jeremiah 21:4-7
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city…

Jeremiah 24:8-10
And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: …

the fruit.

Jeremiah 37:10
For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

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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














Say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew word for "say" (אָמַר, 'amar) is often used in prophetic literature to denote the transmission of God's message through His prophets. The phrase underscores the role of Ezekiel as a mouthpiece for God, conveying not his own words, but the divine will. This introduction sets the tone for the seriousness and certainty of the message that follows.

Will it thrive?
The question posed here is rhetorical, intended to provoke reflection on the fate of the vine, which symbolizes the kingdom of Judah. The Hebrew root for "thrive" (צָלַח, tsalach) conveys the idea of prospering or succeeding. Historically, this reflects the precarious political situation of Judah, which sought alliances with foreign powers rather than relying on God. The question challenges the audience to consider the futility of seeking prosperity apart from divine blessing.

Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers?
This imagery of uprooting and withering is rich in agricultural metaphor, common in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. The Hebrew word for "uprooted" (נָתַשׁ, natash) suggests a violent removal, indicating the impending judgment and exile. "Stripped of its fruit" implies a loss of productivity and blessing, a direct consequence of disobedience. The withering of the vine serves as a vivid picture of the spiritual and national decline that results from forsaking God.

All its new shoots will wither
The "new shoots" symbolize the future generations and potential growth of the nation. The Hebrew term for "shoots" (יֹנֵקָה, yoneqah) refers to young, tender branches, indicating vulnerability. The withering of these shoots signifies the end of hope for renewal or restoration under the current rebellious conditions. This serves as a warning that without repentance, even the future prospects of the nation are doomed.

It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots
This phrase highlights the ease with which God can execute judgment. The "strong arm" (זְרוֹעַ חֲזָקָה, zeroa chazaqah) is often associated with God's power in delivering Israel, but here it underscores the simplicity of His judgment. The mention of "many people" suggests that the downfall of Judah will not require a large army or great effort, emphasizing the inevitability and swiftness of divine retribution. This serves as a sobering reminder of God's omnipotence and the futility of resisting His will.

(9) Of her spring.--Our translators probably intended by this word, as they evidently did in Psalm 65:10, "her springing forth," her growth; but it would be' better now to substitute the word growth,

Pluck it up by the roots.--The word here is a different one from the "pull up "in the earlier part of the verse, and has rather the sense of raise up from the roots." The whole clause would be better translated, "not even with great power and many people is it to be raised up from its roots again." The meaning is explained in Ezekiel 17:17, that the strength of Pharaoh would be utterly insufficient to restore the people whom God had blighted.

Verse 9. - The prophet, like his contemporary Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:7), like his predecessor Isaiah (Isaiah 30:1-7), is against this policy of an Egyptian alliance. The question which he asks, as the prophet of Jehovah, implies an answer in the negative. The doom of failure was written on all such projects. The he of the next question is not Nebuchadnezzar, but indefinite, like the French on. For leaves of her spring, read, with the Revised Version, fresh springing leaves; or, the leaves of her sprouting. The Authorized Version and the Revised Version of the last clause seems to assert that Nebuchadnezzar would have an easy victory. It would not take great power or much people to pluck up such a vine from its roots. I adopt, with Keil and Hitzig, the rendering, not with great power or much people will men be able to raise it up from its roots; i.e. no forces of Egypt or other allies should be able to restore Judah from its ruins. Its fall was, for the time, irretrievable (comp. ver. 17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So you are to tell them
אֱמֹ֗ר (’ĕ·mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

that this is what
כֹּ֥ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

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

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

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

‘Will it flourish?
תִּצְלָ֑ח (tiṣ·lāḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6743: To push forward

Will it not
הֲלוֹא֩ (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be uprooted
יְנַתֵּ֜ק (yə·nat·têq)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5423: To pull, draw, or tear away, apart, or off

and stripped
יְקוֹסֵ֣ס (yə·qō·w·sês)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7082: To strip off

of its fruit
פִּרְיָ֣הּ ׀ (pir·yāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6529: Fruit

so that it shrivels?
וְיָבֵ֗שׁ (wə·yā·ḇêš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3001: To be ashamed, confused, disappointed, to dry up, wither

All
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

its foliage
טַרְפֵּ֤י (ṭar·pê)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2964: Something torn, a fragment, a fresh leaf, prey, food

will wither!
תִּיבָ֔שׁ (tî·ḇāš)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3001: To be ashamed, confused, disappointed, to dry up, wither

It will not take
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

a strong
גְּדוֹלָה֙ (gə·ḏō·w·lāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

arm
בִזְרֹ֤עַ (ḇiz·rō·a‘)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2220: The arm, the foreleg, force

or many
רָ֔ב (rāḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

people
וּבְעַם־ (ū·ḇə·‘am-)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

to pull
לְמַשְׂא֥וֹת (lə·maś·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

it up
אוֹתָ֖הּ (’ō·w·ṯāh)
Direct object marker | third person feminine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

by its roots.
מִשָּׁרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃ (miš·šā·rā·še·hā)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8328: A root


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 17:9 Say you Thus says the Lord Yahweh: (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 17:8
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