Read & explore together
The Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine
Ezekiel 17:1–10 is a parable the Lord tells through Ezekiel. It uses two eagles, a cedar, and a vine to make listeners think carefully about growth, dependence, and whether something placed well will really prosper.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
The passage begins with Yahweh’s word coming to Ezekiel. He is told to speak both a riddle and a parable to the house of Israel. What follows is symbolic teaching, not a straightforward report of ordinary events, and the meaning is carried through images of plants, birds, soil, water, and wind.
Ezekiel 17:1–10Main takeaway
This parable warns that even something well planted may fail if it turns away and seeks help elsewhere.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A riddle and a parableThe passage opens by saying Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel, and Ezekiel is told to tell a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.
Explanation
The passage opens by saying Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel, and Ezekiel is told to tell a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel. That prepares us to read the images carefully. The eagle, cedar, and vine are teaching pictures, given as prophetic speech from the Lord Yahweh.
02The first eagle and the cedar topA great eagle with large wings, long feathers, and many colours comes to Lebanon and takes the top of the cedar.
Explanation
A great eagle with large wings, long feathers, and many colours comes to Lebanon and takes the top of the cedar. He crops off its topmost young twig and carries it to a land of trade, planting it in a city of merchants. The picture is of removal, carrying, and replanting.
03A seed becomes a low spreading vineThe eagle also takes seed from the land and plants it in fruitful soil beside many waters.
Explanation
The eagle also takes seed from the land and plants it in fruitful soil beside many waters. It is set like a willow tree. The plant grows, but it is a low vine, spreading out with branches turned toward the eagle and roots under him. It is alive and growing in dependence.
04The second eagle and the vine’s turnAnother great eagle appears. Then the vine bends its roots and stretches its branches toward this second eagle, as if seeking water from him.
Explanation
Another great eagle appears. Then the vine bends its roots and stretches its branches toward this second eagle, as if seeking water from him. Yet the text says the vine had already been planted in good soil by many waters, where it could have produced branches, fruit, and become a good vine.
05The Lord’s question about prosperingThe Lord Yahweh asks whether this vine will prosper. The expected answer is no. Its roots will be pulled up, its fruit cut off, and its fresh leaves will wither.
Explanation
The Lord Yahweh asks whether this vine will prosper. The expected answer is no. Its roots will be pulled up, its fruit cut off, and its fresh leaves will wither. No great strength or many people will restore it. When the east wind touches it, it will utterly wither where it grew.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does it matter that Ezekiel is told to speak a riddle and a parable?
This tells us to read the eagles, cedar, and vine as teaching images that carry meaning, rather than as a simple everyday report.
02What details show that the vine had good conditions for growth before it turned toward the second eagle?
Look for the descriptions of fruitful soil, many waters, good soil, and the purpose that it might bear fruit and become a good vine.
03What answer does the Lord expect when he asks, 'Will it prosper?'
The following lines explain the answer by describing uprooting, cut fruit, withering leaves, and the east wind.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 17:1–10
1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;
3and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers which had various colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
4He cropped off the topmost of its young twigs, and carried it to a land of traffic. He planted it in a city of merchants.
5“ ‘ “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.
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.
7“ ‘ “There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. Behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot out its branches toward him, from the ground where it was planted, that he might water it.
8It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might produce branches and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a good vine.” ’
9“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.
10Yes, behold, being planted, will it prosper? Won’t it utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the ground where it grew.” ’ ”