The Parable of the Two Eagles

Ezekiel 17

Ezekiel tells a parable of a great eagle that took the top of a cedar and planted a seed that grew into a vine, which then turned toward a second eagle instead, prompting the Lord to declare that such disloyalty will bring withering and ruin. The Lord explains the parable as the king of Babylon's dealings with Jerusalem's king, who broke his sworn covenant by seeking help from Egypt, and promises finally to plant a tender branch of the cedar himself on a high mountain of Israel where it will flourish.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAGAIN a word of the Lord came to me, saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonSon of man, relate a fable and speak a parable to the house of Israel and thou shalt say,

BrentonSon of man, relate a tale, and speak a parable to the house of Israel:

Greekυἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, διήγησαι διήγημα καὶ εἰπὸν παραβολὴν πρὸς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ,

KJVSon of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

JPS’Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,

ThomsonThus saith the Lord: There was a great eagle with large wings, rapid in its motion and completely furnished with talons: and it winged its way to Lebanon, and took hold of its choicest cedar;

Brentonand thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; A great eagle with large wings, spreading them out very far, with many claws, which has the design of entering into Libanus—and he took the choice branches of the cedar:

Greekκαὶ ἐρεῖς, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, Ἀετὸς ὁ μέγας ὁ μεγαλοπτέρυγος, ὁ μακρὸς τῇ ἐκτάσει, πλήρης ὀνύχων, ὃς ἔχει τὸ ἥγημα εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν Λίβανον, καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ ἐπίλεκτα τῆς κέδρου,

KJVAnd say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

JPSand say: Thus saith the Lord GOD: A great eagle with great wings And long pinions, Full of feathers, which had divers colours, Came unto Lebanon, And took the top of the cedar;

Thomsonand cropped the tops of the tender branch and brought them to the land of Chanaan, and in a walled city they were deposited.

Brentonhe cropped off the ends of the tender twigs, and brought them into the land of Chanaan; he laid them up in a walled city.

Greekτὰ ἄκρα τῆς ἁπαλότητος ἀπέκνισε, καὶ ἤνεγκεν αὐτὰ εἰς γῆν Χαναὰν, εἰς πόλιν τετειχισμένην ἔθετο αὐτά.

KJVHe cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

JPSHe cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, And carried it into a land of traffic; He set it in a city of merchants.

ThomsonThen he took a seedling of the land and planted it in a field by much water, and ordered it to be taken care of.

BrentonAnd he took of the seed of the land, and sowed it in a field planted by much water; he set it in a conspicuous place.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν ἀπὸ τοῦ σπέρματος τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸ εἰς τὸ πεδίον φυτὸν ἐφʼ ὕδατι πολλῷ, ἐπιβλεπόμενον ἐταξεν αὐτό.

KJVHe 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.

JPSHe took also of the seed of the land, And planted it in a fruitful soil; He placed it beside many waters, He set it as a slip.

ThomsonAnd it sprang up and became a vine weak and small, so that its branches could be seen only by them near it. Rut it had roots underneath it, so it grew to be a vine, and put forth shoots and extended its tendrils.

BrentonAnd it sprang up, and became a weak and little vine, so that the branches thereof appeared upon it, and its roots were under it: and it became a vine, and put forth shoots, and sent forth its tendrils.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέτειλε, καὶ ἐγένετο εἰς ἄμπελον ἀσθενοῦσαν καὶ μικρὰν, τοῦ ἐπιφαίνεσθαι αὐτὴν τὰ κλήματα αὐτῆς ἐπʼ αὐτό· καὶ ῥίζαι αὐτῆς ὑποκάτω αὐτῆς ἦσαν· καὶ ἐγένετο εἰς ἄμπελον, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἀπώρυγας, καὶ ἐξέτεινε τὴν ἀναδενδράδα αὐτῆς.

KJVAnd it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

JPSAnd it grew, and became a spreading vine Of low stature, Whose tendrils might turn toward him, And the roots thereof be under him; So it became a vine, and brought forth branches, And shot forth sprigs.

ThomsonAnd there was another eagle with large wings and many talons: and lo! this vine warped towards him, and its roots were towards him and it shot out its branches for h i, that he might water it together with the shoot of its own planting,

BrentonAnd there was another great eagle, with great wings and many claws: and, behold, this vine bent itself round toward him, and her roots were turned towards him, and she sent forth her branches towards him, that he might water her together with the growth of her plantation.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἀετὸς ἕτερος μέγας, μεγαλοπτέρυγος πολὺς ὄνυξι· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ ἄμπελος αὕτη περιπεπλεγμένη πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ ῥίζαι αὐτῆς πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ τὰ κλήματα αὐτῆς ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτῷ, τοῦ ποτίσαι αὐτὴν σὺν τῷ βόλῳ τῆς φυτείας αὐτῆς.

KJVThere was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

JPSThere was also another great eagle with great wings And many feathers; And, behold, this vine did bend Its roots toward him, And shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, That he might water it.

Thomsonwhich being in a good soil by much water grew luxuriantly, so a s to blossom and bear fruit, and become a great vine.

BrentonShe thrives in a fair field by much water, to produce shoots and bear fruit, that she might become a great vine.

GreekΕἰς πεδίον καλὸν ἐφʼ ὕδατι πολλῶ αὕτη πιαίνεται, τοῦ ποιεῖν βλαστοὺς, καὶ φέρειν καρπὸν, τοῦ εἶναι εἰς ἄμπελον μεγάλην.

KJVIt was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

JPSIt was planted in a good soil By many waters, That it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, That it might be a stately vine.

ThomsonTherefore say, Thus saith the Lord: Shall it prosper? Shall not the roots of this tender shoot and its fruit be blasted? Yes; all its former shoots shall wither, so that it will not require a strong arm nor much people to pull it up by its roots.

BrentonTherefore 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.

GreekΔιατοῦτο εἰπὸν, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, εἰ κατευθυνεῖ; οὐχὶ αἱ ῥίζαι τῆς ἁπαλότητος αὐτῆς καὶ ὁ καρπὸς σαπήσεται; καὶ ξηρανθήσεται πάντα τὰ προανατέλλοντα αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἐν βραχίονι μεγάλῳ, οὐδὲ ἐν λαῷ πολλῷ, τοῦ ἐκσπᾶσαι αὐτὴν ἐκ ῥιζῶν αὐτῆς.

KJVSay 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.

JPSSay 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.

ThomsonThough behold it is luxuriant, shall it prosper—shall it not wither at the first touch of a blasting wind? Both it and its sprouting shoot shall be withered.

BrentonAnd, behold, it thrives: shall it prosper? shall it not wither as soon as the east wind touches it? it shall be withered together with the growth of its shoots.

GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ πιαίνεται· μὴ κατευθυνεῖ; οὐχὶ ἅμα τῷ ἅψεσθαι αὐτῆς ἄνεμον τὸν καύσωνα ξηρανθήσεται; σὺν τῷ βόλῳ ἀνατολῆς αὐτῆς ξηρανθήσεται.

KJVYea, 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.

JPSYea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? Shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? In the beds where it grew it shall wither.’

ThomsonMoreover a word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, say now to this rebellious house, Do you not know the meaning of this?

BrentonMoreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVMoreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSMoreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonSay, When the king of Babylon hath come to Jerusalem, and shall take the king thereof and the chiefs thereof, and hath caused them to be brought to him to Babylon;

BrentonSon of man, say now to the provoking house, Know ye not what these things were? say to them, Whenever the king of Babylon shall come against Jerusalem, then he shall take her king and her princes, and shall take them home to Babylon.

Greekυἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, εἰπὸν δὴ πρὸς τὸν οἶκον τὸν παραπικραίνοντα, οὐκ ἐπίστασθε τί ἦν ταῦτα; εἰπὸν, ὅταν ἔλθῃ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ λήψεται τὸν βασιλέα αὐτῆς καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας αὐτῆς, καὶ ἄξῃ αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἑαυτὸν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα.

KJVSay now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;

JPS’Say now to the rebellious house: Know ye not what these things mean? tell them: Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to Babylon;

Thomsonand shall take one of the royal seed and make a covenant with him, and shall lay him under an oath and comprehend the generals of the land,

BrentonAnd he shall take of the seed royal, and shall make a covenant with him, and shall bind him with an oath: and he shall take the princes of the land:

GreekΚαὶ λήψεται ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῆς βασιλείας, καὶ διαθήσεται πρὸς αὐτὸν διαθήκην, καὶ εἰσάξει αὐτὸν ἐν ἀρᾷ καὶ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας τῆς γῆς λήψεται,

KJVAnd hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

JPSand he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him, and brought him under an oath, and the mighty of the land he took away;

Thomsonthat it shall be a weak kingdom and never be independent—that he will keep this covenant with him and that it shall stand.

Brentonthat it may become a weak kingdom, so as never to lift itself up, that he may keep his covenant, and establish it.

Greekτοῦ γενέσθαι εἰς βασιλείαν ἀσθενῆ, τὸ καθόλου μὴ ἐπαίρεσθαι, τοῦ φυλάσσειν τὴν διαθήκην αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἱστάνειν αὐτήν.

KJVThat the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

JPSthat his might be a lowly kingdom, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

ThomsonNow should he revolt from him so as to send his ambassadors to Egypt, that it may furnish him with horses and a great army, shall he prosper? Shall he who is perfidious escape? And shall he who breaketh a covenant be delivered?

BrentonAnd if he shall revolt from him, to send his messengers into Egypt, that they may give him horses and much people; shall he prosper? shall he that acts as an adversary be preserved? and shall he that transgresses the covenant be preserved?

GreekΚαὶ ἀποστήσεται ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, τοῦ ἐξαποστέλλειν ἀγγέλους ἑαυτοῦ εἰς Αἴγυπτον, τοῦ δοῦναι αὐτῷ ἵππους καὶ λαὸν πολύν· εἰ κατευθυνεῖ, εἰ διασωθήσεται ὁ ποιῶν ἐναντία; καὶ παραβαίνων διαθήκην εἰ διασωθήσεται;

KJVBut he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

JPSBut he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

ThomsonAs I live saith the Lord, in the place where the king liveth, who made him king; even with him in Babylon shall he die who hath dishonoured My oath and broken My covenant: and neither with a great army nor with much people,

BrentonAs I live, saith the Lord, verily in the same place where the king is that made him king, who dishonoured my oath, and who broke my covenant, shall he die with him in the midst of Babylon.

GreekΖῶ ἐγὼ, λέγει Κύριος, ἐὰν μὴ ἐν τόπῳ ὁ βασιλεὺς ὁ βασιλεύσας αὐτὸν, ὃς ἠτίμωσε τὴν ἀράν μου, καὶ ὃς παρέβη τὴν διαθήκην μου, μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν μέσῳ Βαβυλῶνος τελευτήσει,

KJVAs I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

JPSAs I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

Thomson—

BrentonAnd Pharao shall make war upon him not with a large force or great multitude, in throwing up a mound, and in building of forts, to cut off souls.

Greekκαὶ οὐκ ἐν δυνάμει μεγάλῃ οὐδὲ ἐν ὄχλῳ πολλῷ ποιήσει πρὸς αὐτὸν Φαραὼ πόλεμον, ἐν χαρακοβολίᾳ καὶ ἐν οἰκοδομῇ βελοστάσεων, τοῦ ἐξᾶραι ψυχάς.

KJVNeither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

JPSNeither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company succour him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many souls;

ThomsonAs he [the king of Jerusalem] hath dishonoured an oath, by breaking a covenant, (when lo! he had given his hand) and hath done all these things to him [the king of Babylon], he shall not escape.

BrentonWhereas he has profaned the oath so as to break the covenant, when, behold, I engaged his hand, and he has done all these things to him, he shall not escape.

GreekΚαὶ ἠτίμωσεν ὁρκωμοσίαν τοῦ παραβῆναι διαθήκην· καὶ ἰδοὺ δέδωκα τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντα ταῦτα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ, μὴ σωθήσεται.

KJVSeeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

JPSseeing he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

ThomsonTherefore say: As I live, saith the Lord, The oath which he hath dishonoured, and the covenant which he hath broken, even this I will requite upon his head.

BrentonTherefore say, Thus saith the Lord; As I live, surely mine oath which he has profaned, and my covenant which he has transgressed, I will even recompense it upon his head.

GreekΔιατοῦτο εἰπὸν, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ζῶ ἐγὼ, ἐὰν μὴ τὴν ὁρκωμοσίαν μου ἣν ἠτίμωσε, καὶ τὴν διαθήκην μου ἣν παρέβη, καὶ δώσω αὐτὴν εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.

KJVTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

JPSTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: As I live, surely Mine oath that he hath despised, and My covenant that he hath broken, I will even bring it upon his own head.

ThomsonAnd I will spread My net for him and he shall be taken in My enclosure.

BrentonAnd I will spread a net upon him, and he shall be caught in its snare.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκπετάσω ἐπʼ αὐτὸν τὸ δίκτυον, καὶ ἁλώσεται ἐν τῇ περιοχῇ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

JPSAnd I will spread My net upon him, and he shall be taken in My snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his treachery that he hath committed against Me.

ThomsonIn every engagement his men shall fall by the sword; and them who are left I will scatter to every wind; and you shall know that I the Lord have spoken.

BrentonIn every battle of his they shall fall by the sword, and I will scatter his remnant to every wind: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it.

GreekἘν πάσῃ παρατάξει αὐτοῦ ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ πεσοῦνται· καὶ τοὺς καταλοίπους εἰς πάντα ἄνεμον διασπερῶ, καὶ ἐπιγνώσεσθε διότι ἐγὼ Κύριος λελάληκα.

KJVAnd all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.

JPSAnd all his mighty men in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind; and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.

ThomsonFor thus saith the Lord: I will Myself take one of the choicest cedars from a summit; (their hearts I will nip) and I will plant it on a lofty mountain;

BrentonFor 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:

GreekΔιότι τάδε λέγει Κύριος, καὶ λήψομαι ἐγὼ ἐκ τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν τῆς κέδρου ἐκ κορυφῆς, καρδίας αὐτῶν ἀποκνιῶ, καὶ καταφυτεύσω ἐγὼ ἐπʼ ὄρος ὑψηλὸν,

KJVThus 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:

JPSThus 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;

ThomsonI will cause it to be suspended on a lofty mountain of Israel; and I will plant it, and it shall blossom and bear fruit, and become a great cedar; and under it shall rest every bird, even all the winged tribe shall repose in its shade: its branches shall be renewed:

Brentonand I will hang it on a lofty mountain of Israel: yea, I will plant it, and it shall put forth shoots, and shall bear fruit, and it shall be a great cedar: and every bird shall rest beneath it, even every fowl shall rest under its shadow: its branches shall be restored.

Greekκαὶ κρεμάσω αὐτὸν ἐν ὄρει μετεώρῳ Ἰσραήλ· καὶ καταφυτεύσω, καὶ ἐξοίσει βλαστὸν, καὶ ποιήσει καρπὸν, καὶ ἔσται εἰς κέδρον μεγάλην· καὶ ἀναπαύσεται ὑποκάτω αὐτοῦ πᾶν ὄρνεον, καὶ πᾶν πετεινὸν ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν αὐτοῦ ἀναπαύσεται· τὰ κλήματα αὐτοῦ ἀποκατασταθήσεται.

KJVIn the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

JPSin the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a stately cedar; and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing, in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

Thomsonand all the trees of the plain shall know that I am the Lord Who bringeth down the lofty tree, and exalteth the tree which is low, and Who causeth the green tree to wither, and the withered tree to flourish. I the Lord have spoken and I will perform.

BrentonAnd all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord that bring low the high tree, and exalt the low tree, and wither the green tree, and cause the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken, and will do it.

GreekΚαὶ γνώσονται πάντα τὰ ξύλα τοῦ πεδίου, διότι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ ταπεινῶν ξύλον ὑψηλὸν, καὶ ὑψῶν ξύλον ταπεινὸν, καὶ ξηραίνων ξύλον χλωρὸν, καὶ ἀναθάλλων ξύλον ξηρόν· ἐγὼ Κύριος λελάληκα, καὶ ποιήσω.

KJVAnd all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.

JPSAnd all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I the LORD have spoken and have done it.’