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Ezekiel 17:23

in Ezekiel 17

I 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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

in 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 birds of every wing; in the shade of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

KJV

In 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.

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This verse in Ezekiel 17

Commentary

14 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Ezekiel · Written before 420.

Some interpret it differently, as the exalted humbled and the humble exalted, referring to the passion of the Lord Savior. Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God: but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:6-7); and after the resurrection, the same tree was exalted, which was first green, dried up by death, and then revived, regaining its original greenness.

This site's exposition

Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar

on Ezekiel 17:22-24

The Lord takes a tender twig from the highest branch and plants it on the mountain height of Israel. The image answers the vine planted low at verse 5. Henry and Fairbairn read the tender twig as the Messianic branch promised in the prophets, compare Isaiah 11:1 and Jeremiah 23:5.

This site's exposition

the mountain heights of Israel

Barnes ties this mountain to 20:40, where all Israel serves the LORD, and reads it as the seat of the throne of the Anointed. Henry compares the sprig to the mustard seed. Jesus used the same birds nesting in its branches at Matthew 13:32.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Ezekiel · Written before 420.

proposed

(Ver. 22 seq.) Thus says the Lord (God says in the Vulgate): And I will take from the top of the cedar's highest branch, and I will set it; I will break off a tender one from the crown of its branches, and I will plant it on a high and elevated mountain: upon the lofty mountain of Israel I will plant it.

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

HOMILIES ON EZEKIEL 12:5 · Written before 253.

proposed

Consider the sublime grandeur of the church of Christ, to understand that according to the promise of God the word has been realized.… It will become a noble cedar; and under it will dwell all kinds of beasts; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

HOMILIES ON EZEKIEL 12:5 · Written before 253.

proposed

Take the wings of the word of God, and you will be able to repose under this tree that has been planted over a high mountain.

A commentator

Theodoret of Cyrus

COMMENTARY ON EZEKIEL 6 · Written before 458.

proposed

He says, know that it is easy for me both to humble what is lofty and to raise up what is lowly; to make dry what is wet and to manifest what is dry to be in flower.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

God himself undertakes the reviving and restoring of the house of David. Nebuchadnezzar was the great eagle that had attempted the re-establishing of the house of David in a dependence upon him,
6 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

The Christian church was at first like a grain of mustard-seed, but became, like this tender branch, a great tree, its beginning small, but its latter end increasing to admiration.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

13 And 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: 14 That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

In the mountain of the height of Israel - The parallel passage Eze 20:40 points to the mountain on which the temple stood. But it is not here the actual Mount Moriah so much as the kingdom of which that mountain was the representative, the seat of the throne of the anointed Son of God (Psa 2:6; compare Psa 40:2). All fowl of every wing - (or, of every kind) are those who flock from all lands to this kingdom. Compare Mat 13:

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

under it . . . all fowl--the Gospel "mustard tree," small at first, but at length receiving all under its covert (Mt 13:32); the antithesis to Antichrist, symbolized by Assyria, of which the same is said (Eze 31:6), and Babylon (Da 4:12). Antichrist assumes in mimicry the universal power really belonging to Christ.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

In the mountain of the height of Israel - He shall make his appearance at the temple, and found his Church at Jerusalem. Shalt bring forth boughs - Apostles, evangelists, and their successors in the Gospel ministry. And bear fruit - Multitudes of souls shall be converted by their preaching. And under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing - All the nations of the earth shall receive his Gospel. In the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell - Trust in him alone for salvation, and be saved in their trusting.

The words behind it

20 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • בְּהַ֨רon [the] mountain of

    beharH2022 →546 times

  • מְר֤וֹם[the] height of

    meromH4791 →54 times

  • יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israel

    yisraelH3478 →2507 times

  • אֶשְׁתֳּלֶ֔נּוּI will plant it

    ʾeshtolenuH8362 →10 times

  • וְנָשָׂ֤אand it will bear

    venasa'H5375 →656 times

  • עָנָף֙branch[es]

    ʾanafH6057 →7 times

  • וְעָ֣שָׂהand it will produce

    veasahH6213 →2628 times

  • פֶ֔רִיfruit

    feriH6529 →119 times

  • וְהָיָ֖הand it will become

    vehayahH1961 →3559 times

  • לְאֶ֣רֶז<into> a cedar

    leerezH730 →73 times

  • אַדִּ֑ירmajestic

    ʾadirH117 →

  • וְשָׁכְנ֣וּand they will dwell

    veshakhenuH7931 →129 times

  • תַחְתָּ֗יוunder it

    tachtavH8478 →505 times

  • כֹּ֚לevery

    kolH3605 →5413 times

  • צִפּ֣וֹרbird

    tziporH6833 →40 times

  • כָּל־every

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • כָּנָ֔ףwing

    kanafH3671 →109 times

  • בְּצֵ֥לin [the] shadow of

    betzelH6738 →49 times

  • דָּלִיּוֹתָ֖יוbranches its

    daliyotavH1808 →8 times

  • תִּשְׁכֹּֽנָּה׃they will dwell

    tishkonahH7931 →129 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Matthew 13:32Although 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.”7 worksEzekiel 31:6All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.6 worksPsalms 104:16The trees of the LORD have their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted,6 worksIsaiah 2:2In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.5 worksJohn 15:5–8I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.4 worksHosea 14:7They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Jeremiah 31:12They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish.4 worksIsaiah 27:6In the days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole world with fruit.3 worksJohn 12:24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.3 worksPsalms 22:27–30All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.3 worksPsalms 92:12–13The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.3 worksDaniel 4:21–23whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—3 worksDaniel 4:10–14In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great.3 worksDaniel 4:12Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.3 worksEzekiel 20:40For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.3 worksPsalms 148:10wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds,3 worksActs 10:11–12He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.2 worksColossians 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Isaiah 2:2

    In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to…

    it leads to

    • Micah 4:1–3

      In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to…

    • Isaiah 56:7

      I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called…

    • Zechariah 8:3

      This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be…

    • Revelation 11:15

      Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign…

    • Isaiah 27:13

      And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on…

  • Through

    Matthew 13:32

    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.”

    it leads to

    • Daniel 4:12

      Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Ezekiel 31:6

      All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.

    • Ezekiel 17:23–24

      I 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…

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About Ezekiel

Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezekiel’s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Ezekiel: the study guide →Read Ezekiel 17 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON EZEKIEL 12:5; Patrick Fairbairn, An Exposition of Ezekiel and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON EZEKIEL 6.

Read on in Ezekiel 17 →