Ezekiel 17:9Say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: 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.
The setting
Babylon, ~590 BC. Jewish exiles by the Chebar River. Ezekiel uses a riddle about eagles and vines to explain King Zedekiah's rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar. Modern-day Iraq.
The original word
tsalach (צָלַח) — to prosper, succeed, break through obstacles
Why it matters
This parable predicted Zedekiah's capture - he was blinded and died in Babylonian prison exactly as prophesied
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ezekiel 17:9
The 'east wind' was the dreaded sirocco that could destroy crops in hours - everyone knew this wind meant death
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about gardening or general consequences. It's actually about King Zedekiah breaking his oath to Nebuchadnezzar, which violated a covenant made in God's name.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ezekiel 17:9
Bible Genome reading
Ezekiel 17:9 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ezekiel 17:9 comes from the book of Ezekiel, written during the Exile period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include judgment, consequences, destruction. Notable phrases: shall it prosper; pull up its roots; may wither. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Ezekiel 17:9 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "angry"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.