Ezekiel 17:12

Authorized King James Version

Say 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;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
אֱמֹ֗ר
Say
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
נָא֙
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#3
לְבֵ֣ית
house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#4
הַמֶּ֔רִי
now to the rebellious
bitterness, i.e., (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious
#5
הֲלֹ֥א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#6
יְדַעְתֶּ֖ם
Know
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
#7
מָה
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
#8
אֵ֑לֶּה
these or those
#9
אֱמֹ֗ר
Say
to say (used with great latitude)
#10
הִנֵּה
lo!
#11
וַיָּבֵ֥א
is come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#12
מַלְכָּהּ֙
the king
a king
#13
בָּבֶֽלָה׃
of Babylon
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
#14
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙
to Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#15
וַיִּקַּ֤ח
and hath taken
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
#16
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#17
מַלְכָּהּ֙
the king
a king
#18
וְאֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#19
שָׂרֶ֔יהָ
thereof and the princes
a head person (of any rank or class)
#20
וַיָּבֵ֥א
is come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#21
אוֹתָ֛ם
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#22
אֵלָ֖יו
near, with or among; often in general, to
#23
בָּבֶֽלָה׃
of Babylon
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ezekiel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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