Ezekiel 17:14
That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
Original Language Analysis
לִֽהְיוֹת֙
H1961
לִֽהְיוֹת֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 9
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מַמְלָכָ֣ה
That the kingdom
H4467
מַמְלָכָ֣ה
That the kingdom
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
2 of 9
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
לְבִלְתִּ֖י
H1115
לְבִלְתִּ֖י
Strong's:
H1115
Word #:
4 of 9
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
הִתְנַשֵּׂ֑א
that it might not lift itself up
H5375
הִתְנַשֵּׂ֑א
that it might not lift itself up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
5 of 9
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
לִשְׁמֹ֥ר
but that by keeping
H8104
לִשְׁמֹ֥ר
but that by keeping
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
6 of 9
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Exile's purpose: corrective, not merely punitive. The 70-year exile (Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10) would purge idolatry and teach faithfulness. Had Judah remained subject to Babylon, the temple would have stood and exile limited to 597 BC. Post-exilic Israel never again fell into systematic idolatry—showing the exile's effectiveness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God use humbling circumstances to teach dependence on Him?
- When has submission to difficulty proven to be God's path to flourishing?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
'That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up'—God's remedial intent. 'Base' (Hebrew shaphal) means 'brought low,' not destroyed. Judah's humiliation would teach dependence on God rather than political power. 'By keeping of his covenant it might stand'—paradox: faithful submission to Babylon would demonstrate trust in God's sovereignty.