Ezekiel 17:20
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
עָלָיו֙
H5921
עָלָיו֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 14
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְנִתְפַּ֖שׂ
upon him and he shall be taken
H8610
וְנִתְפַּ֖שׂ
upon him and he shall be taken
Strong's:
H8610
Word #:
4 of 14
to manipulate, i.e., seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably
וַהֲבִיאוֹתִ֣יהוּ
and I will bring
H935
וַהֲבִיאוֹתִ֣יהוּ
and I will bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
6 of 14
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בָבֶ֗לָה
him to Babylon
H894
בָבֶ֗לָה
him to Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
7 of 14
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֤י
and will plead
H8199
וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֤י
and will plead
Strong's:
H8199
Word #:
8 of 14
to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal
אִתּוֹ֙
H854
אִתּוֹ֙
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
9 of 14
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
שָׁ֔ם
H8033
מַעֲל֖וֹ
with him there for his trespass
H4603
מַעֲל֖וֹ
with him there for his trespass
Strong's:
H4603
Word #:
11 of 14
properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e., treacherously
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Ezekiel 12:13My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.Jeremiah 2:35Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.Ezekiel 32:3Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net.Ezekiel 38:22And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
Historical Context
Fulfilled in 2 Kings 25:5-7, Jeremiah 52:8-11. Zedekiah captured in Jericho plains attempting to flee. Brought before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (Syria), where his sons were executed before him, then blinded and taken to Babylon in chains. The Riblah confrontation fulfilled God's promise to 'plead with him' through Babylon's king.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding that sins are ultimately 'against God' (Psalm 51:4) change repentance?
- What does God's active pursuit teach about both His justice and determination?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
'I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare.' God as divine hunter, actively pursuing Zedekiah. 'Net' and 'snare' metaphors describe inescapable judgment (Ezekiel 12:13). No human strategy evades God's purposes. 'I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there'—both physical deportation and divine confrontation. 'Plead' (Hebrew shaphat): 'to judge'—prosecute, present evidence, pronounce sentence.