Ezekiel 17:14
◄  Ezekiel 17:14  ►
New International Version (©2011)
so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty.

New Living Translation (©2007)
so Israel would not become strong again and revolt. Only by keeping her treaty with Babylon could Israel survive.

English Standard Version (©2001)
that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and keep his covenant that it might stand.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant that it might continue.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
so the kingdom might be humble and not exalt itself but might keep his covenant in order to endure.

International Standard Version (©2012)
in order to humiliate the kingdom so it wouldn't be able to return to power, but would still be able to continue as long as he keeps his covenant.

NET Bible (©2006)
so it would be a lowly kingdom which could not rise on its own but must keep its treaty with him in order to stand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
so that it would remain a humiliated country and be unable to regain its power. The country could only survive by keeping the treaty.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
That the kingdom might be humble, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

American King James Version
That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

American Standard Version
that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That it may be a low kingdom and not lift itself up, but keep his covenant, and observe it.

Darby Bible Translation
that the kingdom might be abased, that it might not lift itself up, that it might keep his covenant in order to stand.

English Revised Version
that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

Webster's Bible Translation
That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

World English Bible
that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

Young's Literal Translation
That the kingdom may be humble, That it may not lift itself up, To keep his covenant -- that it may stand.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

17:11-21 The parable is explained, and the particulars of the history of the Jewish nation at that time may be traced. Zedekiah had been ungrateful to his benefactor, which is a sin against God. In every solemn oath, God is appealed to as a witness of the sincerity of him that swears. Truth is a debt owing to all men. If the professors of the true religion deal treacherously with those of a false religion, their profession makes their sin the worse; and God will the more surely and severely punish it. The Lord will not hold those guiltless who take his name in vain; and no man shall escape the righteous judgment of God who dies under unrepented guilt.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

That the kingdom might be base,.... Low or humble; its king but a viceroy, a tributary to the king of Babylon; and the subjects obliged to a tax, payable to him; and this is intended by the vine being of "low stature", Ezekiel 17:6;

that it might not lift up itself; above other neighbouring kingdoms and states; and particularly that it might not rebel against Nebuchadnezzar, but be kept in a dependence on him, and subjection to him:

but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand; continue a kingdom, and Zedekiah king of it; so that it was for their good that such a covenant was made, and it was their interest to keep it; for, had it not been made, it would have ceased to have been a kingdom, and would have become a province of the Babylonian monarchy, and have been put under the government of one of Nebuchadnezzar's princes or captains; and, should they break it, would endanger the ruin of their state, as the event showed. In the Hebrew text it is, "to keep his covenant, to make it stand"; or, "to stand to it" (y); that is, as it should seem, to make the covenant stand firm. The Targum is,

"that it might keep his covenant, and serve him;''

Nebuchadnezzar.

(y) "ad custodiendum pactum ejus, ad astandum ei", Montanus; "ad servandum foedus suum, ad consistendumm", Starckius.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. That the kingdom might be base—that is, low as to national elevation by being Nebuchadnezzar's dependent; but, at the same time, safe and prosperous, if faithful to the "oath." Nebuchadnezzar dealt sincerely and openly in proposing conditions, and these moderate ones; therefore Zedekiah's treachery was the baser and was a counterpart to their treachery towards God.

Ezekiel 17:14 Parallel Commentaries

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The Parable Explained
…13And has taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and has taken an oath of him: he has also taken the mighty of the land: 14That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand. 15But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that does such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? …

Ezekiel 29:14 I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom.
Ezekiel 29:15 It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations.