The Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine
(Matthew 13:24–30)

1  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), ח֥וּד (pose) חִידָ֖ה (a riddle), וּמְשֹׁ֣ל (and present) מָשָׁ֑ל (a parable) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֖ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel); 3  וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ (and say), כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר׀ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH);

הַנֶּ֤שֶׁר (An eagle) הַגָּדוֹל֙ (great) גְּד֤וֹל (great) הַכְּנָפַ֙יִם֙ (of wings), אֶ֣רֶךְ (and long) הָאֵ֔בֶר (of pinions)

מָלֵא֙ (full of) הַנּוֹצָ֔ה (feathers), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) ל֖וֹ (are unto it) הָֽרִקְמָ֑ה (of many colors),

בָּ֚א (came) אֶל־ (to) הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן (Lebanon),

וַיִּקַּ֖ח (and took) אֶת־ (-) צַמֶּ֥רֶת (from the treetop) הָאָֽרֶז׃ (of the cedar).

4  אֵ֛ת (-) רֹ֥אשׁ (the topmost) יְנִֽיקוֹתָ֖יו (of its shoots), קָטָ֑ף (he plucked off)

וַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙ (and he brought it in) אֶל־ (to) אֶ֣רֶץ (a land) כְּנַ֔עַן (of trade);

בְּעִ֥יר (in a city) רֹכְלִ֖ים (of merchants) שָׂמֽוֹ׃ (he set it).

5  וַיִּקַּח֙ (And he took) מִזֶּ֣רַע (from the seed) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land),

וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּ (and he put it) בִּשְׂדֵה־ (it in a field); זָ֑רַע (of seed)

קָ֚ח (he took it) עַל־ (next to) מַ֣יִם (waters), רַבִּ֔ים (abundant)

צַפְצָפָ֖ה (as a willow tree) שָׂמֽוֹ׃ (he set it).

6  וַיִּצְמַ֡ח (And it grew), וַיְהִי֩ (and became) לְגֶ֨פֶן (vine) סֹרַ֜חַת (a spreading)

שִׁפְלַ֣ת (low) קוֹמָ֗ה (of height), לִפְנ֤וֹת (turning) דָּלִיּוֹתָיו֙ (its branches) אֵלָ֔יו (toward him)

וְשָׁרָשָׁ֖יו (and its roots) תַּחְתָּ֣יו (under it) יִֽהְי֑וּ (were)

וַתְּהִ֣י (and it became) לְגֶ֔פֶן (as a vine), וַתַּ֣עַשׂ (and made) בַּדִּ֔ים (branches),

וַתְּשַׁלַּ֖ח (and sent out) פֹּארֽוֹת׃ (shoots).

7  וַיְהִ֤י (And there was) נֶֽשֶׁר־ (an eagle) אֶחָד֙ (one) גָּד֔וֹל (great)

גְּד֥וֹל (great) כְּנָפַ֖יִם (of wings) וְרַב־ (and abundant) נוֹצָ֑ה (of feathers);

וְהִנֵּה֩ (and behold), הַגֶּ֨פֶן (the vine) הַזֹּ֜את (this) כָּֽפְנָ֧ה (bent) שָׁרֳשֶׁ֣יהָ (its roots) עָלָ֗יו (toward him)

וְדָֽלִיּוֹתָיו֙ (and its branches) שִׁלְחָה־ (it stretched out) לּ֔וֹ (toward him)

לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת (to water) אוֹתָ֔הּ (it) מֵעֲרֻג֖וֹת (from the beds) מַטָּעָֽהּ׃ (of its planting).

8  אֶל־ (In) שָׂ֥דֶה (a field) טּ֛וֹב (good) אֶל־ (next to) מַ֥יִם (waters), רַבִּ֖ים (many)

הִ֣יא (it) שְׁתוּלָ֑ה (was planted)

לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת (to make) עָנָף֙ (branches), וְלָשֵׂ֣את (and to bear) פֶּ֔רִי (fruit),

לִהְי֖וֹת (to become) לְגֶ֥פֶן (as a vine) אַדָּֽרֶת׃ס (of magnificence).

9  אֱמֹ֗ר (Say) כֹּ֥ה (thus) אָמַ֛ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֥י (the Lord) יְהֹוִ֖ה (YHWH);

תִּצְלָ֑ח (Will it prosper)?

הֲלוֹא֩ (Will not) אֶת־ (-) שָׁרָשֶׁ֨יהָ (its roots) יְנַתֵּ֜ק (he pull up) וְאֶת־ (and) פִּרְיָ֣הּ׀ (its fruit) יְקוֹסֵ֣ס (strip off)

וְיָבֵ֗שׁ (so it withers)?

כָּל־ (All) טַרְפֵּ֤י (of fresh sproutings) צִמְחָהּ֙ (of its branch), תִּיבָ֔שׁ (wither)

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) בִזְרֹ֤עַ (an arm) גְּדוֹלָה֙ (great) וּבְעַם־ (or people) רָ֔ב (many)

לְמַשְׂא֥וֹת (to lift) אוֹתָ֖הּ (it up) מִשָּׁרָשֶֽׁיהָ׃ (by its roots).

10  וְהִנֵּ֥ה (And behold), שְׁתוּלָ֖ה (being planted),

הֲתִצְלָ֑ח (will it prosper)?

הֲלוֹא֩ (Not) כְגַ֨עַת (at the touching) בָּ֜הּ (of it) ר֤וּחַ (by the wind from) הַקָּדִים֙ (the east) תִּיבַ֣שׁ (withering) יָבֹ֔שׁ (will it wither),

עַל־ (on) עֲרֻגֹ֥ת (the beds) צִמְחָ֖הּ (of its planting) תִּיבָֽשׁ׃פ (will it wither).

The Parable Explained

11  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 12  אֱמָר־ (Say) נָא֙ (now) לְבֵ֣ית (to the house), הַמֶּ֔רִי (of rebellion) הֲלֹ֥א (Do not) יְדַעְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ know) מָה־ (what) אֵ֑לֶּה (these are)

אֱמֹ֗ר (Say) הִנֵּה־ (Behold), בָ֨א (came) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֤ל (of Babylon) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (to Jerusalem), וַיִּקַּ֤ח (and he took) אֶת־ (-) מַלְכָּהּ֙ (her king) וְאֶת־ (and) שָׂרֶ֔יהָ (her princes) וַיָּבֵ֥א (and he brought) אוֹתָ֛ם (them) אֵלָ֖יו (with him) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ (to Babylon); 13  וַיִּקַּח֙ (and he took) מִזֶּ֣רַע (from the seed), הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה (of the king) וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת (and he cut) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) בְּרִ֑ית (a covenant) וַיָּבֵ֤א (and he brought in) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) בְּאָלָ֔ה (under oath) וְאֶת־ (and for) אֵילֵ֥י (the mighty ones) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the land), לָקָֽח׃ (he had taken away). 14  לִֽהְיוֹת֙ (To be) מַמְלָכָ֣ה (the kingdom) שְׁפָלָ֔ה (brought low), לְבִלְתִּ֖י (and not) הִתְנַשֵּׂ֑א (lift itself up), לִשְׁמֹ֥ר (by keeping) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִית֖וֹ (his covenant) לְעָמְדָֽהּ׃ (that it may stand).

15  וַיִּמְרָד־ (And he rebelled) בּ֗וֹ (against him) לִשְׁלֹ֤חַ (by sending) מַלְאָכָיו֙ (his messengers) מִצְרַ֔יִם (to Egypt), לָֽתֶת־ (to give) ל֥וֹ (to him) סוּסִ֖ים (horses) וְעַם־ (and people). רָ֑ב (Many) הֲיִצְלָ֤ח (Will he prosper)? הֲיִמָּלֵט֙ (Will he escape) הָעֹשֵׂ֣ה (the one doing) אֵ֔לֶּה (these things) וְהֵפֵ֥ר (and can he break) בְּרִ֖ית (a covenant), וְנִמְלָֽט׃ (and escape)?

16  חַי־ (As live), אָ֗נִי (I) נְאֻם֮ (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֣י (of the Lord) יְהוִה֒ (YHWH) אִם־ (If) לֹ֗א (not) בִּמְקוֹם֙ (in the place) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) הַמַּמְלִ֣יךְ (causing to reign) אֹת֔וֹ (him) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (of whom) בָּזָה֙ (he despised), אֶת־ (-) אָ֣לָת֔וֹ (his oath) וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and of whom) הֵפֵ֖ר (he broke), אֶת־ (-) בְּרִית֑וֹ (his covenant) אִתּ֥וֹ (with him) בְתוֹךְ־ (in the midst) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) יָמֽוּת׃ (he will die). 17  וְלֹא֩ (And not) בְחַ֨יִל (with his army) גָּד֜וֹל (mighty) וּבְקָהָ֣ל (and his assembly) רָ֗ב (great) יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה (will maintain) אוֹת֤וֹ (him) פַרְעֹה֙ (Pharaoh) בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (in the war), בִּשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ (in the piling up of) סֹלְלָ֖ה (a siege mound), וּבִבְנ֣וֹת (and with the building of) דָּיֵ֑ק (a wall), לְהַכְרִ֖ית (to cut off) נְפָשׁ֥וֹת (souls) רַבּֽוֹת׃ (many). 18  וּבָזָ֥ה (And he despised) אָלָ֖ה (the oath) לְהָפֵ֣ר (by breaking) בְּרִ֑ית (the covenant), וְהִנֵּ֨ה (and behold), נָתַ֥ן (he gave) יָד֛וֹ (his hand), וְכָל־ (and all) אֵ֥לֶּה (these things) עָשָׂ֖ה (he did) לֹ֥א (not) יִמָּלֵֽט׃ס (will he escape).

19  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore) כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֨ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִה֮ (YHWH); חַי־ (As live), אָנִי֒ (I) אִם־ (surely) לֹ֗א (not) אָֽלָתִי֙ (My oath) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) בָּזָ֔ה (he despised), וּבְרִיתִ֖י (and My covenant) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הֵפִ֑יר (he broke) וּנְתַתִּ֖יו (will I recompense) בְּרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ (upon his head). 20  וּפָרַשְׂתִּ֤י (And I will spread) עָלָיו֙ (over him) רִשְׁתִּ֔י (My net) וְנִתְפַּ֖שׂ (and he will be captured) בִּמְצֽוּדָתִ֑י (in My snare), וַהֲבִיאוֹתִ֣יהוּ (and I will bring him) בָבֶ֗לָה (to Babylon), וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֤י (and I will execute judgment) אִתּוֹ֙ (upon him) שָׁ֔ם (there) מַעֲל֖וֹ (for the unfaithfulness) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (with which) מָֽעַל־ (he was unfaithful) בִּֽי׃ (against Me). 21  וְאֵ֨ת (And) כָּל־ (all) מִבְרָחוֹ (his fugitives) בְּכָל־ (with all) אֲגַפָּיו֙ (his troops) בַּחֶ֣רֶב (by the sword), יִפֹּ֔לוּ (will fall) וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים (and those remaining) לְכָל־ (to every) ר֣וּחַ (wind); יִפָּרֵ֑שׂוּ (will be scattered) וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם (and you⁺ will know) כִּ֛י (that) אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃ס (have spoken).

22  כֹּ֤ה (Thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH);

וְלָקַ֣חְתִּי (And will take) אָ֗נִי (I) מִצַּמֶּ֧רֶת (a branch from the treetop) הָאֶ֛רֶז (of the cedar), הָרָמָ֖ה (at the highest)

וְנָתָ֑תִּי (and I will set it out)

מֵרֹ֤אשׁ (from the topmost) יֹֽנְקוֹתָיו֙ (of its shoots) רַ֣ךְ (a tender one), אֶקְטֹ֔ף (I will pluck off)

וְשָׁתַ֣לְתִּי (and will plant it) אָ֔נִי (I) עַ֥ל (on) הַר־ (a mountain) גָּבֹ֖הַ (high) וְתָלֽוּל׃ (and exalted);

23  בְּהַ֨ר (on a mountain) מְר֤וֹם (in the height) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֶשְׁתֳּלֶ֔נּוּ (I will plant it)

וְנָשָׂ֤א (and it will bear) עָנָף֙ (boughs),

וְעָ֣שָׂה (and it will yield) פֶ֔רִי (fruit),

וְהָיָ֖ה (and it will be) לְאֶ֣רֶז (as a cedar). אַדִּ֑יר (Majestic)

וְשָׁכְנ֣וּ (and will dwell) תַחְתָּ֗יו (under it) כֹּ֚ל (every) צִפּ֣וֹר (bird) כָּל־ (of every) כָּנָ֔ף (wing);

בְּצֵ֥ל (in the shade) דָּלִיּוֹתָ֖יו (of its branches) תִּשְׁכֹּֽנָּה׃ (they will dwell).

24  וְֽיָדְע֞וּ (And will know) כָּל־ (all) עֲצֵ֣י (the trees) הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה (of the field)

כִּ֣י (that) אֲנִ֤י (I) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH)

הִשְׁפַּ֣לְתִּי׀ (have brought low) עֵ֣ץ (the tree), גָּבֹ֗הַ (high)

הִגְבַּ֙הְתִּי֙ (and have raised high) עֵ֣ץ (the tree), שָׁפָ֔ל (low)

הוֹבַ֙שְׁתִּי֙ (I dried up) עֵ֣ץ (the tree), לָ֔ח (green)

וְהִפְרַ֖חְתִּי (and I made bud). עֵ֣ץ (The tree) יָבֵ֑שׁ (dry)

אֲנִ֥י (I) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי (have spoken)

וְעָשִֽׂיתִי׃פ (and I have done it).