Ezekiel 17:24
And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.
Study Note
Study Note
God declares that all the trees of the field will know that he has brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree — a reversal-of-fortunes formula that encapsulates a central theme in Hebrew prophecy. The immediate context is the allegory of the two eagles and the vine (Ezekiel 17), where Babylon ('the great eagle') and Egypt are contrasted with God's own planting. The phrase 'I the Lord have spoken and have done it' (17:24b) underscores divine sovereignty: history's reversals are not random but enacted by God's word. Jesus' parables of the mustard seed (Mark 4:32) and the great tree draw on this same tradition of divine reversal through the planting of the lowly.
Other Translations
And all the trees of the field shall know that I, Jehovah, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I, Jehovah, have spoken and have done it.
And known have all trees of the field That I, Jehovah, have made low the high tree, I have set on high the low tree, I have dried up the moist tree, And I have caused the dry tree to flourish, I, Jehovah, have spoken, and have done <FI> it<Fi> !'
And it will be clear to all the trees of the field that I the Lord have made low the high tree and made high the low tree, drying up the green tree and making the dry tree full of growth; I the Lord have said it and have done it.
Cross References
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle …
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break …
For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, …
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge …
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of …
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon …
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his …
And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; …