But 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 doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

EZEKIEL 17:15KJV
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Ezekiel 17:15 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 17:15 mean?

Ezekiel 17:15 describes how a ruler broke his promise to a foreign king by sending messengers to Egypt, hoping to get horses and soldiers to help him rebel. The verse questions whether someone who acts this way—breaking a covenant and seeking help elsewhere—can really succeed or escape the consequences.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Judah, using a parable about their king’s betrayal of Babylon’s king by turning to Egypt for military support. The verse highlights the seriousness of breaking an agreement (a covenant) and suggests that such actions will not lead to success or deliverance, setting up the warning that follows in the chapter.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 17:15

  • "Rebelled" (מָרַד, marad): This word means to revolt or rise up against authority. Here, it shows the king’s active decision to go against the Babylonian ruler he had sworn loyalty to.
  • "Ambassadors" (מַלְאָךְ, mal’akh): This word means messengers or envoys. The king’s use of ambassadors to Egypt shows a secretive, diplomatic effort to form an alliance, rather than an open act of war.
  • "Break" (פָּרַר, parar) and "covenant" (בְּרִית, berit): "Parar" means to break or violate, and "berit" means a formal agreement or treaty. The verse emphasizes that breaking a sworn agreement, especially one made before God, is a grave matter.
  • "Prosper" (צָלַח, tsalach) and "escape" (מָלַט, malat): These words question whether someone who acts in this way can truly succeed or get away unharmed, highlighting the futility of relying on broken promises and foreign help.

Why Ezekiel 17:15 matters

  • Ezekiel 17:15 clarifies that the king’s real failure was not just political rebellion, but breaking a solemn promise, which carried religious and moral weight in ancient Israel.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme in Ezekiel 17, where God uses the image of eagles and vines to describe Judah’s unfaithfulness and the consequences that follow.
  • This verse helps readers see that trusting in human alliances, especially through dishonesty, is portrayed as both foolish and doomed in the context of God’s expectations for His people.

Where else these words appear

“rebelled” Hebrew H4775 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 14:4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
  • 2 Kings 18:20 Thou sayest,(but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
  • Nehemiah 9:26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

“break” Hebrew H6565 · used in 46 verses

  • Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
  • Ezra 4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
  • Isaiah 24:19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

“prosper” Hebrew H6743 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
  • 1 Kings 22:15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
  • Isaiah 48:15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

“escape” Hebrew H4422 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
  • Isaiah 37:38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.