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 17:15KJVWhat 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.