Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

EZEKIEL 17:18KJV
Know the Bible

Ezekiel 17:18 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 17:18 mean?

Ezekiel 17:18 says that someone who broke a solemn promise, even after giving their word and sealing it with a gesture of trust, will not get away with it. The verse stresses that breaking a sworn agreement is a serious offense, and there will be consequences for such betrayal.

In this part of Ezekiel, the prophet is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, specifically about their king’s actions toward Babylon. The king had made a binding agreement (a covenant) with Babylon, symbolized by giving his hand in pledge, but then broke it. The verse highlights the gravity of disregarding both the oath and the trust involved, showing that such actions are not overlooked by God.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 17:18

  • "Despised" (בָּזָה, bazah): This word means to treat something as worthless or with contempt. Here, it shows deep disrespect for the oath, not just a casual mistake.
  • "Oath" (אָלָה, 'alah): This refers to a solemn promise or vow, often made before God. The seriousness of breaking an "אָלה" is greater than breaking an ordinary agreement.
  • "Covenant" (בְּרִית, berit): This is a formal, binding agreement. In the ancient world, breaking a "berit" was not just a legal issue but a moral and spiritual one.
  • "Given" (נָתַן, natan) and "hand" (יָד, yad): To "give the hand" was a gesture of making a pledge or sealing a promise. This detail shows the promise was made openly and with full intention.

Why Ezekiel 17:18 matters

  • Ezekiel 17:18 clarifies that God holds people accountable for promises made, especially those made with public gestures and solemn words.
  • The verse shows that breaking trust is not just a political misstep but a moral failure with spiritual consequences.
  • Understanding this verse helps make sense of the larger message in Ezekiel 17, where God uses the king’s broken promise as an example of why judgment is coming on Judah.

Where else these words appear

“oath” Hebrew H423 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 24:41 Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
  • Deuteronomy 29:21 And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:
  • Isaiah 24:6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

“despised” Hebrew H959 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
  • Esther 3:6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
  • Isaiah 37:22 This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.

“breaking” 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.

“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.