Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.

EZEKIEL 17:9KJV
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Ezekiel 17:9 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 17:9 mean?

Ezekiel 17:9 warns that what looks strong and prosperous will not last, because God Himself will uproot and destroy it, causing it to wither away without needing a large force or effort. The verse uses the image of a plant losing its roots and fruit to show that judgment will come swiftly and surely.

In this verse, God tells Ezekiel to speak to the people about a coming downfall. The setting is a parable about a vine, representing the nation of Judah, which has turned away from God. God is saying that even though the nation may seem secure, He will remove its support and blessings, leading to its ruin, and this will happen easily—without a powerful army or many people.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 17:9

  • "Prosper" (יַצְלִיחַ, yatsliakh) means to succeed or thrive. The question "Shall it prosper?" points out the uncertainty and fragility of the nation's future.
  • "Roots" (שֹׁרָשָׁיו, shorashav) and "fruit" (פִּרְיוֹ, piryo) both highlight the source of life and the results of growth. God threatens to "pull up the roots" and "cut off the fruit," showing total destruction from the foundation to the outcome.
  • "Wither" (יִיבָשׁ, yivash) is repeated, emphasizing the complete drying up and loss of vitality. The image is of something once alive now becoming lifeless.
  • "Leaves" (יְבֻלָּה, yevullah) and "spring" (צִמְחַת, tzimchat) refer to the fresh, outward signs of life. Even these will wither, showing that no part of the nation will escape.

Why Ezekiel 17:9 matters

  • Ezekiel 17:9 makes clear that God, not human power or armies, is the one who brings judgment and can remove prosperity.
  • The verse warns against false security; even what seems healthy and strong can quickly fail if it is not rooted in faithfulness to God.
  • This verse ties into the larger parable in Ezekiel 17, where God uses the image of a vine to explain Judah’s fate and to show that turning away from God leads to inevitable consequences.

Where else these words appear

“spring” Hebrew H6780 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
  • Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
  • Ezekiel 17:10 Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.

“leaves” Hebrew H2964 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
  • Psalms 104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
  • Ezekiel 19:6 And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.

“up” Hebrew H5423 · used in 26 verses

  • Leviticus 22:24 Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.
  • Job 17:11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
  • Jeremiah 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

“roots” Hebrew H8328 · used in 32 verses

  • Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
  • Job 30:4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
  • Isaiah 37:31 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: