Ezekiel 17:20
I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there for the treachery he has committed against me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
When God says He will "plead" with the king in Babylon, it's not just about judgment, but about making the consequences of his treachery undeniably clear. Bringing him to Babylon to face God's "plea" means his punishment will serve as a profound, public lesson about his broken covenant, revealing his sin not just against humans, but against God Himself.
Ezekiel is revealing God's judgment against Zedekiah, the king of Judah, who broke his treaty with Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and God. This betrayal is seen as a direct offense against God Himself, who is invoked in oaths and covenants. The prophecy declares that Zedekiah will be captured by Babylon, a fate the prophet had previously foretold for him.
Imagine the King of Judah, Zedekiah, feeling safe, perhaps even proud of his political maneuvering. But God’s message is a stark contrast: no escape is possible.
The imagery of God spreading a 'net' and a 'snare' isn't just about capture; it's about the inescapable nature of divine justice when covenants are broken. This wasn't an accident or a random misfortune. God himself orchestrates this downfall. The repeated use of this imagery, directly linking it to a previous prophecy (Ezekiel 12:13), emphasizes that this judgment was foretold and deliberate. Zedekiah's actions, which seemed like shrewd politics on a human level, were seen by God as a profound betrayal of oaths sworn in His name.
Zedekiah is brought to Babylon, but this isn't just about imprisonment. It's about facing God's verdict in a very public, very specific way.
Bringing Zedekiah to Babylon is more than just exile; it's bringing him to God’s designated 'courtroom.' The phrase 'enter into judgment with him there' signifies a formal reckoning. Even though Zedekiah broke faith with Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king, his sin was fundamentally against God. Oaths were sworn invoking God's name, making any betrayal a trespass against divine faithfulness and truth. Babylon becomes the place where this divine judgment is carried out, and where the king is forced to confront the true nature and consequence of his treachery against the Lord.
It's easy to think of breaking a promise to a person as the primary offense. But Ezekiel reveals a deeper, more cosmic betrayal.
The verse powerfully states the reason for the judgment: 'for the treachery he has committed against me.' This highlights a crucial theological point: when we break covenants, violate oaths, or act with deceit towards others, especially when God is invoked as a witness or party to that oath, the ultimate offense is against God Himself. Zedekiah's political alliance shifts were not just diplomatic blunders; they were solemn vows broken before the Almighty. God’s faithfulness demands faithfulness from His people, and any deviation is a direct affront to His character and His covenant promises.
Understand the original words
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The act of being brought into a formal court or divine presence to answer for one's actions; a legal process resulting in a verdict of guilt or innocence and the subsequent imposition of consequences.
ma'al · Hebrew Noun
Unfaithfulness, breach of trust, or violation of a duty, particularly in relation to a covenant or relationship with God; acting covertly or faithlessly.
The prophecy in Ezekiel 17:20 is deeply rooted in the political treachery of King Zedekiah, who broke his oath of loyalty to Babylon. The 'net' and 'snare' refer to the inescapable consequences of his betrayal, culminating in his capture and exile to Babylon, where God would hold him accountable.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Jerusalem and carries away treasures from the Temple, along with members of the royal family and nobility, including Daniel. This marks the beginning of Judah's vassalage to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
After a brief rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, is placed on the throne as a Babylonian puppet king.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel's Commission
Ezekiel receives his prophetic commission in Babylon, beginning his ministry to the exiles and offering judgment and hope to Judah.
c. 592-591 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Parables of the Eagles
Ezekiel delivers the parables of the two eagles and the vine, symbolizing Judah's political entanglements and treacherous leadership, particularly King Zedekiah's broken covenant.
This passage uses the same imagery of a 'net' and 'snare' to describe God's judgment, directly linking this specific instance to a broader pattern of divine capture for treachery.
Jeremiah 2:35This verse highlights how even 'treachery against a neighbor' is ultimately a sin against God, reinforcing the idea that Zedekiah's broken covenant with Babylon is judged by the Lord Himself.
Psalm 7:15This Psalm describes wicked individuals digging a pit and falling into it themselves, mirroring how Zedekiah's schemes and treachery ultimately ensnared him, just as God warned.
Ezekiel 20:36This verse speaks of God bringing His people into the wilderness 'there I will plead with you face to face,' paralleling the judgment and confrontation Zedekiah will face in Babylon for his unfaithfulness.
cambridgeEzekiel 17:20: "And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me."
20 . spread my net ] Cf. ch. Ezekiel 12:13 ; Hosea 7:12 . plead with him ] i.e. there subject him to the consequences of his treachery, bringing it thereby to his knowledge that he is suffering the penalty of it, cf. Ezekiel 20:35-36 , Ezekiel 38:22 ; Jeremiah 2:35 .
pulpitEzekiel 17:20: "And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me."
Verse 20. - The words receive a special significance as being identical with those which Ezekiel had uttered in Ezekiel 12:13, with the addition that the sin against Nebuchadnezzar as the vicegerent of Jehovah, was a sin against Jehovah himself as the God of faithfulness and truth. There, in Bab…
When God says He will "plead" with the king in Babylon, it's not just about judgment, but about making the consequences of his treachery undeniably clear. Bringing him to Babylon to face God's "plea" means his punishment will serve as a profound, public lesson about his broken covenant, revealing his sin not just against humans, but against God Himself.
Ezekiel is revealing God's judgment against Zedekiah, the king of Judah, who broke his treaty with Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and God. This betrayal is seen as a direct offense against God Himself, who is invoked in oaths and covenants. The prophecy declares that Zedekiah will be captured by Babylon, a fate the prophet had previously foretold for him.
Ezekiel is revealing God's judgment against Zedekiah, the king of Judah, who broke his treaty with Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and God. This betrayal is seen as a direct offense against God Himself, who is invoked in oaths and covenants. The prophecy declares that Zedekiah will be captured by Babylon, a fate the prophet had previously foretold for him.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 17:20 is available in the Sola app.
588-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem due to Zedekiah's rebellion. The city eventually falls after a prolonged siege, resulting in widespread destruction and a final, massive deportation.
"I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there for the treachery he has committed against me." — When God says He will "plead" with the king in Babylon, it's not just about judgment, but about making the consequences of his treachery undeniably clear. Bringing him to Babylon to face God's "plea"…
