say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors" isn't just a generic symbol of power; its detailed description highlights the vastness and diversity of the Babylonian Empire, suggesting a force that had already conquered many different peoples before arriving at Jerusalem. The phrase "took the top of the cedar" also points to a very specific target – not just destruction, but the removal of leadership, signifying the dethroning of King Jehoiachin and the elite.
say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God’s prophet Ezekiel is about to unveil a powerful, multi-layered parable. The imagery of a mighty eagle arriving in Lebanon and seizing the topmost branch of a cedar tree sets the stage for God's indictment and prophecy against the unfaithful leaders of Judah. This vivid picture represents the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar's invasion and conquest of Jerusalem, specifically his capture of King Jehoiachin and the royal lineage, symbolizing Judah's downfall.
Have you ever felt like a powerful, unstoppable force has come against you? This prophecy uses a dramatic image to describe God's judgment on His people.
In Ezekiel 17, God uses the powerful image of a "great eagle" to represent King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. This isn't just a random animal choice; eagles were often symbols of imperial power and swift conquest.
An Empire's Might
God, in His sovereignty, uses this mighty, multi-national empire as an instrument of His judgment against Judah.
Why would God compare His people or their king to a tree? And what does 'Lebanon' have to do with it?
The imagery of 'Lebanon' and the 'cedar' is deeply symbolic in this prophecy. It points directly to the royal house of David and the nation of Judah.
The Royal Tree
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Understand the original words
Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenantal name of God, YHWH, often appearing as 'Adonai YHWH' in Ezekiel to signify His sovereign authority as Lord and Master over all creation and specifically over His people.
nesher · Hebrew Noun
In biblical imagery, large birds of prey—often representing great imperial powers like Babylon or Egypt—symbolize strength, swiftness, and the ability to swoop down to conquer or carry away nations.
Lebanon · Hebrew Proper Noun
A mountain range noted for its majestic cedar trees; it represents the glory, stability, and height of Israel's kingship or national pride, often standing as a symbol of prominence that is subject to God's judgment.
erez · Hebrew Noun
An evergreen tree renowned for its strength, size, and longevity. Biblically, it frequently symbolizes the glory, power, and leadership of kingdoms or individuals, particularly the Davidic line.
The imagery of the great eagle and the cedar vividly portrays the political reality of the time: the mighty Babylonian Empire (the eagle) decisively intervened in the affairs of Judah (the cedar), capturing its king and symbolizing the downfall of its Davidic monarchy.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon conquers Judah and carries away a group of exiles, including members of the royal family and educated elite. This event marks the beginning of Babylonian influence over Judah.
597 BC— this verse
Second Babylonian Deportation
After a Judean revolt, Nebuchadnezzar returns and deports King Jehoiachin, his family, and thousands of Judeans to Babylon. This is the event directly symbolized in Ezekiel's prophecy.
597 BC
Zedekiah Appointed King
Nebuchadnezzar installs Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, as a puppet king over the reduced kingdom of Judah, demanding an oath of loyalty.
588-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, leading to a prolonged siege of Jerusalem. The city eventually falls, and the Temple is destroyed.
586 BC
Third Babylonian Deportation
Following Jerusalem's fall, the remaining population is largely deported to Babylon, leaving only a small remnant in Judah.
This passage also uses the imagery of an eagle, specifically to represent the king of Babylon and his swift, overwhelming conquest.
Daniel 7:4In Daniel's vision, the first beast is likened to a lion with eagle's wings, symbolizing a powerful kingdom that expands rapidly and forcefully, mirroring the attributes of the eagle in Ezekiel's prophecy.
Isaiah 46:11While this passage speaks of Cyrus, it uses the metaphor of a 'ravenous bird from the east' coming to fulfill God's purpose, highlighting how God can use even powerful, predatory figures for His ultimate plan.
2 Kings 24:8-16This historical account describes the very event Ezekiel is prophesying: Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Judah and the deportation of King Jehoiachin and many of the people to Babylon, which is symbolized by the eagle taking the highest branch of the cedar.
Jeremiah 22:23This verse likens Jerusalem to Lebanon and the people to the trees of the forest, directly linking the imagery of Lebanon and its cedars to the nation and its royal inhabitants, as used in Ezekiel's allegory.
ellicottEzekiel 17:3: "And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:"
(3) A great eagle with great wings. —In the original “ the great eagle.” This is explained in Ezekiel 17:12 of “the king of Babylon.” Nebuchadnezzar is compared to an eagle also in Jeremiah 48:40 ; Jeremiah 49:22 ; and Cyrus to a bird of prey in Isaiah 46:11 . He has great and long wings, because he…
cambridgeEzekiel 17:3: "And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:"
3 . longwinged ] With long pinions. The eagle was also of “divers colours” or speckled, with reference possibly to the very diverse nationalities included in the Babylonian empire. came unto Lebanon ] The figure of the eagle coming to Lebanon and cropping off the highest branch and top of the young…
The "great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors" isn't just a generic symbol of power; its detailed description highlights the vastness and diversity of the Babylonian Empire, suggesting a force that had already conquered many different peoples before arriving at Jerusalem. The phrase "took the top of the cedar" also points to a very specific target – not just destruction, but the removal of leadership, signifying the dethroning of King Jehoiachin and the elite.
God’s prophet Ezekiel is about to unveil a powerful, multi-layered parable. The imagery of a mighty eagle arriving in Lebanon and seizing the topmost branch of a cedar tree sets the stage for God's indictment and prophecy against the unfaithful leaders of Judah. This vivid picture represents the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar's invasion and conquest of Jerusalem, specifically his capture of King Jehoiachin and the royal lineage, symbolizing Judah's downfall.
God’s prophet Ezekiel is about to unveil a powerful, multi-layered parable. The imagery of a mighty eagle arriving in Lebanon and seizing the topmost branch of a cedar tree sets the stage for God's indictment and prophecy against the unfaithful leaders of Judah. This vivid picture represents the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar's invasion and conquest of Jerusalem, specifically his capture of King Jehoiachin and the royal lineage, symbolizing Judah's downfall.
"say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar." — The "great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors" isn't just a generic symbol of power; its detailed description highlights the vastness and diversity of the Babylon…
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Last reviewed October 2026