Ezekiel 17:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

And it sprung up and grew into a spreading vine of low stature, and the branches thereof looked towards him: and the roots thereof were under him. So it became a vine, and grew into branches, and shot forth sprigs.
Douay-Rheims

וַיִּצְמַ֡ח וַיְהִי֩ לְגֶ֨פֶן סֹרַ֜חַת שִׁפְלַ֣ת קוֹמָ֗ה לִפְנ֤וֹת דָּלִיּוֹתָיו֙ אֵלָ֔יו וְשָׁרָשָׁ֖יו תַּחְתָּ֣יו יִֽהְי֑וּ וַתְּהִ֣י לְגֶ֔פֶן וַתַּ֣עַשׂ בַּדִּ֔ים וַתְּשַׁלַּ֖ח פֹּארֽוֹת׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

The kingdom of Judah had diminished greatly in its final years, having faced siege and captivity three times. They fell into destitution and lost many of their people. Thus, the Prophet declares that it has weakened in its growth and diminished in splendor; its vines did not reach, as foretold by David, to the sea or to the rivers; its shade failed to encompass the mountains, nor did its branches touch the cedars of God (Psalms 79:11, 12). The expansion of its branches symbolizes not strength, but rather an alliance with Egypt. Therefore, the Prophet continues:

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.