Ezekiel 17

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;” Naming Israel and Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers…” Naming Lebanon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.” The line’s distinctive content terms include carried, city, cropped. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as…” The line’s distinctive content terms include field, fruitful, land. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were…” The line’s distinctive content terms include became, branches, vine. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bend, branches, eagle. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bear, branches, fruit. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“As I live, saith the Lord GOD , surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD ; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.