Ezekiel 17:16 Meaning and Explanation
“As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →By God's oath, Zedekiah will die in Babylon because he despised and broke the covenant made by his king-maker.
The Context of Ezekiel 17:16
God pronounces Zedekiah's judgment: death in captivity in Babylon.
What Does Ezekiel 17:16 Mean?
God's oath-formula ('As I live') signals absolute certainty. Zedekiah will not die in Jerusalem as a warrior-king defending his land; he will die in Babylon, the very seat of the power he tried to escape. His death in captivity becomes a sign of the covenant's binding power and God's sovereignty over the nations.
The irony is severe: Zedekiah despised Nebuchadnezzar's oath but could not escape it. His attempt to preserve Judah through Egyptian alliance only hastened his own death and his nation's destruction. 'In the midst of Babylon'—surrounded by the empire he defied—he will face judgment.
Ezekiel 17:16 in the Original Language
shamar (שמר), 'despised,' literally 'treated lightly'—to disregard an oath's sacred weight is to invite divine wrath.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 17:16
What does Ezekiel 17:16 mean?
By God's oath, Zedekiah will die in Babylon because he despised and broke the covenant made by his king-maker.
What is the context of Ezekiel 17:16?
God pronounces Zedekiah's judgment: death in captivity in Babylon.