The Meaning of Ezekiel 17:16 Explained

Ezekiel 17:16

KJV: 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.

YLT: I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Doth he not -- in the place of the king who is causing him to reign, Whose oath he hath despised, And whose covenant he hath broken, With him -- in the midst of Babylon -- die?

Darby: As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, verily in the place of the king that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him, in the midst of Babylon, shall he die.

ASV: As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[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. 

What does Ezekiel 17:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 17

1  Under the parable of two eagles and a vine
11  is shown God's judgment upon Jerusalem for revolting from Babylon to Egypt
22  God promises to plant the cedar of the Gospel

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 17:16 mean?

live [As] I says the Lord GOD surely not in the place the [where] king [dwells] who made king him whose he despised - oath and whose he broke covenant with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die
חַי־ אָ֗נִי נְאֻם֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ אִם־ לֹ֗א בִּמְקוֹם֙ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַמַּמְלִ֣יךְ אֹת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּזָה֙ אֶת־ אָ֣לָת֔וֹ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵפֵ֖ר בְּרִית֑וֹ אִתּ֥וֹ בְתוֹךְ־ בָּבֶ֖ל יָמֽוּת

חַי־  live 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
אָ֗נִי  [As]  I 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
נְאֻם֮  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
אֲדֹנָ֣י  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יְהוִה֒  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אִם־  surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
בִּמְקוֹם֙  in  the  place 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙  the  [where]  king  [dwells] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
הַמַּמְלִ֣יךְ  who  made  king 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  whose 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בָּזָה֙  he  despised 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּזָה 
Sense: to despise, hold in contempt, disdain.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אָ֣לָת֔וֹ  oath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָלָה  
Sense: oath.
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר  and  whose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הֵפֵ֖ר  he  broke 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַר 
Sense: to break, frustrate.
בְּרִית֑וֹ  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
אִתּ֥וֹ  with  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
בְתוֹךְ־  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
בָּבֶ֖ל  of  Babylon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּבֶל  
Sense: Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates.
יָמֽוּת  he  shall  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.