17:5 He took one of the seedlings 1 of the land,
placed it in a cultivated plot; 2
a shoot by abundant water,
like a willow he planted it.
17:6 It sprouted and became a vine,
spreading low to the ground; 3
its branches turning toward him, 4 its roots were under itself. 5
So it became a vine; it produced shoots and sent out branches.
1 tn Heb “took of the seed of the land.” For the vine imagery, “seedling” is a better translation, though in its subsequent interpretation the “seed” refers to Zedekiah through its common application to offspring.
2 tn Heb “a field for seed.”
3 tn Heb “short of stature.”
4 tn That is, the eagle.
5 tn Or “him,” i.e., the eagle.