Discovery BoxEzekiel 17:9 
Context17:9 “‘Say to them: This is what the sovereign Lord says:
“‘Will it prosper?
Will he not rip out its roots
and cause its fruit to rot 1 and wither?
All its foliage 2 will wither.
No strong arm or large army
will be needed to pull it out by its roots. 3
Ezekiel 20:31
Context20:31 When you present your sacrifices 4 – when you make your sons pass through the fire – you defile yourselves with all your idols to this very day. Will I allow you to seek me, 5 O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I will not allow you to seek me! 6
1 tn The Hebrew root occurs only here in the OT and appears to have the meaning of “strip off.” In application to fruit the meaning may be “cause to rot.”
2 tn Heb “all the טַרְפֵּי (tarpey) of branches.” The word טַרְפֵּי occurs only here in the Bible; its precise meaning is uncertain.
3 tn Or “there will be no strong arm or large army when it is pulled up by the roots.”
4 tn Or “gifts.”
5 tn Or “Will I reveal myself to you?”
6 tn Or “I will not reveal myself to you.”
