Ezekiel 17:5
Hee tooke also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitfull field, he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree. Ezekiel 17:5 (KJV)
The passage presented is not a direct quotation from the King James Version of Scripture. It appears to be a paraphrase that blends imagery from Psalm 1:3 and Isaiah 41:19 rather than an actual scriptural verse. In one rendering the language speaks of “the seed of the land” being planted in a fruitful field, placed by great waters, and set as a willow tree. In another rendering the wording shifts to “the branches of a cedar,” still planted in a fruitful field, still placed by great waters, but now set as a spreading vine. Both renderings retain the core motifs of planting, a fertile setting, proximity to abundant water, and the establishment of a living plant, whether a willow tree or a spreading vine.
The contrast between the willow tree image and the cedar‑branch‑vine image highlights the flexibility of the paraphrase. Each version preserves the idea of taking something valuable—seed or branches—and positioning it in a place of nourishment and growth. The reference to great waters underscores the importance of a sustaining environment. By noting that the passage is a paraphrase, the study reminds readers that the wording does not belong to the canonical text of Ezekial but rather reflects a creative synthesis of biblical imagery.
Understanding that this language is a blend rather than a literal citation invites careful attention to the sources it draws upon. The mention of Psalm 1:3 and Isaiah 41:19 signals that the imagery of a tree by waters and of fruitful planting is rooted in the broader biblical tradition, even though the exact phrasing is not found in the KJV. This awareness helps maintain fidelity to the text while appreciating the evocative power of the combined images.

