Lexical Summary talal: To cover, overshadow, protect Original Word: תָּלַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance eminent A primitive root; to pile up, i.e. Elevate -- eminent. Compare hathal. see HEBREW hathal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to mock, deceive, trifle with NASB Translation cheated (1), deal deceitfully (1), deceive him as one deceives (1), deceived (4), deceives (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תָּלוּל adjective exalted, lofty (properly Qal Participle pass); — ׳הַרגָּֿבֹהַּ ות Ezekiel 17:22 a high and lofty mountain Topical Lexicon Overview of UsageThe form תָּלַל appears once, in Ezekiel 17:22, where the prophet reports the Lord’s promise to take “a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar” and plant it on “a high and lofty mountain.” Though the word itself is rare, its lone setting carries rich theological weight, serving as the hinge on which Ezekiel’s parable of the two eagles turns from judgment to hope. Literary Setting in Ezekiel 17 Ezekiel 17 presents an allegory in three movements: 1. Verses 1-10: Nebuchadnezzar (the first great eagle) transplants the top of a cedar (the Davidic king Jehoiachin) to Babylon and leaves behind a vine (Zedekiah) that later rebels, seeking the help of the second eagle (Egypt). The appearance of תָּלַל marks the literary pivot from human failure to divine initiative. Symbolic Significance Sprig. By choosing a small shoot rather than a full-grown branch, the Lord highlights His preference for humble beginnings that magnify His power (cf. Isaiah 53:2; Zechariah 4:10). High mountain. The planting site anticipates Zion’s exaltation (Isaiah 2:2-3) and foreshadows the paradisal mountain in Ezekiel 40–48. Cedar. In Scripture the cedar often denotes majesty and durability (Psalm 92:12). Re-establishing the cedar proclaims the restoration of a seemingly ruined dynasty. Birds nesting. “Every kind of bird will dwell under it” (Ezekiel 17:23) recalls Genesis 2:19 and anticipates the inclusion of the nations (Matthew 13:32). Historical Background The prophecy was delivered during the Babylonian exile, when the Davidic throne lay vacant and Judah’s hopes were shattered (2 Kings 25:7). The single use of תָּלַל therefore speaks into a moment of maximal despair, assuring the exiles that the covenant promises to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) remained intact despite national collapse. Messianic Foreshadowing Isaiah 11:1 speaks of “a shoot from the stump of Jesse,” Jeremiah 23:5 of “a righteous Branch,” and Zechariah 6:12 of “the Branch whose name is the Branch.” Ezekiel’s תָּלַל belongs to this cluster of botanical messianic images fulfilled in Jesus Christ, “the root and the descendant of David” (Revelation 22:16). The New Testament alludes to the promised restoration in passages such as Luke 1:32-33; Acts 13:22-23; and Romans 15:12. Theological Themes Sovereign Grace. God alone supplies the new sprig; no human hand contributes to its selection or planting (cf. Ezekiel 36:22-23). Reversal. The downfall pictured in verses 1-21 is countered by divine up-building. What Babylon leveled, God will raise, underscoring His ability to reverse human verdicts (Isaiah 43:13). Kingdom Expansion. The final cedar offers shelter to “birds of every kind,” prefiguring the global reach of the gospel (Ephesians 3:6). Vindication of God’s Word. Verse 24 concludes, “All the trees of the field will know that I, the LORD, have brought down the tall tree and exalted the low tree.” The unique occurrence of תָּלַל amplifies this public vindication; the rare word shines like a verbal jewel testifying to the surety of divine promise. Ministry Applications Hope in Ruin. Pastors may point broken congregations to the God who plants new life from seemingly dead stumps. Christ-Centered Preaching. The text invites proclamation of Jesus as the Shoot who now reigns and offers refuge to all who come (John 12:32). Mission Emphasis. The nesting birds encourage the church to welcome every ethnicity into the shade of the true Cedar (Galatians 3:28). Spiritual Formation. Just as the sprig grows by divine nourishment, believers are urged to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord” (2 Peter 3:18), trusting the same power that raised the kingdom sprout. Related Passages for Study Isaiah 11:1-10; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 34:23-24; Ezekiel 37:24-25; Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12-13; Luke 1:32-33; Revelation 22:16. Summary Though תָּלַל appears only once, its single use serves as a linchpin in prophetic history, bridging the gap between royal ruin and messianic renewal. From this tiny sprig God promises a kingdom both enduring and expansive, inviting every generation to place its confidence in the faithfulness of the One who plants and causes growth. Forms and Transliterations וְתָלֽוּל׃ ותלול׃ vetaLul wə·ṯā·lūl wəṯālūlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 17:22 HEB: הַר־ גָּבֹ֖הַ וְתָלֽוּל׃ KJV: mountain and eminent: INT: mountain A high and eminent 1 Occurrence |
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