Definition: And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 17:6. It’s a pretty dramatic description of a terrible situation that was happening in Jerusalem back then. Here's the explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Imagine a man named Jezebel – she was incredibly greedy and cruel. She started to mistreat God’s people, especially the faithful ones who were living in Jerusalem. She used her power to cause terrible things to happen – she made people disappear, imprisoned them, and generally treated them very badly. What the Verse Says: This verse describes a vine that grew from Jezebel's actions. Here’s what it means: “And it grew…” : It started as something small and uncontrolled. Jezebel’s actions were creating this situation. “…and became a spreading vine of low stature…” : Think of a vine – it starts small but grows quickly. This vine was weak and not very strong, like a young plant struggling to survive. "...whose branches turned toward him..." : The vines were focused on Jezebel. They were constantly reaching out, directed at her. It’s like she was the center of everything bad happening. "...and the roots thereof were under him:" : This is a crucial part! The roots of this vine – the actions and choices of Jezebel – were underneath her. She was controlling everything, pulling everything down to herself. She was essentially suffocating people with her negativity. "So it became a vine, and brought forth branches..." : This shows that the vine grew stronger as it continued to reach out. It started creating new things – branches that were symbolic of the problems she caused. "...and shot forth sprigs." : The vines began to produce leaves and flowers – this represents the new problems and challenges that arose because of Jezebel’s actions. They were blossoming with negativity and disorder. Overall Meaning: The verse describes a powerful, growing force (the vine) fueled by Jezebel's wickedness. It illustrates how negative actions can create a cycle of destruction and spread throughout a community – like a vine spreading its roots deep into everything. It’s a Warning: This is a very serious message about the importance of resisting evil and seeking justice. It highlights that when we allow negativity to grow unchecked, it can have devastating consequences for everyone around us. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the verse? Provide more context about the story of Jezebel? Discuss what this verse might symbolize in a broader sense (like corruption or oppression)?