Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil: Next the eagle took a seed and planted it. This seed seems to have nothing to do with the cedar branch mentioned in the previous verses. But such a complete break is unlikely. Since the seed later grows into a vine (see Ezek 17.6), and vines are not normally grown from seeds, it is better to translate seed as “seedling” or “young plant” (Good News Translation). Thus in the story the cedar branch changes into a vine seedling; such a change in a story like this is quite acceptable. The identity of the land is unclear here, but that is deliberate. Its identity becomes known in the explanation of the story (verses 11-21), where it is clear that the land refers to the land around Jerusalem. It is best if translators do not make that explicit at this point, so Good News Translation is not a good model here by saying “the land of Israel” (similarly Contemporary English Version). Translations that make it seem that the land refers to the land of merchants (so Revised Standard Version) are also not good models. The land is better rendered “a land” or “a country.” The Hebrew expression for fertile soil (literally “a field of seeds” [Osty]) refers to a carefully cultivated plot of ground where a new plant will have the best chance to grow. Parole de Vie says “a plant nursery,” Revised English Bible has “a prepared plot,” and Bible en français courant (1982) translates “a cultivated field.”
He placed it beside abundant waters: The eagle planted the seedling in an area where it always had plenty of water. The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered he placed it is uncertain, so some translations omit it (so Good News Translation). This is the only place this word is used in the Old Testament, but a similar word in related languages means “small plant” or “shoot.” Therefore here it probably refers to a young seedling that is just beginning to grow. Revised English Bible renders this clause well, saying “a shoot beside abundant water.” Another possible model is “It was a seedling in a well-watered location.”
He set it like a willow twig: Willow trees are fast-growing and usually grow on the banks of rivers where they can get plenty of water. If these trees are unknown in a region, like a willow twig may be rendered “like a tree that grows by the river.”
A model for this verse is:
• Then the eagle took a seedling from a country [or, land] and planted it in cultivated soil; the eagle planted it like a willow tree, a tender young plant beside plenty of water.
Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .