ASV
Ezekiel 31
1And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third [month], in the first [day] of the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, say unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude: Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
3Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a forest-like shade, and of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs.
4The waters nourished it, the deep made it to grow: the rivers thereof ran round about its plantation; and it sent out its channels unto all the trees of the field.
5Therefore its stature was exalted above all the trees of the field; and its boughs were multiplied, and its branches became long by reason of many waters, when it shot [them] forth.
6All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; and under its branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young; and under its shadow dwelt all great nations.
7Thus was it fair in its greatness, in the length of its branches; for its root was by many waters.
8The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it; the fir-trees were not like its boughs, and the plane-trees were not as its branches; nor was any tree in the garden of God like unto it in its beauty.
9I made it fair by the multitude of its branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied it.
10Therefore thus said the Lord Jehovah: Because thou art exalted in stature, and he hath set his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; [
11I will even deliver him into the hand of the mighty one of the nations; he shall surely deal with him; I have driven him out for his wickedness.
12And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the watercourses of the land; and all the peoples of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
13Upon his ruin all the birds of the heavens shall dwell, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches;
14to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves in their stature, neither set their top among the thick boughs, nor that their mighty ones stand up on their height, [even] all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
15Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when he went down to Sheol I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the rivers thereof; and the great waters were stayed; and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
16I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to Sheol with them that descend into the pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
17They also went down into Sheol with him unto them that are slain by the sword; yea, they that were his arm, [that] dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the nations.
18To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord Jehovah.
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Ambition: Punishment of Ezekiel 31:10, 11
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became great in height and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height, / I delivered it into the hand of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have banished it.
Assyria: Prophecies Concerning Ezekiel 31:1
In the eleventh year, on the first day of the third month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Assyria: The Greatness, Extent, Duration, and Fall, Illustrated Ezekiel 31:3–17
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters.
Birds of People of Different Countries Ezekiel 31:6
All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.
Birds: Make Their Nests in Trees Ezekiel 31:6
All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.
Cedar: Figurative Ezekiel 31:3
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
Chestnut Tree: General Scriptures Concerning Ezekiel 31:8
The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it; the cypresses could not compare with its branches, nor the plane trees match its boughs. No tree in the garden of God could compare with its beauty.
Eden: The Garden of Eden Ezekiel 31:9, 16, 18
I made it beautiful with its many branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden, which were in the garden of God.’ / I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below. / Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.’”
Egypt: The Country of: Prophecies Against Ezekiel 31:1
In the eleventh year, on the first day of the third month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Hell in the RV of Nt It Appears Only In Ezekiel 31:16, 17
I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below. / They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies they had lived in its shade among the nations.
Lebanon: (Mourning of) of Deep Affliction Ezekiel 31:15
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the day it was brought down to Sheol, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it; I held back its rivers; its abundant waters were restrained. I made Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it.
Pride: Assyria Ezekiel 31:3, 10
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became great in height and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height,
Pride: General Scriptures Concerning Ezekiel 31:10–14
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became great in height and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height, / I delivered it into the hand of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have banished it. / Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches have fallen on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. And all the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it.
Prophecy: (Respecting Individuals, See Under Their Names): Ezekiel Ezekiel 31:1
In the eleventh year, on the first day of the third month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Self-Exaltation: General Scriptures Concerning Ezekiel 31:10–14
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became great in height and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height, / I delivered it into the hand of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have banished it. / Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches have fallen on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. And all the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it.
The Cedar: Powerful Nations Ezekiel 31:3
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
Trees of Kings Ezekiel 31:7–10
It was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its limbs, for its roots extended to abundant waters. / The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it; the cypresses could not compare with its branches, nor the plane trees match its boughs. No tree in the garden of God could compare with its beauty. / I made it beautiful with its many branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden, which were in the garden of God.’
Trees: Chestnut Ezekiel 31:8
The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it; the cypresses could not compare with its branches, nor the plane trees match its boughs. No tree in the garden of God could compare with its beauty.
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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
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Ezekiel 31:1-9 Ezek. 31:1-9
The falls of others, both into sin and ruin, warn us not to be secure or high-minded. The prophet is to show an instance of one whom the king of Egypt resembled in greatness, the Assyrian, compared to a stately cedar. Those who excel others, make themselves the objects of envy; but the blessings of the heavenly paradise are not liable to such alloy. The utmost security that any creature can give, is but like the shadow of a tree, a scanty and slender protection. But let us flee to God for protection, there we shall be safe. His hand must be owned in the rising of the great men of the earth, and we must not envy them. Though worldly people may seem to have firm prosperity, yet it only seems so.
Ezekiel 31:1-999 Chapter 31
The glory of Assyria. (Ezek. 31:1-9) Its fall, and the like for Egypt. (Ezek. 31:10-18)
Ezekiel 31:10-18 Ezek. 31:10-18
The king of Egypt resembled the king of Assyria in his greatness: here we see he resembles him in his pride. And he shall resemble him in his fall. His own sin brings his ruin. None of our comforts are ever lost, but what have been a thousand times forfeited. When great men fall, many fall with them, as many have fallen before them. The fall of proud men is for warning to others, to keep them humble. See how low Pharaoh lies; and see what all his pomp and pride are come to. It is best to be a lowly tree of righteousness, yielding fruit to the glory of God, and to the good of men. The wicked man is often seen flourishing like the cedar, and spreading like the green bay tree, but he soon passes away, and his place is no more found. Let us then mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Ezekiel 31:1 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
third month--two months later than the prophecy delivered in Eze 30:20.
Ezekiel 31:1-18 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
Not that Egypt was, like Assyria, utterly to cease to be, but it was, like Assyria, to lose its prominence in the empire of the world.
Ezekiel 31:2 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
Whom art thou like--The answer is, Thou art like the haughty king of Assyria; as he was overthrown by the Chaldeans, so shalt thou be by the same.
Ezekiel 31:3 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
He illustrates the pride and the consequent overthrow of the Assyrian, that Egypt may the better know what she must expect. cedar in Lebanon--often eighty feet high, and the diameter of the space covered by its boughs still greater: the symmetry perfect. Compare the similar image (Eze 17:3; Da 4:20-22). with a shadowing shroud--with an overshadowing thicket. top ... among ... thick boughs--rather [Hengstenberg], "among the clouds." But English Version agrees better with the Hebrew. The top, or topmost shoot, represents the king; the thick boughs, the large resources of the empire.
Ezekiel 31:4 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
waters ... little rivers--the Tigris with its branches and "rivulets," or "conduits" for irrigation, the source of Assyria's fertility. "The deep" is the ever flowing water, never dry. Metaphorically, for Assyria's resources, as the "conduits" are her colonies.
Ezekiel 31:5 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
when he shot forth--because of the abundant moisture which nourished him in shooting forth. But see Margin.
Ezekiel 31:6 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
fowls ... made ... nests in ... boughs--so Eze 17:23; Da 4:12. The gospel kingdom shall gather all under its covert, for their good and for the glory of God, which the world kingdoms did for evil and for self-aggrandizement (Mt 13:32).
Ezekiel 31:8 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
cedars ... could not hide him--could not outtop him. No other king eclipsed him. were not like--were not comparable to. garden of God--As in the case of Tyre (Eze 28:13), the imagery, that is applied to the Assyrian king, is taken from Eden; peculiarly appropriate, as Eden was watered by rivers that afterwards watered Assyria (Ge 2:10-14). This cedar seemed to revive in itself all the glories of paradise, so that no tree there outtopped it.
Ezekiel 31:9 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
I ... made him--It was all due to My free grace.
Ezekiel 31:10 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
thou ... he--The change of persons is because the language refers partly to the cedar, partly to the person signified by the cedar.
Ezekiel 31:11 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
Here the literal supersedes the figurative. shall surely deal with him--according to his own pleasure, and according to the Assyrian's (Sardanapalus) desert. Nebuchadnezzar is called "the mighty one" (El, a name of God), because he was God's representative and instrument of judgment (Da 2:37, 38).
Ezekiel 31:12 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
from his shadow--under which they had formerly dwelt as their covert (Eze 31:6).
Ezekiel 31:13 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
Birds and beasts shall insult over his fallen trunk.
Ezekiel 31:14 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
trees by the waters--that is, that are plentifully supplied by the waters: nations abounding in resources. stand up in their height--that is, trust in their height: stand upon it as their ground of confidence. Fairbairn points the Hebrew differently, so as for "their trees," to translate, "(And that none that drink water may stand) on themselves, (because of their greatness)." But the usual reading is better, as Assyria and the confederate states throughout are compared to strong trees. The clause, "All that drink water," marks the ground of the trees' confidence "in their height," namely, that they have ample sources of supply. Maurer, retaining the same Hebrew, translates, "that neither their terebinth trees may stand up in their height, nor all (the other trees) that drink water." to ... nether ... earth ... pit--(Eze 32:18; Ps 82:7).
Ezekiel 31:15 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
covered the deep--as mourners cover their heads in token of mourning, "I made the deep that watered the cedar" to wrap itself in mourning for him. The waters of the deep are the tributary peoples of Assyria (Re 17:15). fainted--literally, were "faintness" (itself); more forcible than the verb.
Ezekiel 31:16 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
hell--Sheol or Hades, the unseen world: equivalent to, "I cast him into oblivion" (compare Isa 14:9-11). shall be comforted--because so great a king as the Assyrian is brought down to a level with them. It is a kind of consolation to the wretched to have companions in misery.
Ezekiel 31:17 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
his arm, that dwelt under his shadow--those who were the helpers or tool of his tyranny, and therefore enjoyed his protection (for example, Syria and her neighbors). These were sure to share her fate. Compare the same phrase as to the Jews living under the protection of their king (La 4:20); both alike "making flesh their arm, and in heart departing from the Lord" (Jer 17:5).
Ezekiel 31:18 The Overthrow of Egypt Illustrated by That of Assyria.
Application of the parabolic description of Assyria to the parallel case of Egypt. "All that has been said of the Assyrian consider as said to thyself. To whom art thou so like, as thou art to the Assyrian? To none." The lesson on a gigantic scale of Eden-like privileges abused to pride and sin by the Assyrian, as in the case of the first man in Eden, ending in ruin, was to be repeated in Egypt's case. For the unchangeable God governs the world on the same unchangeable principles. thou shall lie in ... uncircumcised--As circumcision was an object of mocking to thee, thou shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, slain by their sword [Grotius]. Retribution in kind (Eze 28:10). This is Pharaoh--Pharaoh's end shall be the same humiliating one as I have depicted the Assyrian's to have been. "This" is demonstrative, as if he were pointing with the finger to Pharaoh lying prostrate, a spectacle to all, as on the shore of the Red Sea (Ex 14:30, 31).