Ezekiel 31:14 kjv
To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, 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.
Ezekiel 31:14 nkjv
'So that no trees by the waters may ever again exalt themselves for their height, nor set their tops among the thick boughs, that no tree which drinks water may ever be high enough to reach up to them. 'For they have all been delivered to death, To the depths of the earth, Among the children of men who go down to the Pit.'
Ezekiel 31:14 niv
Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.
Ezekiel 31:14 esv
All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to towering height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height. For they are all given over to death, to the world below, among the children of man, with those who go down to the pit.
Ezekiel 31:14 nlt
Let the tree of no other nation
proudly exult in its own prosperity,
though it be higher than the clouds
and it be watered from the depths.
For all are doomed to die,
to go down to the depths of the earth.
They will land in the pit
along with everyone else on earth.
Ezekiel 31 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 31:10 | “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you were exalted in stature, and he set his height among the clouds, | Judgment against proud nations |
| Isaiah 14:13-15 | You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit. | Pride leads to downfall |
| Daniel 4:30-37 | The king spoke, and said, “Is this not Babylon the great, which I have built by my might and for the glory of my radiance?” ... he was driven from among men... | Nebuchadnezzar's fall for pride |
| Luke 1:51-53 | He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, casting down the mighty from their thrones and exalting those of humble estate; filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty. | God scatters the proud |
| Proverbs 18:12 | Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. | Pride as a precursor to destruction |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 | Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. | The Antichrist's pride |
| Revelation 13:5-6 | And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months. He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. | Antichrist's arrogant speech |
| Ezekiel 28:2, 6, 12 | Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have said, “I am God, I sit on the throne of God, in the midst of the seas,”... therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because your heart was lifted up, and you said, “I am a god... and you were perfect in your ways from the day you were created until iniquity was found in you. | Judgment on proud Tyre (Satan) |
| Ezekiel 28:16-17 | In the greatness of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty... | Corruption due to pride |
| Psalm 75:5-7 | Do not lift up your horns on high, or speak with stubborn neck. For promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the desert. But God is the judge. He puts down one, and sets up another. | God's sovereignty in promotion |
| Psalm 2:4 | He who sits in the heavens will laugh; the Lord will mock them. | God's sovereign view of human pride |
| Psalm 55:23 | But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. | God's judgment on wicked people |
| Psalm 7:15-16 | He makes a pit, and digs it, and falls into the very hole that he makes. His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own scalp. | Wickedness recoils on the perpetrator |
| Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Similar to Proverbs 18:12 |
| Isaiah 2:11-12 | The eyes of man shall be humbled, and the condescension of man shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon every one who is proud and lofty... | God's exaltation over human pride |
| Jeremiah 48:29-30 | “I have heard of the pride of Moab— an exceedingly proud people! His insolence, his arrogance, and his pride, and the high lofty looks of his eyes. ... Moab shall be put to shame... | Moab's pride leads to shame |
| Amos 6:1 | "Woe to those who are complacent in Zion, and to those who feel secure on Mount Samaria... | Warning against complacency |
| Zephaniah 2:8 | “I have heard the reproach of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, with which they have taunted my people and made arrogant claims against their territory. | Nationalistic arrogance |
| James 4:6 | but he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” | God opposes the proud |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” | Humility is key for God's favor |
Ezekiel 31 verses
Ezekiel 31 14 Meaning
The verse describes the destiny of the great king, represented by the cedar of Lebanon, who once stood in splendor, providing shade and a home for birds. Because of his pride and towering stature, he is now to be delivered into the hands of a mighty king, doomed to be cut down and left to perish. This signifies a divine judgment for his arrogance and his destruction of others.
Ezekiel 31 14 Context
Chapter Context: Ezekiel 31 primarily focuses on God's judgment against Egypt, depicted metaphorically as a grand and powerful cedar tree in Lebanon. The chapter contrasts Egypt's former glory and strength with its inevitable downfall due to pride and its oppressive actions towards other nations. This specific verse, verse 14, describes the consequence of this pride and destructive behavior: Egypt will be given into the hand of a powerful ruler, signifying a complete ruin.
Historical Context: The prophecy is delivered during the Babylonian exile. Egypt, although not directly conquered by Nebuchadnezzar at this point, was a significant power that had often interfered in the affairs of Israel and Judah, sometimes siding with them and sometimes against them. Egypt's own boasts of power and stability, like that of the proud cedar, set it up for a divine reckoning. The "mighty one of the nations" to whom Egypt is delivered is most likely Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, whose empire was rising to power and known for its military might.
Ezekiel 31 14 Word Analysis
- מִפֶּה (mippeh): "from the mouth" - Indicates a source or origin, here suggesting the decree comes directly from divine authority.
- גֵּאִים (ge'im): "proud," "haughty," "exalted" - Denotes extreme arrogance and self-exaltation, a key sin leading to judgment. This term is used for Pharaoh's boastful pride and often applies to kings and nations that defy God.
- יִּשָּׁפֵךְ (yishshafekh): "shall be poured out," "shall be poured down" - Suggests a complete inundation or a complete overthrow, emphasizing the totality of the judgment.
- עַל־כָּל־ (al-kol): "upon all" - Underscores the pervasive nature of the judgment.
- שֶׁיֵשְּׁנוּ־בָם (sheyashenu-bam): "those who dwell in them," or "those who lie in them" - Refers to the inhabitants or those who have taken refuge within the once-great tree, implying their destruction along with it. The Masoretic text implies "that dwell in them," signifying the inhabitants who shared in its glory and are now subject to its fall.
Words-Group Analysis
- "Because you were exalted in stature... you said, 'I am God...'": This phrase group (Ezekiel 31:10, 11) directly links Egypt's lofty position and self-declaration as divine to its impending destruction. This echoes the downfall of Lucifer and proud kings throughout scripture.
- "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD": This is a prophetic formula that introduces God's direct judgment. It signifies that what follows is not mere human opinion but a divine pronouncement of doom.
- "that all the trees of Eden... may not pride themselves on their height": The humbling of Egypt serves as an example to other proud nations, showing that no power on earth is beyond God's reach or immune from His judgment.
Ezekiel 31 14 Bonus Section
The metaphor of the cedar tree is a common biblical image for powerful, majestic, and sometimes oppressive kingdoms. In Ezekiel, the comparison to Egypt's former glory as a magnificent cedar is particularly striking because it underscores the totality of the impending destruction. The pride identified here is not just personal vanity but a national arrogance rooted in perceived power and self-sufficiency, often leading to mistreatment of weaker peoples. The "mighty one of the nations" acts as God's instrument of judgment, a theme seen throughout the prophets where conquerors like Babylon and Assyria are used by God to discipline His people and other nations. The ultimate outcome serves as a warning that God dethrones the proud and exalts the humble, a principle echoed throughout both Old and New Testaments.
Ezekiel 31 14 Commentary
This verse reveals God's decisive action against Egypt's arrogance and imperialistic tendencies. The grand cedar, a symbol of Egypt's might and influence, is to be brought down by a "mighty one of the nations." This implies a severe, crushing defeat by a superior power, likely Babylon. The judgment is not arbitrary; it's a consequence of Egypt's self-exaltation ("proud") and its history of oppressing others. The "trees of Eden" phrase indicates that this downfall is a lesson for all proud nations, demonstrating that even the most powerful earthly kingdoms are ultimately subject to divine justice. God’s sovereign hand orchestrates this destruction to humble human pride and showcase His ultimate authority over all nations and their rulers.