Ezekiel 31 16

Ezekiel 31:16 kjv

I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

Ezekiel 31:16 nkjv

I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to hell together with those who descend into the Pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the depths of the earth.

Ezekiel 31:16 niv

I made the nations tremble at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.

Ezekiel 31:16 esv

I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who go down to the pit. And all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the world below.

Ezekiel 31:16 nlt

I made the nations shake with fear at the sound of its fall, for I sent it down to the grave with all the others who descend to the pit. And all the other proud trees of Eden, the most beautiful and the best of Lebanon, the ones whose roots went deep into the water, took comfort to find it there with them in the depths of the earth.

Ezekiel 31 verses

Ezekiel 31 16 meaning

Ezekiel 31:16 describes the consequence of God's judgment upon the mighty nation of Assyria, personified as a grand cedar tree. Its felling and descent to Sheol provoke a reaction of both awe and comfort among other nations, also depicted as trees, in the underworld. These previously renowned "trees of Eden" and "choice and best of Lebanon"—representing other proud powers—are said to be comforted because the once-unparalleled tree has now joined them in their fallen state in the "lower parts of the earth." This signifies that no nation, regardless of its former glory, power, or prosperity, can escape God's sovereign judgment and ultimate humbling.

Ezekiel 31 16 Context

Ezekiel 31 is part of a series of prophecies against Egypt (Chapters 29-32). In this chapter, Egypt's Pharaoh is likened to a majestic cedar, a symbol of great power, beauty, and dominion that grew tall among the trees of the field and became "beautiful in its greatness" (Eze 31:7). The imagery is likely also a polemic against ancient Near Eastern myths, which sometimes linked powerful rulers or divine beings with sacred trees in a cosmic garden. God's act of "casting it down" emphasizes His absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers. Verse 16 specifically highlights the effect of this divine judgment in the realm of the dead, Sheol, where other great but fallen nations are depicted as being 'comforted' by Assyria's equally humbled status. Historically, Assyria had been the dominant power before its fall, and Egypt had benefited from its decline, but Ezekiel proclaims Egypt, too, will suffer the same fate.

Ezekiel 31 16 Word analysis

• אֹרִ֤ד (ōrid): From the root יָרַד (yarad), "to go down, descend." Here, in the Hiphil causative stem, meaning "I made to go down" or "I brought down." It strongly emphasizes God's active, deliberate, and powerful agency in initiating the fall of the proud tree (Assyria/Pharaoh). This is not an accidental event but a divine decree and execution.
• אֹתֹו֙ (ʾōṯô): "it," referring to the cedar (Assyria/Pharaoh), highlighting the subject of God's action.
• שְׁאֹ֗ל (Sheʾol): The common Hebrew term for the abode of the dead, the underworld, often described as a deep, dark place beneath the earth. It is not necessarily a place of punishment in the Old Testament but represents the state of death and the cessation of earthly life and power, a profound humbling from earthly splendor. Its usage here signifies utter demise and loss of status.
• הִנְחַ֔מּוּ (hinḥammū): From the root נָחַם (naḥam), meaning "to comfort, console." In the Niphal (passive) stem, "they were comforted." The nuance is not necessarily joyful relief but a sense of communal destiny in humiliation—that even the highest among them has shared their fate. It underscores the shared experience of powerlessness in Sheol.
• בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (bəʾereṣ): "in the land," or "in the earth."
• תַּחְתִּית֙ (taḥtît): "lowest" or "nethermost." Often translated as "lower parts of the earth," explicitly indicating the deepest part of Sheol, the ultimate destination for those cast down, emphasizing their debased status.
• כֹּל־עֲצֵֽי־עֵ֨דֶן (kol-ʿǎṣê-ʿêden): "all the trees of Eden." "Eden" here is not only the historical garden but serves as an idealized symbol of unparalleled fertility, beauty, and blessing. To be among the "trees of Eden" implies being of supreme quality, power, and privilege among nations. This phrase elevates the polemic, implying that even nations deemed to be like trees from a primeval, perfect garden are subject to God's judgment.
• וּמִבְחַ֤ר (ūmivḥar): "and the choice of," or "the select."
• לְבָנֹון֙ (lěḇānôn): "Lebanon," renowned for its majestic cedar trees. "Choice of Lebanon" points to the most exalted, magnificent rulers and nations, famous for their strength and grandeur. This reinforces the image of ultimate power and influence among the nations.
• כֹּ֖ל (kol): "all," universally inclusive.
• שֹׁ֥תֵי (šōṯê): Participle of שָׁתָה (šāṯâ), "to drink." "those who drink," "well-watered." This refers to their sustained prosperity and vigor, implying access to life-giving resources, symbolic of economic strength and national flourishing. The fact that these once "well-watered" trees are now in Sheol underscores the complete reversal of their fortunes.

Word-groups analysis:

• "I cast it down to Sheol": A powerful declaration of divine judgment and sovereign action, emphasizing God's control over the destiny of nations. This contrasts sharply with human attempts at self-exaltation.
• "They were comforted in the lower parts of the earth": Reveals the universal leveling effect of death and divine judgment. The proud are humbled, and those already in low estate find a perverse comfort in seeing the mighty share their fate, indicating that no one is truly exceptional in the face of God's decree.
• "all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that were well-watered": This triadic description encompasses the very best and most prosperous of all nations, underscoring that none are exempt from judgment. It's an indictment of human pride, demonstrating that even earthly paradises and magnificent powers are temporary and subject to divine overthrow.

Ezekiel 31 16 Bonus section

The metaphor of nations as trees or forests is common in ancient Near Eastern literature and throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Isa 10:18-19; 37:24; Jer 22:6-7). This usage in Ezekiel 31 draws on and subverts those cultural perceptions by demonstrating that Yahweh, not a local deity or a nation's inherent strength, controls the fate of even the mightiest "trees." The description of Assyria's roots "among many waters" (Eze 31:4) and its reaching to "the clouds" (Eze 31:3) signifies its unparalleled prosperity and perceived dominion over global resources. The comfort experienced by other nations in Sheol is a powerful depiction of their schadenfreude, or perhaps a grim satisfaction, knowing that their once unassailable rival has been brought to the same ignominious end as they were. This verse underscores that pride leads to a fall, and ultimately, all earthly power is temporary and subject to divine review and reckoning.

Ezekiel 31 16 Commentary

Ezekiel 31:16 is a poignant declaration of God's unassailable sovereignty over all nations, even the most formidable. By comparing mighty Assyria (and by implication, Egypt) to a magnificent cedar planted in the primeval garden, only to be cast down into Sheol by God's own hand, the prophet systematically dismantles any notion of national invincibility or self-generated power. The response from other fallen nations in the underworld—their "comfort"—is a chilling testament to the leveling effect of God's judgment. It signifies that even those once thought untouchable will ultimately share the common fate of the proud: descent into humiliation and loss of all glory. The imagery also serves as a polemic against pagan beliefs that associate national power with divine favor or an intrinsic, permanent strength, declaring Yahweh as the sole arbiter of earthly destinies. This verse reminds all people that true security and lasting honor come only through humility before the Most High, not through arrogant self-exaltation.