Ezekiel 31 2

Ezekiel 31:2 kjv

Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?

Ezekiel 31:2 nkjv

"Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: 'Whom are you like in your greatness?

Ezekiel 31:2 niv

"Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes: "?'Who can be compared with you in majesty?

Ezekiel 31:2 esv

"Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: "Whom are you like in your greatness?

Ezekiel 31:2 nlt

"Son of man, give this message to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his hordes: "To whom would you compare your greatness?

Ezekiel 31 verses

Ezekiel 31 2 meaning

God commands Ezekiel to deliver a confrontational rhetorical question to Pharaoh of Egypt and his vast domain, challenging Pharaoh's inflated sense of self-importance. It subtly highlights Egypt's pride and sets the stage for a powerful divine indictment, exposing the vanity of human power compared to the ultimate sovereignty of God. This inquiry is not for information but for an acknowledgment of the Pharaoh's false preeminence and an anticipation of his impending humbling.

Ezekiel 31 2 Context

Ezekiel 31 is part of a series of prophetic condemnations against foreign nations, specifically Egypt, delivered to the prophet Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile. The prophecy dates to the eleventh year of the exile (around 587 BC), a critical time when Jerusalem was under Babylonian siege. Judah often looked to Egypt for military and political support against the rising Babylonian empire, despite God's repeated warnings through His prophets not to trust in foreign alliances. Pharaoh Hophra (Apries) was the reigning king of Egypt, who, through his attempted interventions, had likely fostered an inflated sense of Egypt's power. Verse 2 sets the stage for a powerful parable, presenting Egypt's strength and pride, only to undermine it by comparing Pharaoh to a magnificent, yet ultimately felled, cedar—symbolizing the mighty Assyrian empire (detailed in verses 3-9). The historical context thus involves Israel's political entanglement, God's prophetic judgment against national pride, and the coming demonstration of divine sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms.

Ezekiel 31 2 Word analysis

• Son of man (בֶּן־אָדָם - ben-adam): This address is Ezekiel's consistent divine appellation throughout the book. It serves to underscore the prophet's humanity and frailty as a messenger of the Most High God. This stark contrast highlights the divine authority behind the message and prepares the listener to receive words not from human wisdom, but from God, particularly when confronting a powerful king like Pharaoh.

• say (אֱמֹר - emor): An imperative verb indicating a direct and authoritative command from God. It mandates the delivery of the prophecy without hesitation, confirming its divine origin and crucial importance. Ezekiel is a conduit, not the author.

• Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה - Par'oh): The royal title, rather than a personal name, signifying the powerful ruler of Egypt and the very embodiment of its national might and cultural identity. The prophecy targets not just an individual, but the institution and national spirit represented by the king.

• king of Egypt (מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם - melek Mitzrayim): A direct geographical and political identification that unambiguously specifies the recipient. It emphasizes the substantial temporal power wielded by Pharaoh and the widespread influence of the Egyptian kingdom.

• multitude (הֲמוֹנֶֽךָ - hamonɛka): This refers to the vast host, throng, or collective strength associated with Pharaoh—his military forces, his people, his entire populace and resources. The possessive suffix ("your") ties this formidable, collective power directly to Pharaoh's reign and perceived grandeur.

• Whom are you like (אֶל־מִי דָמִיתָ - el-mi damita): This is a direct rhetorical question, intentionally challenging Pharaoh's presumed incomparable greatness. It’s designed to elicit a moment of self-reflection before the divine answer is presented (the comparison to the fallen Assyria). The implication is that Pharaoh is seen as unique and unchallenged in his own eyes, a perception God is about to dismantle.

• in your greatness (בְגׇדְלְךָ - begodleḵa): This phrase pinpoints the specific area of Pharaoh's pride: his vastness, might, imposing splendor, and influential power—militarily, politically, and economically. The Hebrew gadol relates to size and prominence, signifying his colossal self-perception that God is intent on judging.

• "Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude": This opening serves as a dramatic setup, establishing the direct divine challenge to one of the most powerful earthly rulers of the time. The prophet, a human, is God’s appointed speaker against the personification of worldly power and the entire national entity. It asserts God's ultimate authority over all human potentates and their dominions, indicating that no power on earth is beyond divine scrutiny or judgment.

• "Whom are you like in your greatness?": This provocative rhetorical question encapsulates the very essence of Pharaoh’s self-exaltation. It forces Pharaoh, and by extension all who pride themselves in their strength, to consider their standing. This question, a classic polemical device, aims to immediately deflate the ego, setting the stage for the following verses where the answer will be unequivocally clear and devastating—Pharaoh is like another powerful kingdom, Assyria, that eventually met its demise.

Ezekiel 31 2 Bonus section

The confrontational tone and the specific targeting of a powerful ruler's "greatness" or pride are common themes found in various prophetic books, demonstrating a consistent divine attribute: God's opposition to arrogance and His commitment to humbling the haughty. The rhetorical "Whom are you like...?" prepares the audience for a parable—a literary form that often used relatable imagery to convey complex spiritual truths. While not explicitly mentioned in verse 2, the subsequent narrative compares Pharaoh to a mighty tree. This arboreal imagery, depicting powerful nations or kings as towering cedars (a well-recognized symbol of strength and beauty in the ancient Near East), makes the coming judgment intensely vivid: just as a mighty tree can be cut down, so too can even the grandest empire fall. This foreshadowed metaphor establishes the principle that all earthly greatness, when disconnected from or set against divine authority, is fundamentally unstable and transient, subject to God's ultimate sovereignty.

Ezekiel 31 2 Commentary

Ezekiel 31:2 is the rhetorical cornerstone of a significant prophecy concerning Egypt's pride and inevitable downfall. The Lord's command to Ezekiel to challenge Pharaoh directly with the question, "Whom are you like in your greatness?", is a masterstroke of divine communication. It exposes Pharaoh's inherent arrogance and presumed unparalleled status, inviting him to consider his place in the cosmic order. This is not an innocent inquiry but a divine setup for a devastating comparison to a once-mighty, yet ultimately fallen, empire (Assyria, in subsequent verses), underscoring the ephemeral nature of all human power. This verse embodies God's consistent challenge to human hubris, whether in individuals or nations, serving as a reminder that all authority and glory ultimately reside with Him. It's a precursor to divine judgment, demonstrating that no earthly empire, no matter how magnificent, stands outside of God's sovereign purview. The message implicitly calls all those who boast in human strength to look to the true source of enduring power.