Ezekiel 31:3 kjv
Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
Ezekiel 31:3 nkjv
Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, With fine branches that shaded the forest, And of high stature; And its top was among the thick boughs.
Ezekiel 31:3 niv
Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest; it towered on high, its top above the thick foliage.
Ezekiel 31:3 esv
Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade, and of towering height, its top among the clouds.
Ezekiel 31:3 nlt
You are like mighty Assyria,
which was once like a cedar of Lebanon,
with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade
and with its top high among the clouds.
Ezekiel 31 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 17:3 | "Say, ‘The great eagle with mighty wings, long feathers, full of plumage of various colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar." | Eze 17:3 (Symbolism of Egypt) |
| Eze 17:5 | "He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it in a good ground that it might bring forth branches." | Eze 17:5 (Egypt's establishment) |
| Isa 10:33-34 | "Behold, the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, will lop the bough with terror; and the lofty ones of stature will be hewn down, and the proud shall be brought low. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one." | Isa 10:33-34 (Judgment on powerful) |
| Jer 22:6-7 | "For thus says the LORD to the house of the king of Judah: ‘You are Gilead to me, the head of Lebanon; surely I will make you a wilderness, and cities without inhabitants. I will prepare destroyers against you, every one with his weapons; and they shall cut down your choice cedars, and cast them into the fire." | Jer 22:6-7 (Judgment on rulers) |
| Ps 37:35-36 | "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; I sought him, but he could not be found." | Ps 37:35-36 (Wicked's transience) |
| Eze 31:10 | "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have lifted yourself up in height, and he has put forth his shoot among the clouds, and his heart is lifted up in his pride," | Eze 31:10 (Cause of downfall) |
| Eze 31:11 | "I will deliver him into the hand of the mighty one of the nations; he shall surely deal with him; I have brought him to judgment according to his wickedness." | Eze 31:11 (Instrument of judgment) |
| Nah 3:4 | "Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of her wantonness, the mistress of witchcraft, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcraft." | Nah 3:4 (Description of judgment) |
| Eze 28:13 | "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." | Eze 28:13 (Wisdom on pride) |
| Eze 28:17 | "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground; I gave you as a spectacle to kings." | Eze 28:17 (Consequences of pride) |
| Job 20:17 | "He shall not see the rivers, the flowing rivers of honey and curds." | Job 20:17 (Prosperity lost) |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Prov 16:18 (Proverbial truth) |
| Ps 92:12-13 | "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." | Ps 92:12-13 (Righteous prosperity) |
| Eze 29:2-3 | "Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster that lies in the midst of his rivers, who has said, ‘My River is my own, and I have made it for myself." | Eze 29:2-3 (Egypt's self-exaltation) |
| Eze 32:2 | "Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him, ‘You are likened to a young lion among the nations, but you are like a monster in the seas; and you came forth in your rivers, and troubled your waters with your feet, and fouled their waters." | Eze 32:2 (Lament for Pharaoh) |
| Rev 18:10 | "Standing far off for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’" | Rev 18:10 (Judgment on proud cities) |
| Rev 18:21 | "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." | Rev 18:21 (Final destruction) |
| 2 Chr 1:15 | "And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars he made as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland." | 2 Chr 1:15 (Solomon's glory) |
| Hab 2:6-7 | "Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—how long? And to him who heaps himself together with great weights!" | Hab 2:6-7 (Greed and judgment) |
| Isa 2:13 | "And against all the cedars of Lebanon, the lofty and lifted up, and against all the oaks of Bashan," | Isa 2:13 (Judgment on pride) |
Ezekiel 31 verses
Ezekiel 31 3 Meaning
This verse declares that the Pharaoh of Egypt is comparable to a majestic cedar tree in Lebanon. It emphasizes his former splendor, power, and dominance, likening his widespread influence and seemingly unshakeable position to the height and beauty of a magnificent cedar.
Ezekiel 31 3 Context
Ezekiel 31 prophesies against Pharaoh, king of Egypt, characterizing him as a once magnificent cedar tree. The historical context places this prophecy during the Babylonian exile, a time when nations, including Judah, looked to Egypt for support against Babylon. Pharaoh, by his own accounts and actions, presented himself as powerful and secure, akin to a mighty tree with widespread influence and shade. This prophecy serves as a judgment, highlighting Egypt's pride and impending downfall, contrasting its former glory with its future desolation. The image of the cedar was commonly used in the ancient Near East to represent royalty, strength, and beauty, making it a potent symbol for Pharaoh's self-perception.
Ezekiel 31 3 Word Analysis
- "Behold," (Hebrew: הִנֵּה, hinneh): An interjection drawing attention, urging the listener to focus on what follows.
- "a cedar": (Hebrew: אֶרֶז, 'erez): Refers specifically to the Cedar of Lebanon, renowned for its magnificent stature, strong wood, and enduring qualities, symbolizing power, stability, and beauty.
- "in Lebanon": Refers to the region of Lebanon, famous for its tall, impressive cedar trees. This geographical marker evokes an image of natural grandeur.
- "was": (Hebrew: הָיָה, hayah): Indicates a past state of being.
- "comely": (Hebrew: יְפֶה, yepheh): Beautiful, handsome, pleasing in appearance. It speaks to the aesthetic and majestic qualities of the cedar.
- "in his": (Hebrew: בְּ, be): In, with, by. Possessive.
- "rivers": (Hebrew: פַּלְגֵי, palgei): Channels of water, often referring to rivers or streams, but in this context, possibly referring to the many branches and growth fostered by water sources. This could also refer to the Nile in Egypt.
- "well-watered": (Hebrew: שְׁקֵיתֶם, sheqeithem): To water or irrigate, implying flourishing and abundance due to abundant water supply.
- "".
Words-group Analysis
- "Behold, a cedar in Lebanon was comely": This phrase vividly establishes the subject – Egypt’s king – and presents him with an immediate visual of immense beauty and stature, directly linking him to the symbol of the mighty Cedar of Lebanon, signifying inherent magnificence and regal standing.
- "in his rivers": This segment grounds the simile in a specific, characteristic attribute. For Egypt, "rivers" overwhelmingly points to the Nile, the lifeblood of the nation. It suggests Pharaoh's power derived from and embodied by Egypt's very geography and resources, hinting at his self-reliance or belief that his power was inherent to his dominion.
- "well-watered": This emphasizes the source of the cedar’s strength and beauty – abundant water. Applied to Pharaoh, it underscores that his power, influence, and perceived invincibility were nurtured by the wealth and resources of Egypt, and perhaps also by the surrounding nations he manipulated.
Ezekiel 31 3 Bonus Section
The cedar imagery is potent across biblical literature, often representing royalty, strength, and pride. While Lebanon’s cedars were paragons of natural beauty and durability, they could also become symbols of arrogance when those possessing them became overly proud of their possessions or power derived from them. This chapter's analogy prepares for a message of judgment, demonstrating that even the most seemingly unshakeable and beautiful entities are subject to divine assessment and potential downfall when pride or iniquity becomes their core. The mention of "rivers" likely alludes specifically to the Nile, which was central to Egyptian identity and prosperity, often personified or revered by the Egyptians themselves.
Ezekiel 31 3 Commentary
Pharaoh's grandeur is compared to the Cedar of Lebanon, a tree esteemed for its height, beauty, and strength. This metaphor highlights Egypt's past prominence, wealth, and influential position among nations. The reference to being "well-watered" suggests that Pharaoh's power and prosperity were deeply rooted in the rich resources of Egypt, particularly the Nile River, and possibly the tribute he received. However, the context of Ezekiel's prophecy suggests this former glory is about to be dismantled, pointing to a divine judgment that will bring down this proud and powerful entity. It’s a statement of past excellence that contrasts with the coming destruction.