Ezekiel 31 3

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 verses

Ezekiel 31 3 meaning

Ezekiel 31:3 begins an elaborate oracle directed at Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, using the historical example of Assyria. This verse vividly describes Assyria as a magnificent cedar of Lebanon, towering majestically and providing extensive shade, with its pinnacle reaching extraordinary heights among the densest foliage. It portrays Assyria at the zenith of its power, wealth, and influence, symbolizing the kingdom's immense stature and impressive dominance over other nations. This grandeur is not depicted as righteous but as worldly might, setting the stage for the dramatic illustration of its eventual, divinely orchestrated downfall in the subsequent verses.

Ezekiel 31 3 Context

This verse is found within Ezekiel's "Word of the Lord" against Pharaoh, king of Egypt (Eze 31:1-2). The prophet Ezekiel is in Babylonian exile, ministering to the Jewish captives. Chapter 31 specifically is dated to the eleventh year, third month, first day of the exile (586 BC), just prior to Jerusalem's fall. In this prophecy, God uses Assyria, a formidable empire that had dominated the ancient Near East and was responsible for the exile of Israel (Northern Kingdom), as a cautionary tale for Pharaoh and Egypt. Assyria had recently fallen to Babylon in 612 BC, making its fate a fresh and powerful example. The imagery of a magnificent cedar in Lebanon is common in the ancient Near East and the Bible, signifying great power, majesty, and longevity. By comparing Assyria, and implicitly Egypt, to such a tree, Ezekiel vividly communicates their perceived greatness from a human perspective, preparing for the declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and their inevitable felling. This serves as a polemic against the hubris of earthly rulers who trust in their own strength and refuse to acknowledge the Most High God.

Ezekiel 31 3 Word analysis

• Behold (Heb. הִנֵּה, hinnēh): An interjection signaling an emphatic statement, drawing immediate attention to the description that follows. It urges the listener/reader to observe something significant, striking, or awe-inspiring, here emphasizing the extent of Assyria's former glory.
• Asshur (Heb. אַשּׁוּר, 'aššûr): Refers to the Assyrian Empire, one of the most powerful and ruthless empires of the ancient Near East, notorious for its military might, vast dominion, and cruelty. Its fall in 612 BC was a monumental event.
• was a cedar (Heb. הָיָה אֶרֶז, hāyāh 'erez): "Was" (hāyāh) implies a past state of being. The cedar (אֶרֶז, 'erez) of Lebanon was renowned for its height, strength, durability, aromatic wood, and resistance to decay, making it a supreme symbol of power, majesty, and enduring greatness in the ancient world and the Bible.
• in Lebanon (Heb. בַּלְּבָנוֹן, balləvānôn): Placing the cedar in Lebanon specifically evokes the iconic and magnificent cedars associated with the Lebanese mountains, famous for producing the finest and largest of these trees. This adds a layer of natural grandeur to the metaphor.
• with beautiful branches (Heb. יְפֵה פֹאַר, yəfēh ḥō’ar): Literally "beautiful in foliage/branches." This highlights the aesthetic magnificence and flourishing state of the cedar, representing the prosperity, widespread influence, and attractive power of Assyria's empire.
• and forest shade (Heb. וְחֹרֶשׁ מְצַלָּה, wəḥōreš məṣallâ): This describes the broad, protective canopy the cedar cast, signifying Assyria's extensive reach, its capacity to provide refuge, and its imperial protection (often forced) over tributary nations, effectively covering and overshadowing other peoples.
• and of towering height (Heb. וּגְבַהּ קוֹמָה, uḡḇahh qômāh): Literally "and tall of stature." This emphasizes the sheer vertical dominance and impressiveness of the cedar, mirroring Assyria's imposing physical power, military might, and its perceived elevation above all other kingdoms.
• its top (Heb. וְצַמַּרְתּוֹ, wəṣammar’tô): Refers to the highest part, the crown, of the tree, representing the very pinnacle of Assyrian authority and aspiration.
• was among the thick boughs (Heb. בֵּין עֲבֹתִים, bēyn ‘ăḇōtîm): The term עֲבֹתִים (‘ăḇōtîm) means "dense/entwined branches" or "thick clouds." This phrase signifies an extraordinary, almost sky-high, elevation, indicating that Assyria’s peak of power reached ultimate levels, mingling with celestial heights. It conveys a sense of unparalleled dominance and a presumed untouchability.

Ezekiel 31 3 Bonus section

The rhetorical strategy employed in this verse is known as crescendo, building up the image of Assyria's magnificence layer by layer to maximize the impact of its subsequent fall. This vivid arboreal imagery would have resonated deeply with an audience familiar with agricultural societies and the symbolism of powerful natural phenomena. The idea of "reaching among the thick boughs/clouds" carries an implicit note of hubris, paralleling biblical narratives like the Tower of Babel (Gen 11) or King Nebuchadnezzar's pride in Daniel 4, where attempts to reach divine or unchallenged status invariably precede divine humbling. This verse thus pre-establishes Assyria not merely as a great empire, but as one whose overreaching ambition makes its fall a necessary demonstration of YHWH's ultimate sovereignty.

Ezekiel 31 3 Commentary

Ezekiel 31:3 acts as the grand opening of an allegorical prophecy, meticulously setting the scene for a stark contrast. The portrayal of Assyria as a sublime cedar in Lebanon is not merely descriptive but is highly symbolic. It embodies the full measure of human aspiration, strength, and reach. Every descriptor – from its majestic branches offering wide-ranging shade to its astounding height reaching among the "thick boughs" (or "clouds" as some translations infer) – underscores an empire that saw itself as invincible and globally supreme. This initial eulogy of Assyrian might, however, is delivered from a divine perspective, foreshadowing that such humanly-conceived grandeur, irrespective of its visible strength or perceived security, stands on precarious ground. It serves as a preamble to illustrate God's impending judgment upon any power that elevates itself to such lofty heights, neglecting the true source of sovereignty.