Ezekiel 31:4 kjv
The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
Ezekiel 31:4 nkjv
The waters made it grow; Underground waters gave it height, With their rivers running around the place where it was planted, And sent out rivulets to all the trees of the field.
Ezekiel 31:4 niv
The waters nourished it, deep springs made it grow tall; their streams flowed all around its base and sent their channels to all the trees of the field.
Ezekiel 31:4 esv
The waters nourished it; the deep made it grow tall, making its rivers flow around the place of its planting, sending forth its streams to all the trees of the field.
Ezekiel 31:4 nlt
Deep springs watered it
and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant.
The water flowed around it like a river,
streaming to all the trees nearby.
Ezekiel 31 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 28:13 | "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." | Wisdom and Perfection of Pharaoh |
| Isaiah 14:12 | "How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!" | Fall of Babylon/Satan |
| Daniel 4:20-22 | "The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, reaching to the sky, visible to the ends of the earth..." | Nebuchadnezzar's dream |
| Psalms 37:35 | "I have seen a wicked person overbearing, and spreading himself like a green laurel tree," | Prosperity of the wicked |
| Genesis 2:9 | "The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees pleasant to the sight and good for food..." | Garden of Eden |
| Psalms 80:10 | "the cedars of God, its shade covered it, and its boughs spread like the goodly cedars." | Imagery of strength |
| Hosea 14:5-7 | "I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the cedars of Lebanon." | Restoration and blessings |
| Nahum 2:7 | "And it is fixed: Nineveh is overturned, she shall flee." | Destruction of Nineveh |
| Revelation 18:10 | "‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!" | Fall of Babylon |
| Jeremiah 51:25 | "Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, declares the LORD, against you that corrupt the whole earth..." | Judgment on Babylon |
| Amos 6:4-7 | "who lie on beds of ivory and sprawl on their couches, who eat lambs from the flock and calves from the stall..." | Indulgence of the elite |
| Isaiah 10:13-14 | "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am intelligent. I have removed the boundaries of peoples..." | Assyria's arrogance |
| Lamentations 5:8 | "Servants rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hand." | Israel's distress |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." | dependence on Christ |
| Galatians 3:19 | "Why then the law? It was added to show that offenses would exist until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made..." | Purpose of the Law |
| Romans 11:18 | "Do not boast over the branches. If your boasting you do, it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you." | Branches grafted into the olive tree |
| 1 Corinthians 3:11 | "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." | Foundation of faith |
| Acts 4:11 | "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, builders, which has become the cornerstone." | Jesus the Cornerstone |
| Psalm 2:9 | "You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." | Divine judgment |
| Psalm 48:2 | "Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the north side, the city of the great King." | Beauty of Zion |
Ezekiel 31 verses
Ezekiel 31 4 Meaning
This verse speaks of the immense height and breadth of the Assyrian empire, using the metaphor of a cedar tree in Lebanon. Its stature surpassed all other trees in the garden of God, symbolizing its dominance and power, yet this greatness was not solely attributed to its natural growth but also to its influence and the water it received, implying divine providence played a role in its initial rise to prominence.
Ezekiel 31 4 Context
This chapter prophesies the downfall of Pharaoh of Egypt and by extension, the powerful Assyrian empire, personified through Egypt's former glory and dependency on Egypt's military might. The verse sets the scene by describing the impressive, divinely-provided growth and stature of the Assyrian empire, comparing it to a mighty cedar in Lebanon. This was a common metaphor for strength and beauty in the ancient Near East. The audience would have understood this as a description of overwhelming power and prestige.
Ezekiel 31 4 Word Analysis
- Thus: "So" or "Therefore"; indicates a logical conclusion or consequence.
- Have: Indicates a completed action or state.
- I: Refers to God speaking.
- spoken: "Said" or "declared"; God's authoritative pronouncements.
- in: Indicates the channel or source.
- the: Definite article.
- Spirit: Hebrew: ruach (רוּחַ); spirit, wind, breath. Here refers to God's active power or message.
- of: Possession or association.
- the: Definite article.
- LORD: Hebrew: Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) or YHWH (יהוה); a reverent substitution for the personal name of God, Yahweh.
- Said: "spoke" or "commanded".
- Go: Hebrew: lek (לֵךְ), an imperative verb; a command to proceed or journey.
- to: Indicates direction or destination.
- Pharaoh: Egyptian royal title. Refers to the king of Egypt.
- king: Hebrew: melek (מֶלֶךְ); ruler, sovereign.
- of: Possession or association.
- Egypt: Hebrew: Mitzrayim (מִצְרַיִם); geographical and political entity.
- this: Refers to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
- Say: Hebrew: dabar (דָּבָר); to speak, say.
- to: Indicates the recipient of the speech.
- him: Refers to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
- thus: "So" or "in this way".
- saying: "Speaking" or "declaring".
Group Analysis:
- "Thus have I spoken in the Spirit of the LORD, Say to Pharaoh king of Egypt:": This phrase emphasizes that the prophecy about to be delivered to Pharaoh is not Ezekiel's own idea but a direct message from God, conveyed through the Spirit, and to be declared specifically to the ruler of Egypt. It highlights the divine authority and specific targeting of the message. The use of ruach (spirit) signifies the power and prophetic impetus behind Ezekiel's words.
Ezekiel 31 4 Bonus Section
The cedar tree imagery in ancient Near Eastern literature often symbolized kingship, strength, and stability. The "cedars of Lebanon" were particularly prized for their timber and stature. By comparing Pharaoh and the Egyptian empire to such a tree, the prophecy emphasizes its former glory and might, making its future ruin all the more significant. This sets up a polemic not just against Egypt's power but also against any entity that seeks to rival God's dominion through self-proclaimed greatness, a theme often seen in prophecies against powerful empires like Assyria and Babylon. The focus on "water" (in preceding verses) contributing to its growth suggests that even the resources that bolstered Egypt's power were ultimately from God, highlighting His sovereignty over all nations.
Ezekiel 31 4 Commentary
God's prophetic word, channeled through His Spirit to Ezekiel, is directed with precision. The message is not for general consumption but specifically for Pharaoh of Egypt. This indicates a direct confrontation and judgment upon the Egyptian kingdom, highlighting its pride and eventual downfall. The prophet is a conduit for divine judgment against powerful nations that stood against God's people or opposed His sovereign will. The cedar metaphor in preceding verses paints a picture of past greatness, now set for a fall through God's decree.