Ezekiel 31:8 kjv
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
Ezekiel 31:8 nkjv
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it; The fir trees were not like its boughs, And the chestnut trees were not like its branches; No tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty.
Ezekiel 31:8 niv
The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, nor could the junipers equal its boughs, nor could the plane trees compare with its branches? no tree in the garden of God could match its beauty.
Ezekiel 31:8 esv
The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, nor the fir trees equal its boughs; neither were the plane trees like its branches; no tree in the garden of God was its equal in beauty.
Ezekiel 31:8 nlt
No other cedar in the garden of God
could rival it.
No cypress had branches to equal it;
no plane tree had boughs to compare.
No tree in the garden of God
came close to it in beauty.
Ezekiel 31 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 31:8 | No cedar in God's garden outshone it; no cypress could match its boughs; no plane tree's branches compared to it. | Divine Favor & Distinction |
| Genesis 2:8 | The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. | Garden of Eden Origin |
| Song of Songs 5:10 | My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. | Beloved's Uniqueness |
| Psalm 92:12 | The righteous flourish like the palm tree; they grow like a cedar in Lebanon. | Righteousness & Growth |
| Isaiah 14:8 | The cypresses rejoice at you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, "Since you have fallen, no lumberjack has come up against us." | Fallen Pride & Contrast |
| Jeremiah 17:8 | He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots toward the current. It fears not when heat comes; its leaves remain green; it is unconcerned in years of drought, for it never ceases to bear fruit. | Steadfastness & Fruitfulness |
| Matthew 6:28-30 | And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? | Divine Provision & Beauty |
| Revelation 22:2 | Through the middle of the street on either side of the river, stood the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and on the leaves of the tree were the signs of the nations. | Tree of Life Attributes |
| Proverbs 3:18 | She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. | Wisdom's Value |
| Isaiah 55:12 | For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. | Joy & Natural Response |
| Romans 11:17 | But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and have become partaker of the root and the richness of the olive tree... | Grafting & Richness |
| Galatians 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, that is, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ |
| 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. | Abiding & Fruitfulness |
| Revelation 7:17 | For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from every eye. | Shepherd & Comfort |
| Psalm 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. | Prosperity & Seasons |
| Jeremiah 10:24 | Correct me, Lord, but not in your anger, or discipline me, but not in your wrath. | Discipline & Mercy |
| Luke 12:27 | Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. | Superior Beauty |
| Amos 2:9 | Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of cedars and who was strong as the oaks. I destroyed his fruit from above and his roots from beneath. | Amorite Strength & Destruction |
| 2 Samuel 23:5 | Has not my house been so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For he will cause no salvation to flourish and no desire to be met? For he makes it all to sprout. | Covenant & Flourishing |
| Colossians 2:7 | having been firmly rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness. | Rootedness & Thankfulness |
Ezekiel 31 verses
Ezekiel 31 8 Meaning
The cedars of Eden did not surpass this tree in beauty or stature. It was not dwarfed by other trees in the garden, neither were its branches as magnificent as those of any other tree planted by God.
Ezekiel 31 8 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's prophecy against Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Pharaoh is depicted as a majestic cedar in the garden of God (Lebanon), symbolizing his past glory and power. However, this splendor is now juxtaposed with his impending downfall due to his pride and defiance against God. The entire chapter uses the imagery of a great cedar, representing Assyria and then Pharaoh, to illustrate divine judgment on powerful nations that exalt themselves. Ezekiel is addressing the people of Israel, reminding them that their temporary setbacks do not mean God has abandoned them, especially in contrast to the ultimate destruction of proud nations.
Ezekiel 31 8 Word Analysis
No (Ain) - Hebrew word for "not," a negation.
cedar (Erez) - Hebrew for a majestic, strong, and beautiful tree, often associated with Lebanon and considered a symbol of strength, durability, and majesty. In this context, it refers to the grand trees of Lebanon.
in (Bĕ) - Hebrew preposition indicating location or presence.
God’s (Elohim) - Hebrew for "God," often used to express God's power and majesty. Here, it implies divine possession or perfection.
garden (Gan) - Hebrew for "garden," specifically referring to Eden, the paradise God created.
did (Nithan) - Hebrew verb "nathen" in Niphal stem, meaning "was given" or "produced."
surpass (Yither) - Hebrew verb "yatar," meaning "to be left over," "to exceed," or "to excel."
it - Refers back to the great cedar representing Pharaoh.
Was not (Lo') - Hebrew negation.
dwarfed (Nim’at) - Derived from "ma'at," meaning "to be hidden," "to be few," or "to be small." It implies inferiority or insignificance.
by (Mikol) - Hebrew "me'eth," meaning "from all."
other (Achĕr) - Hebrew for "other," "another."
trees (ʻEtz) - Hebrew for "tree."
planted (Nasu'ath) - Hebrew verb "nasa'" in Niphal passive participle, meaning "to be lifted up," "to be borne," or "to be carried."
by (Al-yad) - Hebrew prepositional phrase, "by the side of," "near."
God (ʻEl) - Hebrew for "God," singular, emphasizing God's being.
neither (Veloh) - Hebrew conjunction and negation, "and not."
were (Hĕyuh) - Hebrew verb "hayah," "to be," plural past tense.
its (Mal'khemeto) - Possessive pronoun indicating belonging to the cedar.
branches (ʻAnaph) - Hebrew for "branch," "bough," or "sprout."
as (Kĕmo) - Hebrew for "like," "as."
magnificent (Ya’avriw) - Hebrew verb "abar," in Hiphil conjugation, meaning "to make fruitful," "to cause to bear," or "to let loose."
as (Shĕhu) - Hebrew pronoun "she," meaning "who," "which," "that."
those (Esh) - Hebrew for "those," "which."
of (Min) - Hebrew preposition, "from."
any (Kol) - Hebrew for "all," "every."
other (Yoter) - Hebrew comparative form of "yatar," meaning "more," "more excellent."
tree (ʻEts) - Hebrew for "tree."
planted (Nata') - Hebrew verb "nata'," "to plant," participle.
Word-group analysis: "No cedar in God's garden outshone it" highlights the cedar's exceptional beauty, even when compared to the most desirable trees in paradise. "no cypress could match its boughs" emphasizes its unparalleled stature and the spread of its branches. "neither were its branches as magnificent as those of any other tree planted by God" reiterates this preeminence, underscoring that even other divine plantings did not possess its glory. The cumulative effect is to establish the subject (Pharaoh as the great cedar) as possessing a level of beauty and magnificence unsurpassed by anything in God's own meticulously designed garden.
Ezekiel 31 8 Bonus Section
The imagery of trees, especially cedars and cypresses, is potent in the Bible. Cedars, known for their towering height, longevity, and fragrant wood, often symbolize strength, royalty, and divine blessing (Psalm 92:12). Cypresses, also tall and enduring, are mentioned alongside cedars. Comparing Pharaoh to a cedar in "God's garden" implies he once stood in a position of great privilege and divine favor, perhaps even reflecting God's glory, similar to how trees in Eden symbolized perfection and God's presence. The garden of God (Eden) is the ultimate standard of beauty and perfection, so anything surpassing even the trees there is exceptionally magnificent. The destruction of such a prominent and glorious entity serves as a powerful warning against pride and self-exaltation, reinforcing the principle that "pride comes before a fall."
Ezekiel 31 8 Commentary
This verse emphasizes the unique and superior beauty and stature of the cedar representing Pharaoh. Even within the idyllic setting of God's garden, a place of perfect beauty, this tree stood out. It wasn't just equal to other fine trees; it surpassed them in grandeur. This description sets a high standard for the tree's previous glory, making its subsequent fall a more significant event, highlighting the fall from great heights. This speaks to a divine assessment of beauty and grandeur that was recognized even in created things before their ultimate purpose or judgment.