Ezekiel 31:9 kjv
I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
Ezekiel 31:9 nkjv
I made it beautiful with a multitude of branches, So that all the trees of Eden envied it, That were in the garden of God.'
Ezekiel 31:9 niv
I made it beautiful with abundant branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden in the garden of God.
Ezekiel 31:9 esv
I made it beautiful in the mass of its branches, and all the trees of Eden envied it, that were in the garden of God.
Ezekiel 31:9 nlt
Because I made this tree so beautiful,
and gave it such magnificent foliage,
it was the envy of all the other trees of Eden,
the garden of God.
Ezekiel 31 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 31:3 | Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful boughs... | Ezekiel 31:3 (Parallel comparison) |
| Ezekiel 31:5 | Thus was it made great in its height... | Ezekiel 31:5 (Description of grandeur) |
| Ezekiel 31:6 | All the birds of the heavens made their nests in his boughs... | Ezekiel 31:6 (Extent of influence) |
| Ezekiel 31:10 | Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are towering in height... | Ezekiel 31:10 (Cause of judgment) |
| Isaiah 14:13 | You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will exalt my throne... | Isaiah 14:13 (Pride and ascension) |
| Daniel 4:10 | I saw in the visions of my head as I lay on my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. | Daniel 4:10 (Divine perspective on earthly kingdoms) |
| Genesis 13:10 | ...like the Garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt in coming to Zoar. | Genesis 13:10 (Egypt's fertility) |
| Psalms 104:16 | The trees of the LORD are filled, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. | Psalms 104:16 (Symbol of divine strength) |
| Amos 2:9 | Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of cedars... | Amos 2:9 (Comparison of strength) |
| Nahum 3:4 | because of the many harlotries of the prostitut, the graceful and very beautiful mistress of sorceries... | Nahum 3:4 (Egypt's enticement and downfall) |
| Jeremiah 46:17 | They will cry there, 'Pharaoh is a mere Romer, he has let the moment pass.' | Jeremiah 46:17 (Pharaoh's impotence) |
| Revelation 18:17 | For in one hour all this wealth was made desolate.' | Revelation 18:17 (Sudden destruction) |
| Ezekiel 29:3 | Speak, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt... | Ezekiel 29:3 (God's opposition to Egypt) |
| Ezekiel 29:18 | son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor against Tyre... | Ezekiel 29:18 (Prophecy of conquest) |
| Matthew 6:28 | And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow... | Matthew 6:28 (Natural beauty) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. | 1 Corinthians 1:27 (Divine inversion) |
| Job 29:24 | If I would smile at them, they would not believe it... | Job 29:24 (Past glory) |
| Psalms 92:12 | The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. | Psalms 92:12 (Righteous prosperity) |
| Luke 1:52 | He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. | Luke 1:52 (God scatters the proud) |
| Daniel 7:4 | The first was like a lion... | Daniel 7:4 (Symbolism of empires) |
| Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Proverbs 16:18 (Warning against pride) |
Ezekiel 31 verses
Ezekiel 31 9 Meaning
This verse describes the immense beauty and imposing stature of the Egyptian empire, personified as a magnificent cedar tree in Lebanon, which surpasses all other trees in its grandeur and desirability. Its pride was evident in its towering height and the admiration it garnered from other nations.
Ezekiel 31 9 Context
This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Ezekiel chapters 29-32 that focuses on the judgment of Egypt. Egypt, under Pharaoh, is depicted as a powerful and prosperous nation, symbolized by a great cedar tree. However, this prosperity and power led to pride and reliance on its own strength rather than God. Ezekiel is using the imagery of trees, particularly the cedars of Lebanon, which were renowned for their size and beauty, to illustrate the vastness and appeal of the Egyptian empire to other nations. The prophecy addresses Egypt's historical significance and its future downfall as a divine judgment. The immediate context is comparing Egypt's former glory to the grandeur of Assyria, indicating that Egypt's pride was no less significant.
Ezekiel 31 9 Word Analysis
- Behold: A command to draw attention, signifying importance.
- I am: Direct statement of self-existence and authority.
- God: Elohim, a name for God emphasizing His might and power as Creator.
- great: Gadal. Indicates size, magnitude, importance, and might.
- cedar: 'erez. Refers to the cedar tree, a symbol of strength, grandeur, and prestige in the ancient Near East, especially the cedars of Lebanon.
- of Lebanon: Explicitly connects it to the renowned forests of Lebanon.
- whose: Possessive pronoun.
- boughs: Sipach (root: sapach). Refers to branches, spreading out, protection.
- fair: Yafeh. Beautiful, comely, handsome.
- in: Preposition indicating location or circumstance.
- height: Gevah. Loftiness, stature, pride.
- shade: Tsel. Shadow, protection, a place of refuge.
- of: Preposition indicating possession or association.
- its: Possessive pronoun referring to the cedar/Egypt.
- form: Temunah. Figure, shape, likeness.
- was: Simple past tense verb.
- high: Gabovvah. Elevated, lofty.
- and: Conjunction.
- its: Possessive pronoun.
- roots: Shoresh (root: sharash). Foundation, origin, depth.
- reached: ‘alah (root: ‘alah). To go up, to ascend.
- unto: Preposition indicating direction or extent.
Word Group Analysis
- "Great cedar of Lebanon": This entire phrase metaphorically represents Egypt, highlighting its immense power, vast influence, and celebrated beauty. The cedar of Lebanon was known for its towering height, strength, and resilience, making it a fitting symbol for a dominant ancient empire.
- "Fair boughs": These signify the extensive reach and attractive nature of Egypt's influence, which provided shade and refuge (as mentioned later in the verse) but also represented its deceptive allure and outward prosperity.
- "Height... form... roots reached unto...": This imagery emphasizes Egypt's profound establishment, its deep-seated power structures, and its impressive, visible achievements and international presence.
Ezekiel 31 9 Bonus Section
The imagery of a powerful, beautiful tree being judged is a recurring theme in the Bible. It reflects a covenantal understanding where national prosperity was often linked to obedience. Egypt's stature, while impressive, was ultimately rooted in its own strength and political machinations, not divine dependence, contrasting sharply with the true cedar planted by God in Lebanon (Psalm 104:16) or the righteous who flourish like cedars (Psalm 92:12). The "shade" it offered was not the saving shade of God but a temporal and ultimately failing refuge. The hyperbole used to describe Egypt underscores God's sovereignty over all nations, even the most formidable, and His ability to humble those who rely on their own greatness.
Ezekiel 31 9 Commentary
The verse portrays Egypt not just as a powerful nation, but one whose very structure and prosperity made it uniquely impressive, akin to the most magnificent tree. This magnificence, however, was built upon earthly might and allure rather than divine favor, leading to a fall. The cedars of Lebanon were highly valued for their timber and were symbols of stability and regal stature. Egypt's beauty and height made it a sought-after ally and a feared adversary. Its widespread influence (fair boughs) and established presence (roots reaching unto high places) contributed to its pride, setting the stage for its judgment by God, who can bring down the loftiest structures and humbling the proudest nations. This serves as a divine lesson on the transience of worldly power and the dangers of exalting oneself above the Creator.