Ezekiel 31:18

Ezekiel 31:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God.
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword. “ ‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below. You shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword. "This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God."
• New King James Version (NKJV)‘To which of the trees in Eden will you then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depths of the earth; you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude,’ says the Lord God.”

Context of Ezekiel 31:18

16I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit; and all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, will be comforted in the earth beneath [at Assyria’s downfall]. 17They also went down to Sheol with it to those who were slain by the sword; those who were its strength lived under its shade among the nations. “Which among the trees of Eden do you equal in glory and in greatness [O Egypt]? Yet you [also] will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth beneath (nether world). You will lie among the uncircumcised (the barbaric, the boorish, the crude) with those who were slain by the sword. This is how it shall be with Pharaoh and all his hordes!” ’ says the Lord God.”

Ezekiel 31:18 word by word

אֶל־מִ֨י דָמִ֥יתָ כָּ֛כָה בְּכָב֥וֹד וּבְגֹ֖דֶל בַּעֲצֵי־עֵ֑דֶן וְהוּרַדְתָּ֨ אֶת־עֲצֵי־עֵ֜דֶן אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ תַּחְתִּ֗ית בְּת֨וֹךְ עֲרֵלִ֤ים תִּשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־חַלְלֵי־חֶ֔רֶב ה֤וּא פַרְעֹה֙ וְכָל־הֲמונ֔וֹ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• To whom art thou thus likeדָּמָהdâmâh · to resembleH1819
• in gloryכָּבוֹדkâbôd kâbôd · gloryH3519
• and in greatnessגֹּ֫דֶלgôdel · greatnessH1433
• among the treesעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
• of Edenעֵ֫דֶן‛êden · EdenH5731
• yet shalt thou be brought downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• unto the nether partsתַּחְתִּיtachtîy · lowerH8482
• of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• thou shalt lieשָׁכַבshâkab · to lie down: be deadH7901
• in the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• of the uncircumcisedעָרֵל‛ârêl · uncircumcisedH6189
• slainחָלָלchâlâl · slain: killedH2491
• by the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• Pharaohפַּרְעֹהpar‛ôh · PharaohH6547
• and all his multitudeהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
• saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
• the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069

Cross-references for Ezekiel 31:18

• Ezekiel 31:2“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes, ‘Whom are you like in your greatness?
• Ezekiel 32:19‘Whom [among them] do you surpass in beauty? Go down and make your bed with the uncircumcised (the barbaric, the boorish, the crude).’
• Ezekiel 31:9I made it beautiful with the great mass of its branches, So that all the trees of Eden which were in the garden of God were jealous of it (Assyria).
• Ezekiel 28:10You will die the death of the uncircumcised [barbarian] By the hand of strangers, For I have spoken!’ says the Lord God.” ’ ”
• Ezekiel 32:10I will make many peoples appalled at you [at your judgment and your defeat], and their kings will be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword [of judgment] before them; they will tremble and shudder every moment, every man for his own life, on the day of your downfall.”
• 1 Samuel 17:26Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes the disgrace [of his taunting] from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God?”
• 2 Samuel 1:20Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of the uncircumcised (pagans) will exult.
• Jeremiah 9:25“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised [physically] and yet uncircumcised [spiritually]—
• 2 Chronicles 28:22In the time of his distress, this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the Lord.
• Psalms 52:7“Look, [this is] the man who would not make God his strength [his stronghold and fortress], But trusted in the abundance of his riches, Taking refuge in his wealth.”
• Matthew 13:19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [regarding salvation] and does not understand and grasp it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
• Matthew 26:26Now as they were eating Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:14Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul].

Commentaries on Ezekiel 31:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18This is Pharaoh - All that I have spoken in this allegory of the lofty cedar refers to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, his princes, confederates, and people. Calmet understands the whole chapter of the king of Assyria, under which he allows that Egypt is adumbrated; and hence on this verse he quotes: - Mutato nomine, de te fabula narratur. What is said of Assyria belongs to thee, O Egypt.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Application to Pharaoh. The uncircumcised - The Egyptians, at least their nobles, were circumcised. Pharaoh should thus be dishonored with those whom the Egyptians themselves deemed unclean.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-18Verses 10-18 The king of Egypt resembled the king of Assyria in his greatness: here we see he resembles him in his pride. And he shall resemble him in his fall. His own sin brings his ruin. None of our comforts are ever lost, but what have been a thousand times forfeited. When great men fall, many fall with them, as many have fallen before them. The fall of proud men is for warning to others, to keep them humble. See how low Pharaoh lies; and see what all…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18The main message of this long comparison now becomes clear. Egypt was strong and glorious. However, it would be destroyed just as Assyria had been. It would also share in the shame of other nations that trusted in their own power and greatness.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Application of the parabolic description of Assyria to the parallel case of Egypt. "All that has been said of the Assyrian consider as said to thyself. To whom art thou so like, as thou art to the Assyrian? To none." The lesson on a gigantic scale of Eden-like privileges abused to pride and sin by the Assyrian, as in the case of the first man in Eden, ending in ruin, was to be repeated in Egypt's case. For the unchangeable God governs the world on the…Read the comment

Topics related to Ezekiel 31:18

• Eden

In the dictionaries

• Eden
• God
• Pharaoh
• Circumcision
• Egypt
• Fair
• Glory
• Isaiah

Commentaries on Ezekiel 31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings