Christian Standard Bible
Ezekiel 31:18
18“‘Who then are you like in glory and greatness among Eden’s trees? You also will be brought down to the underworld to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his hordes. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”
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 downfall, when I threw it down to Sheol to be with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were comforted in the underworld. 17They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies they had lived in its shade among the nations. “‘Who then are you like in glory and greatness among Eden’s trees? You also will be brought down to the underworld to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his hordes. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”
Read all of Ezekiel 31Ezekiel 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, ‘Who are you like in your greatness?
- Ezekiel 32:19Who do you surpass in loveliness? Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised!
- Ezekiel 31:9I made it beautiful with its many limbs, and all the trees of Eden, which were in God’s garden, envied it.
- Ezekiel 28:10You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of strangers. For I have spoken. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”
- Ezekiel 32:10I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you, and their kings will shudder with fear because of you when I brandish my sword in front of them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.
- 1 Samuel 17:26David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
- 2 Samuel 1:20Do not tell it in Gath, don’t announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.
- Jeremiah 9:25“‘Look, the days are coming — this is the Lord’s declaration — when I will punish all the circumcised yet uncircumcised:
- 2 Chronicles 28:22At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord.
- Psalms 52:7“Here is the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, taking refuge in his destructive behavior.”
- Matthew 13:19When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.
- Matthew 26:26As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:14So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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