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

16The other nations shook when they heard that great tree fall. I had caused it to go down into its grave, deep under the ground, as all people must die. The other strong trees saw what had happened to the great cedar tree. They were the trees of Eden and the best trees of Lebanon that had received plenty of water. They were pleased to see that the great cedar tree had fallen down. 17The trees that had lived in the great tree's shade also fell and went into their graves. Those are the nations that had helped the great tree to fight its battles. They went to join other soldiers who had died in war. Yes, Egypt is very strong, like the great trees of Eden. You are as great and powerful as any nation. But you will fall to the ground and go into your grave. It happened to Assyria and the other nations, and it will happen to you. You will lie under the ground among people who do not belong to me and who have died in war. This is a picture of what will happen to Pharaoh and all his people. That is what the Almighty Lord says.” ’

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 this to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his people: “You think that you are as powerful as any other country!
• Ezekiel 32:19Say to them, “You think you are more beautiful than the people of other nations. But you too must go down to lie in your graves among those who do not belong to God.”
• Ezekiel 31:9I made that tree beautiful, with all its strong branches. All the trees in Eden, God's garden, were jealous of that tree.
• Ezekiel 28:10Foreign people will kill you. You will die like people who do not belong to me. I, the Almighty Lord have said this.” ’
• Ezekiel 32:10The people of many countries will be afraid when they see what I have done to you. Their kings will shake with fear. When I wave my sword in front of them, they will not stop shaking! At the time that your life finishes, they will also fear death.
• 1 Samuel 17:26David asked the men who were standing near him, ‘If someone kills this Philistine soldier and takes away the shame from Israel, what gift will he get? He is an unclean Philistine! He must stop insulting the army of our God, who lives for ever.’
• 2 Samuel 1:20Do not tell the people in Gath about it. Do not tell the news in the streets of Ashkelon. If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will sing with joy. Yes, those foreign people who do not worship God will be happy.
• Jeremiah 9:25The Lord says, ‘Be careful! Very soon I will punish all people who do not respect me. Those people may be circumcised, but if they do not respect me, I will punish them.
• 2 Chronicles 28:22During this time of trouble, King Ahaz did even more bad things against the Lord.
• Psalms 52:7‘Look! This man did not trust God to keep him safe. Instead, he trusted in his riches. He thought that he could be cruel, and that would keep him safe.’
• Matthew 13:19Some people hear the message about God's kingdom but they do not understand it. Satan comes and he quickly takes the message away from their minds. The seeds that fell on the path show what those people are like.
• Matthew 26:26While Jesus and his disciples were eating, he took a loaf of bread. He thanked God for it and then he broke the bread into pieces. He gave some of it to each of them. He said, ‘Take this bread and eat it. This is my body.’
• 1 Corinthians 10:14So, my friends, keep away from idols. Do not worship them.

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
• Eden, garden of Eden
• Pharaoh, king of Egypt
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Circumcision
• Egypt
• Fair
• Glory

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