English Standard Version
Ezekiel 31:4
4The waters nourished it; the deep made it grow tall, making its rivers flow around the place of its planting, sending forth its streams to all the trees of the field.
Ezekiel 31:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
- New International Version (NIV)The waters nourished it, deep springs made it grow tall; their streams flowed all around its base and sent their channels to all the trees of the field.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The waters made it grow; Underground waters gave it height, With their rivers running around the place where it was planted, And sent out rivulets to all the trees of the field.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Deep springs watered it and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant. The water flowed around it like a river, streaming to all the trees nearby.
Context of Ezekiel 31:4
2"Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: "Whom are you like in your greatness? 3Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade, and of towering height, its top among the clouds. The waters nourished it; the deep made it grow tall, making its rivers flow around the place of its planting, sending forth its streams to all the trees of the field. 5So it towered high above all the trees of the field; its boughs grew large and its branches long from abundant water in its shoots. 6All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow lived all great nations.
Read all of Ezekiel 31Ezekiel 31:4 word by word
מַ֣יִם גִּדְּל֔וּהוּ תְּה֖וֹם רֹֽמְמָ֑תְהוּ אֶת־נַהֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ הֹלֵךְ֙ סְבִיב֣וֹת מַטָּעָ֔הּ וְאֶת־תְּעָלֹתֶ֣יהָ שִׁלְחָ֔ה אֶ֖ל כָּל־עֲצֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- made him greatגָּדַלgâdal · to magnifyH1431
- the deepתְּהוֹםtehôm tehôm · abyssH8415
- set him up on highרוּםrûm · to exaltH7311
- with her riversנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
- runningהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
- round aboutסָבִיבsâbîyb sebîybâh · aroundH5439
- his plantsמַטָּעmaţţâ‛ · plantationH4302
- and sent outשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- her little riversתְּעָלָהte‛âlâh · conduitH8585
- unto all the treesעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
- of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
Cross-references for Ezekiel 31:4
- Ezekiel 17:5Then he took of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters. He set it like a willow twig,
- Proverbs 14:28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
- Jeremiah 51:36Therefore thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry,
- Revelation 17:1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,
Commentaries on Ezekiel 31:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The waters made him great - Alluding to the fertility of Egypt by the overflowing of the Nile. But waters often mean peoples. By means of the different nations under the Egyptians, that government became very opulent. These nations are represented as fowls and beasts, taking shelter under the protection of this great political Egyptian tree, Ezekiel 31:6.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-9Verses 3-9 Fifth prophecy against Egypt: a warning to Pharaoh from the fate of the Assyrians. The Assyrian empire, after having been supreme in Asia for four centuries, had been overthrown by the united forces of the Babylonians and Medes, in the year of the battle of Carchemish (605 b.c.), which had broken the power of Egypt. This gives force to the warning to Egypt from Assyria‘s fall. Ezekiel 31:4 His plants - Rather, her plantation. The water…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-4The cedar of Lebanon was a tree known for its beauty and great value. People used its wood for building, trade, and even military purposes. Assyria is compared to a tall cedar tree. Its army had once been stronger than any other army. Like a tree whose top reaches the clouds, Assyria’s power seemed greater than all others.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. waters ... little rivers--the Tigris with its branches and "rivulets," or "conduits" for irrigation, the source of Assyria's fertility. "The deep" is the ever flowing water, never dry. Metaphorically, for Assyria's resources, as the "conduits" are her colonies.Read the comment
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries