God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 31:15
15“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: When the tree went down to the grave, I made people mourn. I covered the underground springs and held back the rivers. The many water sources stopped flowing. I made Lebanon mourn for the tree, and all the trees in the field fainted as they grieved over it.
Ezekiel 31:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
- New International Version (NIV)“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day it was brought down to the realm of the dead I covered the deep springs with mourning for it; I held back its streams, and its abundant waters were restrained. Because of it I clothed Lebanon with gloom, and all the trees of the field withered away.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Thus says the Lord God: On the day the cedar went down to Sheol I caused mourning; I closed the deep over it, and restrained its rivers, and many waters were stopped. I clothed Lebanon in gloom for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Thus says the Lord God: ‘In the day when it went down to hell, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it. I restrained its rivers, and the great waters were held back. I caused Lebanon to mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it.
Context of Ezekiel 31:15
13All the birds perched on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived in its branches. 14Then all the other trees growing by the water were kept from becoming arrogant because of their height, and their tops were no longer allowed to reach the clouds. So no tree, even if it is well-watered, will ever stand that tall. Every tree is going to die and go below the earth to join those who have died and gone down to the pit. “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: When the tree went down to the grave, I made people mourn. I covered the underground springs and held back the rivers. The many water sources stopped flowing. I made Lebanon mourn for the tree, and all the trees in the field fainted as they grieved over it. 16I made the nations tremble in fear at the sound of the tree’s crash. I brought the tree down to the grave to join those who had gone down to the pit. Then all the trees in Eden, the choicest and best trees of Lebanon, and all the trees that were well-watered were comforted below the earth. 17They had gone down with the tree in the grave to join others killed in battle. All who lived in its shadow were scattered among the nations.
Read all of Ezekiel 31Ezekiel 31:15 word by word
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה בְּי֨וֹם רִדְתּ֤וֹ שְׁא֙וֹלָה֙ הֶאֱבַ֜לְתִּי כִּסֵּ֤תִי עָלָיו֙ אֶת־תְּה֔וֹם וָֽאֶמְנַע֙ נַהֲרוֹתֶ֔יהָ וַיִּכָּלְא֖וּ מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים וָאַקְדִּ֤ר עָלָיו֙ לְבָנ֔וֹן וְכָל־עֲצֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה עָלָ֥יו עֻלְפֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
- In the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- when he went downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- to the graveשְׁאוֹלshe'ôl she'ôl · hell: SheolH7585
- I caused a mourningאָבַל'âbal · to mournH56
- I coveredכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
- the deepתְּהוֹםtehôm tehôm · abyssH8415
- for him, and I restrainedמָנַעmâna‛ · to withholdH4513
- the floodsנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
- thereof, and the greatרַבrab · manyH7227
- watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- were stayedכָּלָאkâlâ' · to restrainH3607
- and I caused Lebanonלְבָנוֹןlebânôn · LebanonH3844
- to mournקָדַרqâdar · be darkH6937
- for him, and all the treesעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
- of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- faintedעֻלְפֶּה‛ûlpeh · faintingH5969
Cross-references for Ezekiel 31:15
- Nahum 2:8Nineveh was like a pool of water from its first day on. But now its people are fleeing. “Stop! Stop!” But no one turns around.
- Revelation 18:9“The kings of the earth who had sex with her and lived in luxury with her will cry and mourn over her when they see the smoke rise from her raging fire.
- Malachi 3:4The offerings from Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the past, as in years long ago.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 31:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15I caused Lebanon to mourn for him - All the confederates of Pharaoh are represented as deploring his fall, Ezekiel 31:16, Ezekiel 31:17.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 Effect of Assyria‘s fall. Ezekiel 31:15 I covered the deep - To cover with sack-cloth was an expression of mourning Ezekiel 27:31. The deep, the source of Assyria‘s prosperity Ezekiel 31:4, was made to mourn, being dried up instead of giving forth its waters, its glad abundance. For him - Upon his account. Floods great waters - Or, rivers the multitude of waters (as in Ezekiel 31:4-5). Lebanon represents the country which Assyria…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. 15The mourning for the great tree, Assyria, was as great as the tree itself. Its fall brought deep sorrow. The tallest cedar trees in the ancient world grew in Lebanon. These trees were known for their great height and strength.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. covered the deep--as mourners cover their heads in token of mourning, "I made the deep that watered the cedar" to wrap itself in mourning for him. The waters of the deep are the tributary peoples of Assyria (Re 17:15). fainted--literally, were "faintness" (itself); more forcible than the verb.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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries