Keraia
Ezekiel 31

Ezekiel 31:15

Egypt Will Fall like Assyria · Ezekiel 31:1–18
Read Ezekiel 31

Translations

Modern
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the day it was brought down to Sheol, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it; I held back its rivers; its abundant waters were restrained. I made Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it.
Traditional
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.
Literal
Thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘On the day of its going down to Sheol, I caused mourning; I covered over it the deep, and I held back its rivers, and were cut off the great waters; and Lebanon I caused to mourn over it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it.
Latin
Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: In die quando descendit ad inferos, induxi luctum: operui eum abysso, et prohibui flumina ejus, et coërcui aquas multas: contristatus est super eum Libanus, et omnia ligna agri concussa sunt.

Original

Hebrew
English
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the day it was brought down to Sheol, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it; I held back its rivers; its abundant waters were restrained. I made Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it.

Notes

Ezekiel 31:15

  • The 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.

Ezekiel 31:1–18

Ezekiel asked the Egyptians to compare themselves to Assyria, which was like a great tree in Eden (Ezekiel 31:9). If that tree was cut down and sent to the underworld, how could Egypt, whose glory was less than Assyria's, believe it could survive?

Ezekiel 29:1–32:32

  • The seventh and final message of judgment against the nations targets Egypt, an old enemy and ally of Israel. This message is the longest and, like the one against Tyre, it addresses both Egypt and its ruler.

  • Egypt often tempted Israel and Judah to turn away from their loyalty to the Lord. Soon after leaving Egypt, Israel fell into the trap of Egypt's idolatry. Egypt led Judah to rely on chariots and horses instead of the Lord, but Egypt was unreliable when it mattered most. The Lord judged Egypt for leading his people astray (compare Luke 17:1–2).

Ezekiel 25:1–32:32

  • This section contains a series of messages of judgment against nearby nations. There are six shorter messages against Judah's immediate neighbors, arranged in a clockwise order, followed by a final message against Egypt (Ezekiel 30–32). Through experiencing God's judgment, the nations would recognize God's control over everything. The nations might be used to carry out God's judgment on his people, but they would not avoid judgment themselves.

  • One of the main purposes of these messages was to show that the negative part of God's promise to Abraham ("I will … curse those who curse you," Genesis 12:3) was still active. No one can harm God's people and avoid consequences, even when God's people are under his judgment.

Theme notes and profiles

Messages Against the Nations

Events

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Places

Lebanon: A mountainous region known for its cedar trees

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Cedar Ezekiel, Book of Hophra Lord Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar

Topics

Assyria: The Greatness, Extent, Duration, and Fall, Illustrated Lebanon: (Mourning of) of Deep Affliction