Keraia
Ezekiel 31

Ezekiel 31:18

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

Translations

Modern
Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth 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 multitude, declares the Lord GOD.’”
Traditional
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.
Literal
To whom, then, will you be compared, in glory and in greatness, among the trees in Eden? You also will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the land below; in the midst of the uncircumcised you will lie, with those slain by the sword. That is Pharaoh and all his multitude, a declaration of the Lord YHWH.’”
Latin
Cui assimilatus es, o inclyte atque sublimis inter ligna voluptatis? ecce deductus es cum lignis voluptatis ad terram ultimam: in medio incircumcisorum dormies, cum eis qui interfecti sunt gladio: ipse est Pharao, et omnis multitudo ejus, dicit Dominus Deus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth 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 multitude, declares the Lord GOD.’”

Notes

Ezekiel 31:18

The 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.

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

Hophra: Pharaoh during Jeremiah's time LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Places

Eden: The perfect garden where God placed Adam and Eve

Glossary

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

Topics

Eden: The Garden of Eden