King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Which of the trees of 'Eden was your equal in glory or size? Yet you will be brought down to the underworld along with the trees of 'Eden. You will lie there among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword. This is Pharaoh and his hordes,' says Adonai ELOHIM."
Berean Standard Bible:
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.’”
American Standard Version:
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 are slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
To whom art thou thus like{H1819} in glory{H3519} and in greatness{H1433} among the trees{H6086} of Eden{H5731}? yet shalt thou be brought down{H3381} with the trees{H6086} of Eden{H5731} unto the nether parts{H8482} of the earth{H776}: thou shalt lie{H7901} in the midst{H8432} of the uncircumcised{H6189} with them that be slain{H2491} by the sword{H2719}. This is Pharaoh{H6547} and all his multitude{H1995}, saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezekiel 32:19
- Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.
Ezekiel 32:21
- The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
Ezekiel 28:10
- Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 31:16
- I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
Jeremiah 9:25
- Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all [them which are] circumcised with the uncircumcised;
Jeremiah 9:26
- Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all [that are] in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all [these] nations [are] uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel [are] uncircumcised in the heart.
Psalms 52:7
- Lo, [this is] the man [that] made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, [and] strengthened himself in his wickedness.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Ezekiel 31:18
Ezekiel 31:18 is part of a larger prophetic oracle found in Ezekiel 31, which uses the imagery of a majestic cedar tree to symbolize the greatness and fall of Egypt. In this particular verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, questioning the Pharaoh of Egypt as to whom he resembles in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden—the proverbial garden of perfection and the dwelling place of God. The Pharaoh, once towering like the cedars, is warned that he will be brought down to the "nether parts of the earth," a reference to death and the underworld, where he will lie among the uncircumcised and those slain by the sword.
The historical context of this verse is set during the period of the Babylonian Exile, when the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon. Egypt, at this time, was considered a potential ally against Babylon, but Ezekiel's message is clear: Egypt's power and glory are ephemeral and will not endure. The verse reflects themes of hubris and the impermanence of earthly power, as well as the sovereignty of God over all nations and rulers. God, through Ezekiel, is asserting that Pharaoh and his mighty host will suffer the same fate as other great powers that have dared to challenge the divine order, emphasizing that no one, no matter how powerful, can escape the judgment of the Lord.
In essence, Ezekiel 31:18 serves as a warning to the Pharaoh and the people of Egypt that their pride and perceived invincibility will lead to their downfall, and it also reassures the exiled Israelites that God has not forgotten them and will ultimately vindicate His name and His people against their oppressors.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1819
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּמָה
Transliteration: dâmâh
Pronunciation: daw-maw'
Description: a primitive root; to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider; compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think, use similitudes. - Strong's Number: H3519
There are 189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּבוֹד
Transliteration: kâbôwd
Pronunciation: kaw-bode'
Description: rarely כָּבֹד; from כָּבַד; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness; glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able). - Strong's Number: H1433
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גֹּדֶל
Transliteration: gôdel
Pronunciation: go'-del
Description: from גָּדַל; magnitude (literally or figuratively); greatness, stout(-ness). - Strong's Number: H6086
There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵץ
Transliteration: ʻêts
Pronunciation: ates
Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. - Strong's Number: H5731
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵדֶן
Transliteration: ʻÊden
Pronunciation: ay'-den
Description: the same as עֵדֶן (masculine); Eden, the region of Adam's home; Eden. - Strong's Number: H3381
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַד
Transliteration: yârad
Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. - Strong's Number: H8482
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תַּחְתִּי
Transliteration: tachtîy
Pronunciation: takh-tee'
Description: from תַּחַת; lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depths (figuratively, a pit, the womb); low (parts, -er, -er parts, -est), nether (part). - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H7901
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁכַב
Transliteration: shâkab
Pronunciation: shaw-kab'
Description: a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay. - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). - Strong's Number: H6189
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָרֵל
Transliteration: ʻârêl
Pronunciation: aw-rale'
Description: from עָרֵל; properly, exposed, i.e. projecting loose (as to the prepuce); used only technically,; uncircumcised (i.e. still having the prepuce uncurtailed); uncircumcised (person). - Strong's Number: H2491
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלָל
Transliteration: châlâl
Pronunciation: khaw-lawl'
Description: from חָלַל; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted; kill, profane, slain (man), [idiom] slew, (deadly) wounded. - Strong's Number: H2719
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶב
Transliteration: chereb
Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. - Strong's Number: H6547
There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּרְעֹה
Transliteration: Parʻôh
Pronunciation: par-o'
Description: of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings; Pharaoh. - Strong's Number: H1995
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָמוֹן
Transliteration: hâmôwn
Pronunciation: haw-mone'
Description: or הָמֹן; (Ezekiel 5:7), from הָמָה; a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth; abundance, company, many, multitude, multiply, noise, riches, rumbling, sounding, store, tumult. - Strong's Number: H5002
There are 358 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְאֻם
Transliteration: nᵉʼum
Pronunciation: neh-oom'
Description: from נָאַם; an oracle; (hath) said, saith. - Strong's Number: H136
There are 910 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲדֹנָי
Transliteration: ʼĂdônây
Pronunciation: ad-o-noy'
Description: an emphatic form of אָדוֹן; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only); (my) Lord. - Strong's Number: H3069
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוִה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvih
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vee'
Description: a variation of יְהֹוָה (used after אֲדֹנָי, and pronounced by Jews as אֱלֹהִים, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce יְהֹוָה as אֲדֹנָי); {YHWH}; God.