Ezekiel 31:13

Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:

Upon his ruin {H4658} shall all the fowls {H5775} of the heaven {H8064} remain {H7931}, and all the beasts {H2416} of the field {H7704} shall be upon his branches {H6288}:

All the birds will settle on his fallen trunk, and all the wild animals will be on his branches.

All the birds of the air nested on its fallen trunk, and all the beasts of the field lived among its boughs.

Upon his ruin all the birds of the heavens shall dwell, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches;

Context of Ezekiel 31:13

Ezekiel 31 is a powerful prophetic allegory, delivered to Pharaoh, King of Egypt, comparing his nation (and implicitly, the once-mighty Assyrian empire) to a magnificent cedar of Lebanon. This cedar was unparalleled in its stature, beauty, and reach, providing shade and shelter to all nations. God recounts how this tree was exalted, yet ultimately brought low due to its pride and self-exaltation. Verses 10-14 describe the inevitable downfall and desolation of this once-glorious power, emphasizing God's sovereign judgment over all earthly kingdoms. Verse 13 specifically details the immediate aftermath of this catastrophic collapse.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Desolation: This verse starkly illustrates the completeness of God's judgment. What was once a source of shelter and awe becomes a place of utter ruin and abandonment. The "fowls of the heaven" and "beasts of the field" are not seeking shade, but rather feasting on the fallen, symbolizing a state of complete desolation and decay. This imagery powerfully conveys the grim consequences of pride and rebellion against God.
  • Fall of Mighty Powers: The passage serves as a sobering reminder that no earthly power, however grand or influential, is beyond the reach of God's judgment. The mighty cedar, representing a powerful nation like Egypt or Assyria, is depicted as utterly destroyed, its glory turned to dust. This theme resonates with other prophetic warnings about the dangers of pride leading to destruction.
  • Reversal of Fortune: The tree that once overshadowed the world now lies fallen, its "branches" (which once provided refuge) now merely a resting place for scavengers. This dramatic reversal highlights the impermanence of worldly glory and the swiftness with which God can bring down the proud.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "ruin" here is mappal (מַפָּל), which literally means a "fallen thing" or "a carcass," emphasizing the lifeless, decaying state of the once-vibrant entity. The imagery of birds and beasts gathering is a common prophetic motif in the Old Testament, signifying a place of utter desolation, abandonment, and often, a lack of human presence due to divine curse or judgment. Similar imagery is found in passages predicting severe judgment, such as Jeremiah 7:33, where the bodies of the slain become food for the birds and beasts.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 31:13 offers timeless lessons for both nations and individuals:

  • Humility Before God: The fate of the proud cedar serves as a powerful warning against national or personal arrogance. True strength and lasting stability come not from self-exaltation but from humility and reliance on God.
  • God's Sovereignty: This verse reaffirms God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers and empires. No kingdom or individual can defy His will indefinitely. This understanding brings comfort to the oppressed and a call to repentance for the proud.
  • The Impermanence of Worldly Glory: The passage reminds us that all earthly achievements, power, and glory are fleeting. What seems insurmountable today can be utterly destroyed tomorrow. This perspective encourages us to seek lasting treasures and build on foundations that endure, rather than on temporary worldly success.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 32:4

    Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.

  • Ezekiel 29:5

    And I will leave thee [thrown] into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.

  • Isaiah 18:6

    They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.

  • Revelation 19:17

    And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

  • Revelation 19:18

    That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.

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