To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
To the end that none of all the trees {H6086} by the waters {H4325} exalt {H1361} themselves for their height {H6967}, neither shoot up {H5414} their top {H6788} among the thick boughs {H5688}, neither their trees {H352} stand up {H5975} in their height {H1363}, all that drink {H8354} water {H4325}: for they are all delivered {H5414} unto death {H4194}, to the nether parts {H8482} of the earth {H776}, in the midst {H8432} of the children {H1121} of men {H120}, with them that go down {H3381} to the pit {H953}.
This is to warn all the trees growing near water not to grow so tall, not to lift their crowns above the leafy boughs, and all that take up water not to reach up in their height. For they are all given over to death, to the depths of the underworld, along with human beings, with those who descend to the pit.'
This happened so that no other trees by the waters would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds, and no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the depths of the earth, among the mortals who descend to the Pit.’
to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves in their stature, neither set their top among the thick boughs, nor that their mighty ones stand up in their height, even all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
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Psalms 63:9
But those [that] seek my soul, to destroy [it], shall go into the lower parts of the earth. -
Psalms 63:10
They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. -
2 Peter 2:6
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; -
Nehemiah 13:18
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. -
Ezekiel 26:20
When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living; -
Psalms 82:7
But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. -
1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Ezekiel 31:14 serves as the moral of a parable, a stark warning delivered by God through the prophet Ezekiel to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. This verse underscores the universal lesson derived from the downfall of Assyria, which was previously likened to a magnificent, proud cedar tree.
Context
In Ezekiel chapter 31, God presents an elaborate allegory comparing Assyria, a once-mighty empire, to a towering cedar in Lebanon, unmatched in its beauty and height. This cedar grew exceedingly proud of its stature, overshadowing all other "trees" (representing other nations). However, because of its arrogance, God allowed it to be cut down and cast into the realm of the dead. Verse 14 then articulates the profound reason for this judgment: "To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height..." This was a direct caution to Egypt, which was also a powerful nation at the time, not to succumb to the same pride that led to Assyria's destruction. The chapter serves as a prophetic word about the inevitable fall of haughty nations and rulers who defy God's sovereignty.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "nether parts of the earth" and "go down to the pit" are common Old Testament euphemisms for Sheol (Hebrew: שְׁאוֹל), the realm of the dead or the grave. It signifies a universal descent into death, where all, mighty or weak, eventually reside. This imagery reinforces the idea that earthly power is fleeting and ultimately dissolves into the dust from which humanity came.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 31:14 offers timeless lessons for individuals and nations alike: