Ezekiel 31:12
And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּכְרְתֻ֧הוּ
have cut him off
H3772
וַיִּכְרְתֻ֧הוּ
have cut him off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
1 of 22
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
זָרִ֛ים
And strangers
H2114
זָרִ֛ים
And strangers
Strong's:
H2114
Word #:
2 of 22
to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery
גוֹיִ֖ם
of the nations
H1471
גוֹיִ֖ם
of the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
4 of 22
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וַֽיִּטְּשֻֽׁהוּ׃
and have left
H5203
וַֽיִּטְּשֻֽׁהוּ׃
and have left
Strong's:
H5203
Word #:
5 of 22
properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive
הֶ֠הָרִים
him upon the mountains
H2022
הֶ֠הָרִים
him upon the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
7 of 22
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וּבְכָל
H3605
וּבְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
גֵּ֨אָי֜וֹת
and in all the valleys
H1516
גֵּ֨אָי֜וֹת
and in all the valleys
Strong's:
H1516
Word #:
9 of 22
a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
נָפְל֣וּ
are fallen
H5307
נָפְל֣וּ
are fallen
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
10 of 22
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
פֹֽרֹאתָיו֙
and his boughs
H6288
פֹֽרֹאתָיו֙
and his boughs
Strong's:
H6288
Word #:
13 of 22
properly, ornamentation, i.e., (plural) foliage (including the limbs) as bright green
בְּכֹל֙
H3605
בְּכֹל֙
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲפִיקֵ֣י
by all the rivers
H650
אֲפִיקֵ֣י
by all the rivers
Strong's:
H650
Word #:
15 of 22
properly, containing, i.e., a tube; also a bed or valley of a stream; also a strong thing or a hero
וַיֵּרְד֧וּ
are gone down
H3381
וַיֵּרְד֧וּ
are gone down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
17 of 22
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
19 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עַמֵּ֥י
and all the people
H5971
עַמֵּ֥י
and all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
20 of 22
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
Cross References
Ezekiel 28:7Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.Ezekiel 35:8And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.Ezekiel 30:11He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.Habakkuk 1:6For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their's.
Historical Context
When Nineveh fell (612 BC), Assyria's empire collapsed instantly. Vassal states rebelled, former allies ignored her, tributary nations ceased payments. The speed of Assyria's fall shocked the ancient world—Nahum celebrated it (Nahum 3:19). Within a generation, Assyria became a historical memory. Ezekiel uses this recent history to warn Egypt: pride brings sudden, complete, irreversible collapse.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the fallen cedar imagery teach about pride's consequences?
- How does abandonment by former allies demonstrate the emptiness of worldly power?
- Why does God use extended metaphors (tree, arms, etc.) rather than plain statements?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off—זָרִים עָרִיצֵי גוֹיִם (zārîm ʿārîṣê gôyim, 'foreigners, the ruthless of nations')—Babylon again. כָּרַת (kārat, 'cut down/off') continues the tree metaphor: the great cedar is felled.
And have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen—The fallen cedar's branches scatter across mountains (הָרִים, hārîm) and valleys (גֵּאָיוֹת, gēʾāyôt)—imagery of total destruction spread over the landscape. And his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land—Assyria's far-reaching influence (branches/boughs) is shattered. And all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him—Former vassals and allies abandon the fallen power. Once, nations sought Assyria's protection ('shadow'); now all flee. Egypt will experience the same: allies deserting, influence shattered, protection gone.