Ezekiel 31:14
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.
Original Language Analysis
לְמַ֡עַן
H4616
לְמַ֡עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
1 of 35
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 35
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 35
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִגְבְּה֨וּ
exalt
H1361
יִגְבְּה֨וּ
exalt
Strong's:
H1361
Word #:
4 of 35
to soar, i.e., be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 35
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֲצֵי
To the end that none of all the trees
H6086
עֲצֵי
To the end that none of all the trees
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
7 of 35
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
מָ֑יִם
by the waters
H4325
מָ֑יִם
by the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
8 of 35
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 35
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נִתְּנ֨וּ
for they are all delivered
H5414
נִתְּנ֨וּ
for they are all delivered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
10 of 35
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
11 of 35
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בֵּ֣ין
H996
בֵּ֣ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
14 of 35
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
עֲבֹתִ֔ים
among the thick boughs
H5688
עֲבֹתִ֔ים
among the thick boughs
Strong's:
H5688
Word #:
15 of 35
something intwined, i.e., a string, wreath or foliage
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
16 of 35
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַעַמְד֧וּ
stand up
H5975
יַעַמְד֧וּ
stand up
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
17 of 35
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
אֵלֵיהֶ֛ם
neither their trees
H352
אֵלֵיהֶ֛ם
neither their trees
Strong's:
H352
Word #:
18 of 35
properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically an oak or other strong tree
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
20 of 35
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מָ֑יִם
by the waters
H4325
מָ֑יִם
by the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
22 of 35
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
23 of 35
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כֻלָּם֩
H3605
כֻלָּם֩
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
24 of 35
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
נִתְּנ֨וּ
for they are all delivered
H5414
נִתְּנ֨וּ
for they are all delivered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
25 of 35
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לַמָּ֜וֶת
unto death
H4194
לַמָּ֜וֶת
unto death
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
26 of 35
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
תַּחְתִּ֗ית
to the nether parts
H8482
תַּחְתִּ֗ית
to the nether parts
Strong's:
H8482
Word #:
29 of 35
lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depths (figuratively, a pit, the womb)
בְּת֛וֹךְ
in the midst
H8432
בְּת֛וֹךְ
in the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
30 of 35
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
בְּנֵ֥י
of the children
H1121
בְּנֵ֥י
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
31 of 35
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֖ם
of men
H120
אָדָ֖ם
of men
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
32 of 35
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
Cross References
Psalms 82:7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.Ezekiel 26:20When 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;
Historical Context
Every ancient superpower Ezekiel's audience knew eventually fell: Assyria (612 BC), Babylon (539 BC), Persia (331 BC), Greece (30 BC), Rome (476 AD). Each thought itself eternal; each ended. The 'trees by the waters' (well-resourced empires) all fell. This pattern continues throughout history, demonstrating that human glory is temporal, divine kingdom eternal.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the mortality of all empires serve as a warning against pride?
- What does 'delivered unto death...with them that go down to the pit' teach about human achievement?
- How should awareness of our own mortality and nation's temporality affect our priorities?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height—The purpose (לְמַעַן, lĕmaʿan, 'in order that') of publicizing Assyria's fall: warning other nations. אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יִגְבְּהוּ (ăsher lōʾ-yigbĕhû, 'that they may not exalt themselves') בְקוֹמָתָם (bĕqômātām, 'in their height').
Neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water—Even well-watered, prosperous nations must not pride themselves. 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—All nations face מָוֶת (māwet, 'death'), אֶרֶץ תַּחְתִּית (ʾereṣ taḥtît, 'lowest earth/underworld'), בּוֹר (bôr, 'pit/Sheol'). No matter how great, all empires are mortal. This levels all human achievement: Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome—all descend to the pit. Only God's kingdom endures (Daniel 2:44).