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.
Original Language Analysis
מַפַּלְתּוֹ֙
of his fall
H4658
מַפַּלְתּוֹ֙
of his fall
Strong's:
H4658
Word #:
2 of 22
fall, i.e., decadence; concretely, a ruin; specifically a carcase
הִרְעַ֣שְׁתִּי
to shake
H7493
הִרְעַ֣שְׁתִּי
to shake
Strong's:
H7493
Word #:
3 of 22
to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.; also a field of grain), particularly through fear; specifically, to spring (as a locust)
גוֹיִ֔ם
I made the nations
H1471
גוֹיִ֔ם
I made 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
י֣וֹרְדֵי
when I cast him down
H3381
י֣וֹרְדֵי
when I cast him down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
5 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
אֹת֛וֹ
H853
אֹת֛וֹ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שְׁא֖וֹלָה
to hell
H7585
שְׁא֖וֹלָה
to hell
Strong's:
H7585
Word #:
7 of 22
hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
8 of 22
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
י֣וֹרְדֵי
when I cast him down
H3381
י֣וֹרְדֵי
when I cast him down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
9 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
ב֑וֹר
into the pit
H953
ב֑וֹר
into the pit
Strong's:
H953
Word #:
10 of 22
a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
וַיִּנָּ֨חֲמ֜וּ
shall be comforted
H5162
וַיִּנָּ֨חֲמ֜וּ
shall be comforted
Strong's:
H5162
Word #:
11 of 22
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
תַּחְתִּית֙
in the nether parts
H8482
תַּחְתִּית֙
in the nether parts
Strong's:
H8482
Word #:
13 of 22
lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depths (figuratively, a pit, the womb)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
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)
עֲצֵי
and all the trees
H6086
עֲצֵי
and all the trees
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
15 of 22
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
וְטוֹב
and best
H2896
וְטוֹב
and best
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
18 of 22
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
20 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Isaiah 14:15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.Isaiah 14:8Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.Ezekiel 26:15Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?Ezekiel 27:28The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.Ezekiel 31:9I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.Habakkuk 2:17For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.Haggai 2:7And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
Historical Context
Assyria's fall (612 BC) did destabilize the ancient Near East. Babylon and Egypt rushed to fill the power vacuum, leading to conflicts including the battles of Carchemish (605 BC) and Jerusalem's destruction (586 BC). Nations 'shook' as the geopolitical order collapsed. Ezekiel, writing in the 580s BC, draws on recent memory to warn Egypt: you will join Assyria in Sheol, shocking nations as she did.
Questions for Reflection
- What does nations 'shaking' at empires' falls teach about geopolitical interconnection?
- How is fallen empires being 'comforted' by others' falls darkly ironic?
- What does all great nations ending in Sheol teach about ultimate values?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall—When Assyria fell, גּוֹיִם (gôyim, 'nations') הִרְעַשְׁתִּי (hirʿashtî, 'I made shake/quake'). The verb רָעַשׁ (rāʿash, 'to quake') describes earthquake-like trembling—fear and instability.
When I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit—בְּהוֹרִדִי אֹתוֹ שְׁאוֹלָה (bĕhôridî ʾōtô shĕʾôlāh, 'when I brought him down to Sheol'). God actively casts down proud empires. 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—Previously fallen great nations ('trees of Eden,' 'choice of Lebanon') are 'comforted' (נִחֲמוּ, niḥămû) by Assyria joining them in Sheol. Misery loves company; fallen empires find grim comfort in others' descent. This dark humor underscores that all human glory ends identically: death, Sheol, insignificance.