Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”
Parallel translations
- WEB All the trees of the field will know that I, Yahweh, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish. I, Yahweh, have spoken and have done it.’”
- KJV And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
- NKJV And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the Lord, have spoken and have done it.”
- NASB All the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will perform it.”
- NLT And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
All the trees will know that the LORD brings down the high and exalts the low, and He has spoken it. God reverses human pride and accomplishes His word.
Overview
God declares His sovereign reversal: humbling the proud cedar and exalting the lowly shoot. This theme of exalting the humble runs through Scripture and finds its fullest expression in Christ's cross and exaltation (Philippians 2). What God speaks, He surely does.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 22
- Amos 9:11“In that day I will restore the fallen tent of David. I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old,
- 1 Cor 1:27–28But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
- Luke 1:52–53He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
- Ezek 24:14I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
- Isa 26:5For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust.
- Isa 55:12–13You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
- 1 Sam 2:7–8The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.
- Ps 75:6–7For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert,
- Ezek 12:25because I, the LORD, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass, declares the Lord GOD.’”
- Ezek 22:14Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will act.
- Ezek 21:26This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted.
- Job 40:12Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
- Isa 9:6–7For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isa 2:13–14against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan,
- Job 5:11He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety.
- Matt 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
- Ps 89:38Now, however, You have spurned and rejected him; You are enraged by Your anointed one.
- Luke 1:33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
- Ps 89:45You have cut short the days of his youth; You have covered him with shame. Selah
- Isa 11:1–9Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
- Ps 96:11–12Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it.
- Luke 21:33Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 17:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.