Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
Parallel translations
- WEB Son of man, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude: Whom are you like in your greatness?
- BSB “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Who can be compared to your greatness?
- NKJV “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Whom are you like in your greatness?
- NASB “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes, ‘Whom are you like in your greatness?
- NLT “Son of man, give this message to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his hordes: “To whom would you compare your greatness?
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
God asks Pharaoh and his multitude whom they resemble in their greatness. The question invites comparison with a fallen empire.
Overview
The Lord poses a probing question to Pharaoh about the source and security of his greatness. This rhetorical opening sets up the comparison with Assyria, a once-mighty power now fallen. By asking "whom are you like," God prepares to teach Egypt that its grandeur is neither unique nor secure.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Ezek 29:19Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
- Ezek 30:10Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.
- Ezek 31:18To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
- Nah 3:8–10Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?
- Isa 14:13–14For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
- Jer 1:17Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
- Rev 10:11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
- Jer 1:5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
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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 31:2 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
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