Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore its stature was exalted above all the trees of the field; and its boughs were multiplied, and its branches became long by reason of many waters, when it spread them out.
- BSB Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters.
- NKJV ‘Therefore its height was exalted above all the trees of the field; Its boughs were multiplied, And its branches became long because of the abundance of water, As it sent them out.
- NASB ‘Therefore its height was loftier than all the trees of the field And its boughs became many and its branches long Because of many waters as it spread them out.
- NLT This great tree towered high, higher than all the other trees around it. It prospered and grew long thick branches because of all the water at its roots.
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
Egypt, pictured as a towering cedar, rose higher than every other tree because abundant waters made it flourish. Its greatness was real but entirely God-given and temporary.
Overview
In this oracle (chapter 31) Pharaoh and Egypt are likened to a majestic cedar whose height surpassed all rivals. The 'many waters' point to the Nile and the prosperity it gave, yet the passage will show that such grandeur breeds pride and invites judgment. The whole image warns that earthly empires, however imposing, stand only by God's gift and fall under His verdict.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Dan 4:11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
- Ezek 17:5He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.
- Isa 36:18–19Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
- Isa 36:4And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
- Ps 37:35–36I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
- Isa 37:11–13Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?
- Isa 10:8–14For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
- Ps 1:3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
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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 31:5 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.