‘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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 its height reached to the sky, and its sight to the end of all the earth.
- Ezek 17:5“‘“He also took some of the seed of the land, and planted it in fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree.
- Isa 36:18–19Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, “Yahweh will deliver us.” Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria?
- Isa 36:4Rabshakeh said to them, “Now tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, “What confidence is this in which you trust?
- Ps 37:35–36I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
- Isa 37:11–13Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered?
- Isa 10:8–14For he says, “Aren’t all of my princes kings?
- Ps 1:3He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
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 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.