‘Thus it was beautiful in greatness and in the length of its branches, Because its roots reached to abundant waters.
Parallel translations
- WEB Thus was it beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; for its root was by many waters.
- KJV Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
- BSB It was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its limbs, for its roots extended to abundant waters.
- NASB ‘So it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; For its roots extended to many waters.
- NLT It was strong and beautiful, with wide-spreading branches, for its roots went deep into abundant water.
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
The cedar was beautiful in its size and long branches because its roots reached abundant water. Its splendor was undeniable but rooted in resources God supplied.
Overview
Ezekiel stresses again the tree's beauty and the source of its strength: deep roots 'by many waters.' The repeated emphasis on what nourished Egypt prepares for the reversal, when God will dry up and cut down what He once let grow. True and lasting fruitfulness belongs to the one whose roots are in God, like the blessed man of Psalm 1:3.
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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 31:7 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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