Bible Strands
Ezekiel 31:18
Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord GOD speaks through the prophet to address the metaphorical trees of Eden, delivering a final judgment oracle against Pharaoh and his army. This declaration occurs within a prophetic lament detailing the downfall of a proud earthly power.
The words — דָמִ֥יתָ (da.Mi.ta) = are you like and כָּב֥וֹד (kha.Vod) = splendor form the rhetorical question that exposes the impossibility of rivaling divine glory with human power. These terms anchor the verse’s challenge to earthly pride.
The thread — The descent to the depths and the designation of the dead as uncircumcised reappear in Ezekiel 32:19 and Ezekiel 32:21 as part of a sustained oracle against Egypt. The motif of dying at the hands of foreigners echoes the judgment pronounced in Ezekiel 28:10.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers acknowledge the inevitability of divine judgment on exalted human systems. It strips away illusions of permanent earthly security by placing Pharaoh’s fate alongside other fallen powers.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
To 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.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 32:19 Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be placed with the uncircumcised!
- Ezekiel 28:10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. For I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.”
- Ezekiel 32:21 Mighty chiefs will speak from the midst of Sheol about Egypt and her allies: ‘They have come down and lie with the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.’
- Psalms 52:7 “Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
- Jeremiah 9:25 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh—
- Ezekiel 31:2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Who can be compared to your greatness?
- Ezekiel 31:16 I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.
- Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
- 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
- 1 Samuel 17:36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”