Bible Strands
Ezekiel 31:2
“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Who can be compared to your greatness?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet receives a divine message in the eleventh year of the exile, commanded to address Pharaoh king of Egypt and his multitude.
The words — אֱמֹ֛ר ('e.Mor) means “say,” and פַּרְעֹ֥ה (par.'Oh) means “Pharaoh,” marking the direct prophetic commission and the specific earthly ruler in view.
The thread — The confrontation with Egyptian pride runs through Ezekiel 29:19, Ezekiel 30:10, and Ezekiel 31:18, where Pharaoh’s military power and glory are consistently measured against divine judgment.
Why it lands — The text poses the rhetorical question “Who can be compared to your greatness?” as a direct challenge to Pharaoh’s self-exaltation. It requires the reader to recognize that earthly power is subject to divine assessment and inevitable decline.
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
Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 29:19 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army.
- Ezekiel 30:10 This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
- 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.’”
- Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.
- Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
- Jeremiah 1:17 Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.
- Nahum 3:8 Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?
- Revelation 10:11 And they told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”