Ezekiel 31:5

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Ezekiel addresses the exiles in a prophetic oracle, situating this verse immediately after a description of deep springs and channels watering the tree's base (Ezekiel 31:4) and immediately before a list of birds, beasts, and nations dwelling in its canopy (Ezekiel 31:6). The speaker is detailing a single tree's physical expansion following divine irrigation.

The words — The Hebrew גָּבְהָא (ga.ve.Ha') translates literally as 'it was tall,' paired with קֹמָתוֹ (ko.ma.T/o) meaning 'its height.' The verb וַתִּרְבֶּינָה (va./tir.Bei.nah) literally means 'and they became great,' directly modifying the branches that multiplied and spread long boughs.

The thread — The text links this tree's water-driven growth to Ezekiel 17:5, which places planted seed by abundant waters, and Psalms 1:3, which describes a tree rooted near streams that does not wither. Daniel 4:11 appears in the same thematic line by depicting a tree that grew large and strong until its top reached the sky, though it makes no reference to water.

Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to observe how the text explicitly attributes the tree's height and spreading branches to the abundant waters mentioned in the preceding verse. It demands recognition that the physical description of growth precedes any subsequent judgment or application regarding the nations that will later inhabit it.

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

עַל־'al-there-כֵּן֙ken-fore גָּבְהָ֣אga.ve.Ha'it was tall קֹמָת֔וֹko.ma.T/oheight/ its מִכֹּ֖לmi./Kolmore than/ all עֲצֵ֣י'a.Tzei[the] trees of הַשָּׂדֶ֑הha./sa.Dehthe/ field וַתִּרְבֶּ֨ינָהva./tir.Bei.nahand/ they became great סַֽרְעַפֹּתָ֜יוsar.'a.po.Ta/vboughs/ its וַתֶּאֱרַ֧כְנָהva./te.'e.Rakh.nahand/ they became long פֹארֹתָ֛יוfo.ro.to/vbranches/ its מִמַּ֥יִםmi./Ma.yimfrom/ waters רַבִּ֖יםra.Bimmany בְּשַׁלְּחֽוֹ׃be./sha.le.Ch/owhen/ sent out/ it

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Daniel 4:11 The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
Ezekiel 17:5 He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow.
Psalms 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
Psalms 37:35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
Isaiah 10:8 “Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.
Isaiah 36:4 The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?
Isaiah 36:18 Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?
Isaiah 37:11 Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries, devoting them to destruction. Will you then be spared?