Ezekiel 31:6

All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Ezekiel addresses exiled Israelites, describing a colossal tree that represents a fallen earthly power. The imagery follows a description of the tree's towering height and extensive branches nourished by abundant waters.

The words — The Hebrew קִנְנוּ (qinnû) translates literally as "they made nests," and פֹּארוֹתָיו (pō'ārôtāyw) means "its branches." These terms ground the metaphor in concrete avian and arboreal imagery rather than abstract political commentary.

The thread — This tree imagery reappears in Ezekiel 17:23 as a divinely planted shelter, in Daniel 4:12 where beasts find rest under its boughs, and in Matthew 13:32 where a mustard seed grows into a tree for birds to nest. Each reference tracks the motif of a large tree providing shelter to diverse creatures.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that earthly prominence temporarily houses many peoples before its inevitable collapse. Readers must assess their own reliance on temporary structures of power rather than enduring divine sovereignty.

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

בִּסְעַפֹּתָ֤יוbi/s.'a.po.Ta/vin/ boughs/ its קִֽנְנוּ֙ki.Nuthey made nests כָּל־kol-every ע֣וֹףof<the> bird of הַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha./sha.Ma.yimthe/ heavens וְתַ֤חַתve./Ta.chatand/ under פֹּֽארֹתָיו֙po.ro.Ta/vbranches/ its יָֽלְד֔וּyal.Duthey gave birth כֹּ֖לkolevery חַיַּ֣תchai.Yat<the> animal of הַשָּׂדֶ֑הha./sa.Dehthe/ field וּבְצִלּוֹ֙u./ve./tzi.L/oand/ in/ shade/ its יֵֽשְׁב֔וּye.she.Vuthey dwelt כֹּ֖לkolall גּוֹיִ֥םgo.Yimnations רַבִּֽים׃ra.Bimgreat

King James Version

All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 17:23 I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
Matthew 13:32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
Daniel 4:12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
Daniel 4:21 whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—