Bible Strands
Ezekiel 31:7
It was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its limbs, for its roots extended to abundant waters.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezekiel delivers this oracle to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his multitude, employing a tree allegory to describe the ruler's impending collapse.
The words — The Hebrew term דָּלִיּוֹתָיו (dalīyōṯāw) refers to the tree's branches or boughs, paired with שָׁרְשׁוֹ (šārešō) for its root. The phrase בְּאֹרֶךְ דָּלִיּוֹתָיו (bəʾōreḵ dalīyōṯāw) literally translates as "in the length of its branches."
The thread — This verse continues the cedar allegory of Ezekiel 31, which uses the tree's dimensions and shade to represent imperial dominance. The motif of a towering tree sustained by abundant waters runs through the chapter's judgment against Pharaoh's kingdom and its allied forces.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that earthly power depends on external provision rather than inherent strength. It requires the reader to see how imperial scale inevitably invites divine scrutiny and structural collapse.
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
Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.