King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 31:16 Mean?

Ezekiel 31:16 in the King James Version says “I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: ...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 31 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.”

Ezekiel 31:16 · KJV

Context

14

To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit. their trees: or, stand upon themselves for their height

15

Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. to mourn: Heb. to be black

16

I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

17

They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.

18

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.

Read Ezekiel 31 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall—When Assyria fell, גּוֹיִם (gôyim, 'nations') הִרְעַשְׁתִּי (hirʿashtî, 'I made shake/quake'). The verb רָעַשׁ (rāʿash, 'to quake') describes earthquake-like trembling—fear and instability.

When I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit—בְּהוֹרִדִי אֹתוֹ שְׁאוֹלָה (bĕhôridî ʾōtô shĕʾôlāh, 'when I brought him down to Sheol'). God actively casts down proud empires. And all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth—Previously fallen great nations ('trees of Eden,' 'choice of Lebanon') are 'comforted' (נִחֲמוּ, niḥămû) by Assyria joining them in Sheol. Misery loves company; fallen empires find grim comfort in others' descent. This dark humor underscores that all human glory ends identically: death, Sheol, insignificance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Assyria's fall (612 BC) did destabilize the ancient Near East. Babylon and Egypt rushed to fill the power vacuum, leading to conflicts including the battles of Carchemish (605 BC) and Jerusalem's destruction (586 BC). Nations 'shook' as the geopolitical order collapsed. Ezekiel, writing in the 580s BC, draws on recent memory to warn Egypt: you will join Assyria in Sheol, shocking nations as she did.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does nations 'shaking' at empires' falls teach about geopolitical interconnection?
  2. How is fallen empires being 'comforted' by others' falls darkly ironic?
  3. What does all great nations ending in Sheol teach about ultimate values?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
מִקּ֤וֹל1 of 22

“at the sound”

H6963

a voice or sound

מַפַּלְתּוֹ֙2 of 22

“of his fall”

H4658

fall, i.e., decadence; concretely, a ruin; specifically a carcase

הִרְעַ֣שְׁתִּי3 of 22

“to shake”

H7493

to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.; also a field of grain), particularly through fear; specifically, to spring (as a locust)

גוֹיִ֔ם4 of 22

“I made the nations”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

י֣וֹרְדֵי5 of 22

“when I cast him down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

אֹת֛וֹ6 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שְׁא֖וֹלָה7 of 22

“to hell”

H7585

hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates

אֶת8 of 22
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

י֣וֹרְדֵי9 of 22

“when I cast him down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

ב֑וֹר10 of 22

“into the pit”

H953

a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)

וַיִּנָּ֨חֲמ֜וּ11 of 22

“shall be comforted”

H5162

properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo

בְּאֶ֤רֶץ12 of 22

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

תַּחְתִּית֙13 of 22

“in the nether parts”

H8482

lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depths (figuratively, a pit, the womb)

כָּל14 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

עֲצֵי15 of 22

“and all the trees”

H6086

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

עֵ֔דֶן16 of 22

“of Eden”

H5731

eden, the region of adam's home

מִבְחַ֥ר17 of 22

“the choice”

H4005

select, i.e., best

וְטוֹב18 of 22

“and best”

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

לְבָנ֖וֹן19 of 22

“of Lebanon”

H3844

lebanon, a mountain range in palestine

כָּל20 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

שֹׁ֥תֵי21 of 22

“all that drink”

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

מָֽיִם׃22 of 22

“water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 31:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 31:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 14:15Isaiah 14:8Ezekiel 26:15Ezekiel 27:28Haggai 2:7Habakkuk 2:17

Places in This Verse

Eden 1Special Place · Modern: Armenia · 40.38°N, 44.95°E13 verses across 4 books
LebanonRegion · Modern: Jezzine · 33.54°N, 35.58°E57 verses across 16 books
View all places in Ezekiel 31 →

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