Ezekiel 31:16 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The cedar's fall shakes all nations; it descends to the pit with others, and even Eden's trees find comfort in the underworld.
The Context of Ezekiel 31:16
The cedar's descent shakes all nations and brings dark comfort to other fallen powers.
What Does Ezekiel 31:16 Mean?
The destruction is so consequential that all nations feel it—they shake at the very sound of the fall. The cedar is not alone in judgment but goes to the pit 'with them that descend into the pit,' suggesting that many others fall with it or follow shortly after. The reverberations of its collapse spread throughout the world.
The phrase about Eden's trees being 'comforted' in the nether parts suggests a strange consolation: other great powers that were once rivaled by this cedar now feel relief that they are no longer in competition with it. In death, they find grim companionship with the fallen great.
Ezekiel 31:16 in the Original Language
hell (שְׁאוֹל) — the Hebrew underworld of the dead, not a place of torture but a shadowy realm where all mortals go regardless of status.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 31:16
What does Ezekiel 31:16 mean?
The cedar's fall shakes all nations; it descends to the pit with others, and even Eden's trees find comfort in the underworld.
What is the context of Ezekiel 31:16?
The cedar's descent shakes all nations and brings dark comfort to other fallen powers.