“The Lord Yahweh says: ‘In the day when he went down to Sheol I caused a mourning. I covered the deep for him, and I restrained its rivers. The great waters were stopped. I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
Parallel Translations
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“The Lord Yahweh says: ‘In the day when he went down to Sheol I caused a mourning. I covered the deep for him, and I restrained its rivers. The great waters were stopped. I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
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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.
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Thus saith the Lord GOD: In the day when he went down to the nether-world I caused the deep to mourn and cover itself for him, and I restrained the rivers 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.
Cross-references (4)
Passages linked to Ezekiel 31:15 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Nahum 2:8-10 But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one looks back. Take the plunder of silver. Take the plunder of gold, for there is no end of the store, the glory of all goodly furniture. She is empty, void, and waste. The heart melts, the knees knock together, their bodies and faces have grown pale.
- Malachi 3:4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Yahweh, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
- Revelation 18:9-11 The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’ The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more:
- Revelation 18:18-19 and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’ They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!’ For she is made desolate in one hour.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain The deep waters that caused him to mount so…
The deep waters that caused him to mount so high (meaning his great abundance and pomp) shall now lament as though they were covered with sackcloth.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Eze 31:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the…
Eze 31:15 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.
Ver. 15. I restrained the floods thereof.] I made them keep home, as mourners use to do.
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And I caused Lebanon to mourn for him.] Heb., To be black; i.e., in mourning habit. Athenienses non nisi atrati sapiunt, said one.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain When he, the king of Assyria, the tall cedar,…
When he, the king of Assyria, the tall cedar, or the kingdom of Assyria, went down to the grave; was a man in grave; buried in its own ruins.
I caused a mourning there was much lamentation.
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I covered the deep; I put the sea, i.e. either neighbouring states, or the body of is people, or the trading part of the world, into mourning for him.
The floods thereof; all public affairs; commerce and friendly intelligences were at a great stand.
The great waters were stayed; the great traffic and wealth by it, which did flow as great waters, were stayed, and living rivers were as void of motion as the Dead Sea, all was out of course. Lebanon; the field in which this cedar grew, i.e. the whole kingdom of Assyria.
All the trees of the field; all the lesser kings and princes about him.
Fainted; fell into a swoon at the news of this great and unparalleled downfall of this mighty king and kingdom, which hath been here in sacred hyperbole set forth to warn Egypt, and convince it; none can stand whom God will east down. Whether there were any portentous signs in the sea and great waters, and the rivers, and among the trees, presages of this fall, and pointed at here, I inquire not.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Thus saith the Lord God, in the day when…
Thus saith the Lord God, in the day when he went down to the grave,.... The Assyrian monarch; when his monarchy was destroyed, and he ceased to be king, and was stripped of all his majesty, power, and authority, and was as one dead, and laid in the grave, and buried:
I caused a mourning: that is, for him, in the waters, and among the trees, among the people and the kings of the earth, as follows:
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I covered the deep for him; with mourning, with thick darkness, which set him up on high Eze 31:4,
and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed; which made him great, Eze 31:4, signifying by all this that the kingdoms of the world, comparable to the sea, of which his monarchy consisted, and all the inhabitants and people of them, comparable to floods and great waters, were affected with the fall of this great monarch, and thrown into consternation by it; not knowing what the event of things would be, stood still, and knew not what course to take; all business was stopped, especially all traffic by sea, and all trade and commerce every where; a stagnation of everything for a while:
and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him; where he was a cedar, Eze 31:3, this may respect the whole empire he was head of, particularly the kingdom of Syria, on the borders of which Lebanon was; and was a part of the Assyrian empire, which must mourn and be concerned at the fall of it:
and all the trees of the field fainted for him: all the kings of the earth that were in alliance with him, or subject to him, trembled for fear that their destruction would be next; or as doubtful and concerned what would be their condition, under the yoke of another. The Targum is,
"tribulation covered the world, and the provinces were forsaken, and many people trembled, and all the kings of the people smote the shoulder because of him.''
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain He - The king of Assyria. A mourning -…
He - The king of Assyria. A mourning - There was much lamentation. Fainted - Probably there were portentous signs in the sea, and great waters, and the rivers, and among the trees.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 15. I caused Lebanon to mourn for him]…
Verse 15. I caused Lebanon to mourn for him] All the confederates of Pharaoh are represented as deploring his fall, Eze 31:16-17.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Eze 31:15. In the day when he went down…
Eze 31:15. In the day when he went down to the grave — This, and the following verses, are an elegant description of that consternation that seized the king of Assyria’s allies, at the suddenness of his downfall; the same metaphor being still pursued. I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him — The deep, that is said to have raised up this fair tree, Eze 31:4, is now described as mourning at his downfall. I restrained the floods, and the great waters were stayed — As if the streams had stopped their usual course on purpose to lament his fate. The meaning seems to be, that the great nations and numerous people under his dominions, or his confederates and allies, were all struck with astonishment at his fall. I caused Lebanon to mourn for him — By Lebanon is probably signified Syria, which was in alliance with the king of Assyria. All the trees of the field fainted for him — All the neighbouring princes lamented his ruin, and were disheartened at having lost their protector.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Effect of Assyria’s fall.
Effect of Assyria’s fall.
Eze 31:15
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I covered the deep - To cover with sack-cloth was an expression of mourning Eze 27:31. The deep, the source of Assyria’s prosperity Eze 31:4, was made to mourn, being dried up instead of giving forth its waters, its glad abundance.
For him - Upon his account.
Floods ... great waters - Or, rivers ... the multitude of waters (as in Eze 31:4-5).
Lebanon represents the country which Assyria governed; “the trees,” the tributary princes.
Eze 31:16
See the marginal references.
Eze 31:17
His arm ... - The subject princes who were his strength and support in war.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Waters, as if they bewailed his fate. (Calmet) ---…
Waters, as if they bewailed his fate. (Calmet) --- Those whom the king of Ninive had exalted, and the people, who wished not to submit to a foreigner, would no doubt lament the slaughtered monarch, new silent (Haydock) in the grave. (Theodoret)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain covered the deep--as mourners cover their heads in token…
covered the deep--as mourners cover their heads in token of mourning, "I made the deep that watered the cedar" to wrap itself in mourning for him. The waters of the deep are the tributary peoples of Assyria (Rev 17:15).
fainted--literally, were "faintness" (itself); more forcible than the verb.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 15. The grave — The proper word (as also…
15. The grave — The proper word (as also for “hell” in Eze_31:16-17) is Sheol, the place of the dead. (See note Eze_32:18.) A pall of darkness is spread over the canals, the river, and the sea. All nature, that had rejoiced at its birth and coronation (Eze_31:4), takes part in the funeral of this dead kingdom. (Compare Eze_32:10.)
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 15. Creation puts on mourning and is paralysed at…
15. Creation puts on mourning and is paralysed at Pharaoh’s fall. Lebanon is covered with blackness, and all the trees faint.
down to the grave] to Sheòl, the place of the dead.
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caused a mourning] Rather: I caused to mourn, I covered the deep for him. The term “covered” (wanting in LXX.) is used as in Eze_32:7, “cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof black,” having the same meaning as “caused to mourn.” The “deep” and the “floods” (rivers in Eze_31:4) are those mentioned in Eze_31:4, but though the ref. is to the Nile and the waters of Egypt, a universal magnitude is given to these, they are the “deep” absolutely. This deep which had nourished the great cedar is covered with mourning and paralysed by his fall, she is motionless, her waters congeal.
caused Lebanon to mourn] Lit. made Lebanon black, in mourning. The prophet’s representation naturally is not quite consistent. The home of Pharaoh, as a cedar, is Lebanon, but it is the waters of Egypt, magnified here into the “deep” absolutely, that nourish him. Hence both the deep and Lebanon, with all the trees thereon, mourn and faint (Isa_51:20) over his fall. What the language primarily expresses is the idea of the world-wide importance of the Egyptian power, so that, as the greatest forces of nature minister to its growth, all creation is affected by its fall. Cf. Eze_32:9-10.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (15) I covered the deep for him.—Eze_31:15-17 describe the…
(15) I covered the deep for him.—Eze_31:15-17 describe the effect of Assyria’s fall. Eze_31:15 speaks of the mourning of the nations and of the drying up of the streams, or sources of Assyria’s prosperity. “The deep” is the same as in Eze_31:4, the flood of waters which fertilised the great cedar; this is covered, as in mourning. “Floods” is the same word as “rivers” in Eze_31:4, and “great waters” as “multitude of waters” in Eze_31:5. “To mourn” is, literally, to be black, and the sense is well given in our version, although the original is more appropriate to the figure of Lebanon with its cedars. “The trees of the field” are, of course, the subordinate potentates, who are dismayed, “faint,” at Assyria’s fall. (Comp. Eze_26:15-18.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain I covered the deep for him. The face of…
I covered the deep for him. The face of the whole world of nature is painted by the prophet as sharing in the awe and terror of that tremendous fail Lebanon was made to mourn (literally, to be black), the waters failed in their channels, the trees (all that drink water) shuddered. They formed part, as it were, of the pageantry of woe at the funeral of the fallen kingdom. It is as if the prophet felt, in all its intensity, what we have learnt to call the sympathy of nature with the sorrows of humanity. It would, perhaps, be over-literal to press details; but the picture, in one of its features at least, suggests a failure of the inundation of the Nile, like that indicated in Eze_30:12.
Vers. 15-17. Mourning and lamentation.
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The description here given of the distress and mourning which took place upon the occasion of the downfall of Assyria is very poetical, and might appear exaggerated were we not able, by the aid of imagination, to place ourselves in the position of an observer at that critical epoch in the history of the world. It was necessary that Pharaoh and his people should be enabled to enter into the fate of Assyria in order that they might learn the warning intended to be conveyed by that awful event. It was the aim of Ezekiel to portray Assyria in all her glory and in all her desolation, in order to impress upon the Egyptians the lesson which at that conjuncture it was so important, for them to lay to heart. The mourning raised over the one kingdom might speedily be required by the condition of the other.
I THE CAUSE OF MOURNING. The immediate cause was the disaster which befell Assyria and the allied and dependent nations. But to those who looked beneath the surface there was a deep-seated cause in the sin by which the mighty kingdom and its rulers brought upon themselves a fate so calamitous and irreversible. Wherever there is lamentation it may be suspected that the ultimate explanation of it is sin.
II THE MOURNERS. The prophet speaks of the mighty rivers and the terrible ocean, of the majestic trees of the forest, as taking part in this lamentation. The nations shook at the Sound of Assyria"s fall, when it went down to Hades. The literal fact is this that all spectators with intelligence to understand what had occurred, and with a nature susceptible of feeling, viewed the calamity with appreciative pity. It was a catastrophe never to be forgotten, and the compassion of those who witnessed it rose to sublimity.
III THE EXTENT AND VASTNESS OF THE MOURNING. This is evident from the fact of the Divine intervention. "Thus saith the Lord God, I caused a mourning." There could then be nothing petty or trivial in it. Originating in the counsels of the Eternal, and diffused throughout the earth, and reaching to the gates of Hades, this lamentation was worthy of the event. And it certainly justifies us in making our own the sorrows, not of individuals alone, but of nations and of mankind. It is a Divine exercise so to sympathize. "In all their afflictions he is afflicted.
IV THE PROFIT OF MOURNING. We are assured upon high authority that "it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting." It is a whole some and chastening discipline of the Soul. To mourn for our own faults is morally necessary. "They that lack time to mourn lack time to mend." But the case before the reader of this passage is that of mourning for the sins and the chastisement of humanity generally, and especially of the nations with whose experience we are personally conversant. A common sorrow binds hearts together, and enables men to realize their community. Grief over sin and its consequences is no inconsiderable protection against participation in the evil lamented. T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh's parable about the cedar continues. Here, Yahweh speaks about the great sadness caused by the tree being cut down as if even the waters, Lebanon, and the wild trees all mourned for the cedar.
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On the day when the cedar went down to Sheol
The phrase "went down to Sheol" means "died." AT: "On the day that the cedar died" or "On the day that the cedar was chopped down" (See: Idiom)
I brought mourning to the earth
The abstract noun "mourning" can be stated as a verb. AT: "I caused the earth to mourn" (See: Abstract Nouns)
I covered the deep waters over it
The word "covered" possibly refers to putting on clothes for mourning. AT: "I made the water from the springs mourn for the cedar" or "it was as though the springs that watered it mourned for it" (See: Metaphor)
I held back the ocean waters
"I kept the water in the ocean from watering the earth"
I kept back the great waters
"I made it so that there would not be a lot of water anymore"
I brought mourning to Lebanon for him
The abstract noun "mourning" can be stated as a verb. AT: "I made Lebanon mourn for the cedar" (See: Abstract Nouns)
translationWords
Lord Yahweh
Hades
mourn
earth
Lebanon
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 31:15 The mourning over the great tree, Assyria, matched…
31:15 The mourning over the great tree, Assyria, matched its great size. • The tallest cedar trees of the ancient world were found in Lebanon. • To be clothed . . . in black meant wearing garments of mourning.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.