Ezekiel – Chapter 31

Old Testament18 Verses

Chapter Summary

Ezekiel 31 opens with the words: "And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" Pharaoh stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 18 verses, two threads run through the text: God's protection and deliverance and worship and praise. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2Son of man, speak to Pharao king of Egypt, and to his people: To whom art thou like in thy greatness?

3Behold, the Assyrian like a cedar in Libanus, with fair branches, and full of leaves, of a high stature, and his top was elevated among the thick boughs.

4The waters nourished him, the deep set him tip on high, the streams thereof ran round about his roots, and it sent, forth its rivulets to all the trees of the country.

5Therefore was his height exalted above all the trees of the country and his branches were multiplied, and his boughs were elevated because of many waters.

6And when he had spread forth his shadow, all the fowls of the air made their nests in his boughs, and all the beasts of the forest brought forth their young under his branches, and the assembly of many nations dwelt under his shadow.

7And he was most beautiful for his greatness, and for the spreading of his branches: for his root was near great waters.

8The cedars in the paradise of God were not higher than he, the fir trees did not equal his top, neither were the plane trees to be compared with him for branches: no tree in the paradise of God was like him in his beauty.

9For I made him beautiful and thick set with many branches: and all the trees of pleasure, that were in the paradise of God, envied him.

10Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because he was exalted in height, and shot up his top green and thick, and his heart was lifted up in his height:

11I have delivered him into the hands of the mighty one of the nations, he shall deal with him: I have cast him out according to his wickedness.

12And strangers, and the most cruel of the nations shall cut him down, and cast him away upon the mountains, and his boughs shall fall in every valley, and his branches shall be broken on every rock of the country: and all the people of the earth shall depart from his shadow, and leave him.

13All the fowls of the air dwelt upon his ruins, and all the beasts of the field were among his branches.

14For which cause none of the trees by the waters shall exalt themselves for their height: nor shoot up their tops among the thick branches and leaves, neither shall any of them that are watered stand up in their height: for they are all delivered unto death to the lowest parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down into the pit.

15Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when he went down to hell, I brought in mourning, I covered him with the deep: and I withheld its rivers, and restrained the many waters: Libanus grieved for him, and all the trees of the field trembled.

16I shook the nations with the sound of his fall, when I brought him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of pleasure, the choice and best in Libanus, all that were moistened with waters, were comforted in the lowest parts of the earth.

17For they also shall go down with him to hell to them that are slain by the sword; and the arm of every one shall sit down under his shadow in the midst of the nations.

18To whom art thou like, O thou that art famous and lofty among the trees of pleasure? Behold, thou art brought down with the trees of pleasure to the lowest parts of the earth: thou shalt sleep in the midst of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain by the sword: this is Pharao, and all his multitude, saith the Lord God.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 31

And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

Ezekiel 31:1

Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because he was exalted in height, and shot up his top green and thick, and his heart was lifted up in his height:

Ezekiel 31:10

Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when he went down to hell, I brought in mourning, I covered him with the deep: and I withheld its rivers, and restrained the many waters: Libanus grieved for him, and all the trees of the field trembled.

Ezekiel 31:15

To whom art thou like, O thou that art famous and lofty among the trees of pleasure? Behold, thou art brought down with the trees of pleasure to the lowest parts of the earth: thou shalt sleep in the midst of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain by the sword: this is Pharao, and all his multitude, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 31:18

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Ezekiel was written with the exiles in Babylon, moved from despair to hope of restoration in view. Chapter 31 of 48 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 18 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Pharaoh appear at the center of the events recorded here. The chapter begins: "And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came…" It concludes: "To whom art thou like, O thou that art famous and lofty among the trees of pleasure? Behold, thou art brought down with…" In terms of historical background, Ezekiel was deported to Babylon in 597 BC and prophesied among the exiles through astonishing visions: God's throne-chariot, the departure of His glory from the Temple, the valley of dry bones brought to life, and a new… Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Ezekiel around About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile

When It Was Written

About 593-571 BC, in Babylon

Catholic Commentary

The prophet addresses Israel with a message rooted in covenant fidelity and the hope of restoration. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" The passage repeatedly touches on God's protection and deliverance.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of judgment, restoration, and God's glory. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 2578).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God will give His people a new heart. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Ezekiel 31 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.

People in This Chapter

Pharaoh2 mentions

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Ezekiel Chapter 31 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Ezekiel Chapter 31. At the moral level, the unity of Scripture and the Magisterium challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 133).

As you continue through Ezekiel, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ezekiel Chapter 31 about?

Ezekiel 31 contains 18 verses. It opens with "And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came…" and closes with "To whom art thou like, O thou that art famous and lofty among the trees of pleasure? Behold, thou art brought down with…". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 31?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Ezekiel Chapter 31?

This chapter mentions Pharaoh.

Who wrote Ezekiel and when?

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile. About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

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