Ezechiël 31:8

8 De cederen in Gods hof verduisterden hem niet, de dennebomen waren zijn takken niet gelijk, en de kastanjebomen waren niet gelijk zijn scheuten; geen boom in Gods hof was hem gelijk in zijn schoonheid.

Ezechiël 31:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 31:8

The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him
That is, could not rise so high as this cedar, and overtop him, and obscure his glory; even those that were most excellent, which grew in Eden, near to which Babylon stood, and where a mighty king dwelt. The sense is, that the greatest kings and potentates in the whole world, which is like a garden planted by the Lord, were not equal to the king of Assyria, and much less exceeded him in grandeur, wealth, and power: the fir trees were not like his boughs:
lesser kings and princes, comparable to fir trees for the beauty, regularity, order, and flourishing condition of their kingdoms; yet these were but petty states, and not to be compared even with the provinces of the king of Assyria: and the chesnut trees were not like his branches;
lesser states still: which, though well set, and well spread, and full of people, yet not answerable to some countries that were in the provinces that belonged to the Assyrian empire: not any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty;
no king, prince, or potentate whatever in the whole world, was to be compared to him for royal majesty and greatness. The Targum is,

``mighty kings could not prevail against him, because of the strength of his power, which he had from the Lord; rulers could not stand before his army, and mighty men could not prevail against his auxiliaries, because of the strength of power he had from the Lord; there is none like to him in his strength.''

Ezechiël 31:8 In-Context

6 Alle vogelen des hemels nestelden op zijn takjes, en alle dieren des velds teelden onder zijn scheuten; en alle grote volken zaten onder zijn schaduw.

7 Alzo was hij schoon in zijn grootheid en in de lengte zijner takken, omdat zijn wortel aan grote wateren was.

8 De cederen in Gods hof verduisterden hem niet, de dennebomen waren zijn takken niet gelijk, en de kastanjebomen waren niet gelijk zijn scheuten; geen boom in Gods hof was hem gelijk in zijn schoonheid.

9 Ik had hem zo schoon gemaakt door de veelheid zijner takken, dat alle bomen van Eden, die in Gods hof waren, hem benijdden.

10 Daarom, zo zegt de Heere HEERE: Omdat gij u verheven hebt over uw stam, ja, hij stak zijn top op boven het midden der dichte takken, en zijn hart verhief zich over zijn hoogte;