What is the meaning of Ezekiel 31:2? Son of man • God repeatedly addresses Ezekiel this way (Ezekiel 2:1; 3:1), reminding the prophet—and us—that the messenger is merely human while the message is divine. • The phrase underscores Ezekiel’s accountability: he must relay God’s words exactly as given (Ezekiel 3:17–18). • It also highlights the reliability of Scripture; the words that follow are not Ezekiel’s opinions but God’s authoritative revelation (2 Peter 1:20–21). say to Pharaoh king of Egypt • The target is the reigning Pharaoh, representing the whole Egyptian empire. Earlier prophecies had already warned Egypt of coming judgment (Ezekiel 29:2–6; 30:10–12). • By naming Pharaoh, God shows He deals personally with rulers, just as He confronted Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 27:6) and earlier Pharaohs (Exodus 5:1–2). • This reinforces that no earthly power is beyond God’s reach (Psalm 2:1–4). and to his multitude • God’s word extends beyond the throne room to every level of Egyptian society—army, officials, common people (Ezekiel 30:4–5). • Collective accountability is a biblical theme: Nineveh repented together (Jonah 3:5), while Israel often suffered together for national sin (2 Chronicles 36:15–17). • The multitude’s inclusion shows that following a proud leader can invite shared consequences (Proverbs 16:5). Who can be compared to your greatness? • On the surface, the question echoes Egypt’s own propaganda of unmatched splendor (Isaiah 19:11–13). • Yet the context (Ezekiel 31:3–18) immediately undercuts the boast by comparing Egypt to Assyria’s towering “cedar” that God felled. • The rhetorical question therefore exposes pride: Egypt sees itself as peerless, but God will soon prove otherwise (Ezekiel 30:18; 31:10–11). • Scripture consistently warns that self-exaltation invites divine humbling—whether Babylon (Isaiah 14:13–15), Edom (Obadiah 3–4), or Herod (Acts 12:22–23). • The verse invites sober reflection on misplaced confidence: greatness measured without reference to God is fragile and temporary (Jeremiah 9:23–24). summary Ezekiel 31:2 functions as God’s opening salvo against Egypt’s pride. Calling Ezekiel “son of man” grounds the message in God’s authority; addressing Pharaoh and his multitude shows universal accountability; and the question “Who can be compared to your greatness?” exposes Egypt’s self-glorification that will soon collapse under divine judgment. The verse reminds every reader that genuine greatness is defined and judged by the Lord alone. |
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