9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
9 I made it beautiful with abundant branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden in the garden of God.
9 I made it beautiful in the mass of its branches, and all the trees of Eden envied it, that were in the garden of God.
9 I made it beautiful, a work of art in limbs and leaves, The envy of every tree in Eden, every last tree in God's garden.'"
9 I made it beautiful with a multitude of branches, So that all the trees of Eden envied it, That were in the garden of God.'
9 Because I made this tree so beautiful, and gave it such magnificent foliage, it was the envy of all the other trees of Eden, the garden of God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 31:9
Commentary on Ezekiel 31:1-9
(Read Ezekiel 31:1-9)
The falls of others, both into sin and ruin, warn us not to be secure or high-minded. The prophet is to show an instance of one whom the king of Egypt resembled in greatness, the Assyrian, compared to a stately cedar. Those who excel others, make themselves the objects of envy; but the blessings of the heavenly paradise are not liable to such alloy. The utmost security that any creature can give, is but like the shadow of a tree, a scanty and slender protection. But let us flee to God for protection, there we shall be safe. His hand must be owned in the rising of the great men of the earth, and we must not envy them. Though worldly people may seem to have firm prosperity, yet it only seems so.