In verses 10-18 God pronounces judgment on the cedar tree. The conjunction Therefore connects the coming judgment with reasons for the judgment, which were described in the previous verses. Since the last half of this verse (beginning with Because) also gives the reasons for the judgment, some translations omit this conjunction (so Revised English Bible). Contemporary English Version begins this verse by reminding the reader that the prophecy in this chapter is addressed to the “King of Egypt.” This addition is acceptable as long as the cedar tree is not identified as the king of Egypt. After all, the tree is still a picture of the Assyrians, and if necessary, it may be appropriate to remind the reader of this here.

Thus says the Lord GOD is the prophetic introduction for the second half of this prophecy against Egypt. Lord renders the Hebrew word ʾadonai, and GOD renders “Yahweh” (YHWH in Hebrew). New Century Version renders this clause as “this is what the Lord GOD says.”

Because it towered high: See the comments on Ezek 31.5. Instead of the pronoun it, the Hebrew text has the pronoun “you” (New King James Version ) to refer to the cedar tree. However, like Revised Standard Version, most translations change the second person Hebrew pronoun here to third person since the following pronouns for the tree are third person.

And set its top among the clouds: Instead of clouds, it is better to say “thick boughs” (Revised Standard Version footnote) or “thick foliage” (New International Version), as in verse 3 (see the comments there). Set means to “put” or “place.” New English Bible renders this clause as “and pushed its crown up through the foliage.”

And its heart was proud of its height: Because the cedar tree grew very high, it became “proud of how tall it was” (New International Reader’s Version). Instead of heart, translators may choose whatever organ of the body is connected to pride in their own culture, or they may use some other natural idiom.

There are many languages where it will not be natural to begin this declaration against the cedar tree with the connector Because. If so, translators may reorder the last half of this verse, and lead into the next one as follows: “That tree grew very tall and its top was among the thick foliage. It was very proud of how tall it was. Because of that, 11 I gave it over….”

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .