Keraia
Ezekiel 32

Ezekiel 32:15

A Lament for Pharaoh King of Egypt · Ezekiel 32:1–16
Read Ezekiel 32

Translations

Modern
‘When I make the land of Egypt a desolation and empty it of all that filled it, when I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the LORD.’
Traditional
When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the Lord.
Literal
‘In My making the land of Egypt a desolation, and the land being desolate of its fullness, in My striking all those dwelling in it, they will know that I am YHWH!’
Latin
…cum dedero terram Ægypti desolatam: deseretur autem terra a plenitudine sua quando percussero omnes habitatores ejus: et scient quia ego Dominus.

Original

Hebrew
English
‘When I make the land of Egypt a desolation and empty it of all that filled it, when I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the LORD.’

Notes

Ezekiel 32:15–16

This complete destruction of Egypt would lead them to recognize the Lord's power, just like during the exodus.

Ezekiel 29:1–32:32

  • The seventh and final message of judgment against the nations targets Egypt, an old enemy and ally of Israel. This message is the longest and, like the one against Tyre, it addresses both Egypt and its ruler.

  • Egypt often tempted Israel and Judah to turn away from their loyalty to the Lord. Soon after leaving Egypt, Israel fell into the trap of Egypt's idolatry. Egypt led Judah to rely on chariots and horses instead of the Lord, but Egypt was unreliable when it mattered most. The Lord judged Egypt for leading his people astray (compare Luke 17:1–2).

Ezekiel 25:1–32:32

  • This section contains a series of messages of judgment against nearby nations. There are six shorter messages against Judah's immediate neighbors, arranged in a clockwise order, followed by a final message against Egypt (Ezekiel 30–32). Through experiencing God's judgment, the nations would recognize God's control over everything. The nations might be used to carry out God's judgment on his people, but they would not avoid judgment themselves.

  • One of the main purposes of these messages was to show that the negative part of God's promise to Abraham ("I will … curse those who curse you," Genesis 12:3) was still active. No one can harm God's people and avoid consequences, even when God's people are under his judgment.

Theme notes and profiles

Messages Against the Nations

Events

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Lord Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar

Topics

Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Utter Desolation of, for Forty Years