Keraia
Ezekiel 32

Ezekiel 32:24

Egypt Cast into the Pit · Ezekiel 32:17–32
Read Ezekiel 32

Translations

Modern
Elam is there with all her multitudes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—those who went down uncircumcised to the earth below, who once spread their terror in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit.
Traditional
There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
Literal
There is Elam and all her multitude, surrounding her grave, all of them slain, having fallen by the sword, those who have gone down uncircumcised to the land below, those who gave forth their terror in the land of the living; and they bear their shame with those going down to the Pit.
Latin
Ibi Ælam, et omnis multitudo ejus per gyrum sepulchri sui: omnes hi interfecti, ruentesque gladio, qui descenderunt incircumcisi ad terram ultimam; qui posuerunt terrorem suum in terra viventium, et portaverunt ignominiam suam cum his qui descendunt in lacum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Elam is there with all her multitudes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—those who went down uncircumcised to the earth below, who once spread their terror in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit.

Notes

Ezekiel 32:21–30

Assyria … Elam … Meshech and Tubal … Edom … the leaders of the north and the Sidonians: In the past, these nations filled people with fear. Now they are described as weak shadows of what they once were. Their power is gone, and they exist in a place without joy or purpose.

Assyria had been defeated by the Babylonians and the Medes between 627 and 609 BC. After that time, it was no longer a great world power.

Ezekiel 32:17–32

This final message against Egypt brings the whole series of messages to a close. It gathers together the main themes from God’s judgments against all the nations.

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

Elam: Ancient kingdom east of Babylon; ally and enemy of Israel

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Circumcision Elam (Place), Elamites Ezekiel, Book of Lord Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar Place of the Dead

Topics

Persia: Prophecies Concerning