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Ezekiel 32

Ezekiel 32:30

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

Translations

Modern
All the leaders of the north and all the Sidonians are there; they went down in disgrace with the slain, despite the terror of their might. They lie uncircumcised with those slain by the sword and bear their shame with those who descend to the Pit.
Traditional
There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.
Literal
There are the princes of the north, all of them and every Sidonian, those who have gone down ashamed with the slain, with their terror by their might; they lie uncircumcised with those slain by the sword, and they must bear their shame with those going down to the Pit.
Latin
Ibi principes aquilonis omnes, et universi venatores, qui deducti sunt cum interfectis, paventes, et in sua fortitudine confusi: qui dormierunt incircumcisi cum interfectis gladio, et portaverunt confusionem suam cum his qui descendunt in lacum.

Original

Hebrew
English
All the leaders of the north and all the Sidonians are there; they went down in disgrace with the slain, despite the terror of their might. They lie uncircumcised with those slain by the sword and bear their shame 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

Sidon: Phoenician city; home of Jezebel

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Circumcision Ezekiel, Book of Lord Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar Place of the Dead

Topics

Edomites: Prophecies Concerning Phenicia: Called Zidonians Sidon: A City on the Northern Boundary of the Canaanites: Prophecies Concerning