Ezekiel 32:4

Translations

Modern

I will abandon you on the land and hurl you into the open field. I will cause all the birds of the air to settle upon you, and all the beasts of the earth to eat their fill of you.

Traditional

Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.

Literal

And I will leave you on the land; upon the face of the field I will throw you, and I will make dwell upon you all the birds of the heavens, and I will give the fill of you to the beasts of all the earth.

Latin

Et projiciam te in terram; super faciem agri abjiciam te: et habitare faciam super te omnia volatilia cæli, et saturabo de te bestias universæ terræ.

Original

Hebrew

English

I will abandon you on the land and hurl you into the open field. I will cause all the birds of the air to settle upon you, and all the beasts of the earth to eat their fill of you.

Notes

Ezekiel 32:4–6

mountains … valleys … mountains … ravines: In Hebrew, this is a literary device called a merism (a way of naming the outer parts to include everything in between). It shows both the boundaries and all that lies within them. Here, it emphasizes that God’s judgment would cover the whole land.

The description of destruction uses hyperbole (intentional exaggeration). This strong language shows that Egypt’s defeat would be complete.

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

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Isaiah 18:6
They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey, and to the beasts of the land. The birds will feed on them in summer, and all the wild animals in winter.
Ezekiel 31:12–13
Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches have fallen on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. And all the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it.
Ezekiel 29:5
I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams. You will fall on the open field and will not be taken away or gathered for burial. I have given you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air.
Isaiah 66:24
“As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”
Psalm 74:14
You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.
Jeremiah 8:2
They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground.
Psalm 63:10
They will fall to the power of the sword; they will become a portion for foxes.
1 Samuel 17:44–46
“Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”
Revelation 19:17–18
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,
Psalm 110:5–6
The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath.
Psalm 79:2–3
They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.
Isaiah 34:2–7
The LORD is angry with all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will devote them to destruction; He will give them over to slaughter.

Glossary

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

Topics

Animals: Sent in Judgment Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Prophetic Illustration of Its Destruction

Ezekiel 32:4

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