Ezekiel 32:9

Modern

‘I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring about your destruction among the nations, in countries you do not know.

Traditional

I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known.

Literal

‘And I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, in My bringing your destruction among the nations, over lands that you have not known.

Latin

Et irritabo cor populorum multorum, cum induxero contritionem tuam in gentibus super terras quas nescis.

Hebrew

English

‘I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring about your destruction among the nations, in countries you do not know.

The nations around Egypt and their kings would be filled with fear when Egypt fell. They would worry that the same judgment might come upon them.

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).

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

Revelation 18:10–15
In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
Ezekiel 29:12
I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolate lands, and her cities will lie desolate for forty years among the ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.
Ezekiel 30:23
I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
Jeremiah 25:15–25
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.
Ezekiel 30:26
I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
Revelation 11:18
The nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead and to reward Your servants the prophets, as well as the saints and those who fear Your name, both small and great—and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”