Ezekiel 32:21

21 All the big men and their helpers down among the dead and buried will greet them: 'Welcome to the grave of the heathen! Join the ranks of the victims of war!'

Ezekiel 32:21 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 32:21

The strong among the mighty shall speak to him
The strongest of them, such who have excelled others in strength and courage, famous for military exploits, who have been generals of armies, great warriors, and conquerors; and yet with all their might and strength could not withstand death, but were subdued by it, and brought down to the grave; these are, by a poetical figure, represented as meeting Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he came to his grave, saluting and welcoming him to the state of the dead in which they were; taking a sort of comfort in it, and insulting him as being as weak as they; see ( Isaiah 14:9 Isaiah 14:10 Isaiah 14:16 ) , which they should do out of the midst of hell,
or the grave, "Hades", the state of the dead: with them that help him;
the associates, allies, and friends of Pharaoh, his auxiliaries that fell with him, and were brought to the grave at the same time with him; these should be greeted, saluted, and welcomed in like manner: they are gone down;
to the grave; those mighty ones that are represented as speaking, and the Egyptians and their helpers who are spoken to: they lie uncircumcised;
among them that are so, ( Ezekiel 32:19 ) : slain by the sword;
of their enemies, who got the victory over them.

Ezekiel 32:21 In-Context

19 Say, 'You think you're so high and mighty? Down! Take your place with the heathen in that unhallowed grave!'
20 "She'll be dumped in with those killed in battle. The sword is bared. Drag her off in all her proud pomp!
21 All the big men and their helpers down among the dead and buried will greet them: 'Welcome to the grave of the heathen! Join the ranks of the victims of war!'
22 "Assyria is there and its congregation, the whole nation a cemetery.
23 Their graves are in the deepest part of the underworld, a congregation of graves, all killed in battle, these people who terrorized the land of the living.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.