Ezekiel 32:19

19 Say to them: 'Are you more beautiful than others? Go lie down in death with those who are unclean.'

Ezekiel 32:19 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 32:19

Whom dost thou pass in beauty?
&c.] This question the prophet is bid to put to Egypt; what nation is there, or has been, that thou excellest in wisdom, in riches, or in strength, in the multitude of subjects, or extent of dominions, that thou thinkest thyself secure from destruction? look over other kingdoms and states mightier than thou, or at least equal to thee, and see how they are brought to ruin, and expect that this will quickly be thy case: go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised;
go down to the grave, and take thy place, and lie there among the wicked and most profligate of mankind, and such as might be most despised by the Egyptians, since they used circumcision. The Targum is,

``go down and sleep with sinners.''

Ezekiel 32:19 In-Context

17 It was in the twelfth year of our captivity, on the fifteenth day of the month. The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

18 "Human, cry for the people of Egypt. Bring down Egypt, together with the women of the powerful nations; bring them down to the place of the dead below the earth to join those who go to the place of the dead.

19 Say to them: 'Are you more beautiful than others? Go lie down in death with those who are unclean.'

20 The Egyptians will fall among those killed in war. The sword is ready; the enemy will drag Egypt and all her people away.

21 From the place of the dead the leaders of the mighty ones will speak about the king of Egypt and the nations which help him: 'The unclean, those killed in war, have come down here and lie dead.'