Ezekiel 32:1-16

A Lament for Pharaoh

1 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first [day] of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:

2 "Son of man, lament^[a] for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: You compare yourself to a lion of the nations, but^[b] you are like a monster^[c] in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churn up the waters with your feet, and muddy the^[d] rivers."

3 This is what the Lord God says: I will spread My net over you with an assembly of many peoples,^[e] and they^[f] will haul you up in My net.

4 I will abandon you on the land and hurl you on the open field. I will cause all the birds of the sky to settle on you and let the beasts of the entire earth eat their fill of you.^[g]

5 I will put your flesh on the mountains and fill the valleys with your carcass.

6 I will drench the land with the flow of your blood, [even] to the mountains; the ravines will be filled with your [gore].^[h]

7 When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light.

8 I will darken all the shining lights in the heavens over you, and will bring darkness on your land. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the declaration of the Lord God .

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

10 I will cause many nations to be appalled at you, and their kings will shudder with fear because of you^[i] when I brandish My sword in front of them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment^[j] for his life.

11 For this is what the Lord God says: The sword of Babylon's king will come against you!

12 I will make your hordes fall by the swords of warriors, all of them ruthless men from the nations.^[k] They will ravage Egypt's pride, and all its hordes will be destroyed.

13 I will slaughter all its cattle that are beside many waters. No human foot will churn them again, and no cattle hooves will disturb them.^[l]

14 Then I will let their waters settle and will make their rivers flow like oil. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the declaration of the Lord God .

15 When I make the land of Egypt a desolation, so that it is emptied of everything in it, when I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the Lord.^[m]

16 "This is a lament that will be chanted; the women of the nations will chant it. They will chant it over Egypt and all its hordes." [This is] the declaration of the Lord God .

Ezekiel 32:1-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 32

This chapter contains two more prophecies concerning the destruction of Egypt. The date of the first is given, Eze 22:1, in which the king of Egypt is compared to a large fish taken in a net, and brought to land, and left on it, to be the prey of the fowls of the air and beasts of the field, Eze 32:2-4, and the ruin of that kingdom is further amplified by the casting of it on the mountains and valleys; by the land flowing with its blood; by the darkness of the heavens; by the vexation in the hearts of many people; and by the amazement of kings and nations, Eze 32:5-10, the means and instruments of all which will be the king of Babylon and his army, Eze 32:11,12, the devastation made by him, which would be such as would cause lamentation in other nations, is described, Eze 32:13-16, then follows the other prophecy, whose date is given, Eze 32:17, the prophet is bid to lament the fall of Egypt, which is represented under the funeral of a corpse, Eze 32:18-20, saluted by those gone down to the grave before, or were become desolate; which are mentioned, to assure Egypt of its destruction, Eze 32:21 as the Assyrian empire, and all its provinces, Eze 32:22,23, the Persians and Medes, with all their dominions, Eze 32:24,25, the posterity of Meshech and Tubal, or the Scythians, those warlike people, Eze 32:26-28, the Edomites, the princes of the north, and all the Zidonians, Eze 32:29,30 which would be a comfort, though a poor one to the king of Egypt and his subjects, to have such company with them, Eze 32:31,32.

Footnotes

• [a] Ezk 19:1; 27:2; 28:12
• [b] Or Lion of the nations, you are destroyed;
• [c] Isa 27:1; 51:9; Jr 51:34
• [d] Lit their
• [e] Ezk 26:7
• [f] LXX, Vg read I
• [g] Ezk 29:3-5
• [h] Ezk 31:12
• [i] Ezk 27:35
• [j] Ezk 26:16
• [k] Ezk 28:7; 31:12
• [l] Ezk 29:11
• [m] Ex 7:5