Pharaoh transforms from Egypt's divine king into a helpless "monster in the seas," subverting his traditional role as Israel's oppressor into a victim of cosmic judgment.
Ezekiel 32
Lamentation for Pharaoh
1In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and tell him, ‘You were likened to a young lion of the nations; yet you are as a monster in the seas. You broke out with your rivers, and troubled the waters with your feet, and fouled their rivers.’”
3The Lord GOD says: “I will spread out my net on you with a company of many peoples. They will bring you up in my net.
4I will leave you on the land. I will cast you out on the open field, and will cause all the birds of the sky to settle on you. I will satisfy the animals of the whole earth with you.
5I will lay your flesh on the mountains, and fill the valleys with your height.
6I will also water the land in which you swim with your blood, even to the mountains. The watercourses will be full of you.
7When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and make its stars dark. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon won’t give its light.
8I will make all the bright lights of the sky dark over you, and set darkness on your land,” says the Lord GOD.
9“I will also trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries which you have not known.
10Yes, I will make many peoples amazed at you, and their kings will be horribly afraid for you, when I brandish my sword before them. They will tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall.”
11For the Lord GOD says: “The sword of the king of Babylon will come on you.
12I will cause your multitude to fall by the swords of the mighty. They are all the ruthless of the nations. They will bring the pride of Egypt to nothing, and all its multitude will be destroyed.
13I will destroy also all its animals from beside many waters. The foot of man won’t trouble them any more, nor will the hoofs of animals trouble them.
14Then I will make their waters clear, and cause their rivers to run like oil,” says the Lord GOD.
15“When I make the land of Egypt desolate and waste, a land destitute of that of which it was full, when I strike all those who dwell therein, then they will know that I am the LORD.
16“‘“This is the lamentation with which they will lament. The daughters of the nations will lament with this. They will lament with it over Egypt, and over all her multitude,” says the Lord GOD.’”
Egypt's Descent to Sheol
17Also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
18“Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her and the daughters of the famous nations, to the lower parts of the earth, with those who go down into the pit.
19Whom do you pass in beauty? Go down, and be laid with the uncircumcised.
20They will fall among those who are slain by the sword. She is delivered to the sword. Draw her away with all her multitudes.
21The strong among the mighty will speak to him out of the middle of Sheol with those who help him. They have gone down. The uncircumcised lie still, slain by the sword.
22“Asshur is there with all her company. Her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,
23whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit, and her company is around her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who caused terror in the land of the living.
24“There is Elam and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who have gone down uncircumcised into the lower parts of the earth, who caused their terror in the land of the living, and have borne their shame with those who go down to the pit.
25They have made Elam a bed among the slain with all her multitude. Her graves are around her, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for their terror was caused in the land of the living, and they have borne their shame with those who go down to the pit. He is put among those who are slain.
26“There is Meshech, Tubal, and all their multitude. Their graves are around them, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for they caused their terror in the land of the living.
27They will not lie with the mighty who are fallen of the uncircumcised, who have gone down to Sheol with their weapons of war and have laid their swords under their heads. Their iniquities are on their bones; for they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
28“But you will be broken among the uncircumcised, and will lie with those who are slain by the sword.
29“There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, who in their might are laid with those who are slain by the sword. They will lie with the uncircumcised, and with those who go down to the pit.
30“There are the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who have gone down with the slain. They are put to shame in the terror which they caused by their might. They lie uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword, and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.
31“Pharaoh will see them and will be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword,” says the Lord GOD.
32“For I have put his terror in the land of the living. He will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude,” says the Lord GOD.
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Theme
Ezekiel delivers two funeral laments over Egypt and Pharaoh, depicting their coming destruction through vivid imagery of cosmic upheaval and descent into the underworld. The first oracle (verses 1-16) portrays Pharaoh as a sea monster whose death will darken the heavens and terrify nations, while the second (verses 17-32) describes Egypt joining other fallen powers in Sheol. These prophecies emphasize God's sovereignty over all nations and the inevitable judgment that comes upon those who oppose His purposes.
Context
This chapter concludes Ezekiel's extended series of oracles against Egypt (chapters 29-32), completing his prophecies against foreign nations before turning to Israel's restoration.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2 Oracle Introduction God commands Ezekiel to deliver a lamentation over Pharaoh, comparing him to both a lion and sea monster.
- 3-10 Divine Judgment Imagery God describes capturing Pharaoh in a net and his death causing cosmic darkness and terror among nations.
- 11-16 Babylon's Sword The king of Babylon will execute God's judgment, destroying Egypt's pride and multitude completely.
- 17-21 Second Oracle Introduction A new prophecy commands Ezekiel to wail for Egypt's descent to the underworld with other fallen nations.
- 22-30 Roll Call of the Dead Egypt joins Assyria, Elam, Meshech-Tubal, Edom, and northern princes already dwelling in Sheol.
- 31-32 Pharaoh's Consolation Pharaoh finds comfort seeing other mighty powers have also fallen and joined the uncircumcised dead.
Lamentation for Pharaoh
32:1–32:16 prophecy lament mournful
A lamentation over Pharaoh comparing him to a sea monster, prophesying his destruction by Babylon's sword and the cosmic darkness that will accompany Egypt's fall.
person_contrast
Pharaoh transforms from Egypt's divine king into a helpless "monster in the seas," subverting his traditional role as Israel's oppressor into a victim of cosmic judgment.
Egypt's Descent to Sheol
32:17–32:32 prophecy vision solemn
A prophetic vision describing Egypt's descent to Sheol alongside other fallen nations. The passage depicts divine judgment on proud nations who caused terror in the land of the living.
person_contrast
Ezekiel transforms from Israel's covenant prosecutor into death's herald, uniquely wielding divine authority to "cast down" nations into Sheol—language appearing nowhere else in prophetic literature.
Insights
Ezekiel transforms from Israel's covenant prosecutor into death's herald, uniquely wielding divine authority to "cast down" nations into Sheol—language appearing nowhere else in prophetic literature.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Ezekiel 32:2 2 references
Ezekiel 32:3 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ezekiel 26:14 Lexical
I will make you a bare rock. You will be a place for the spreading of nets. You will be built no more; for I the LORD ha…
Ezekiel 26:5 Lexical
She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the middle of the sea; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘She w…
Ezekiel 16:8 Lexical
“‘“Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my garment over you…
Ezekiel 32:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 29:5 Lexical
I’ll cast you out into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers. You’ll fall on the open field. You won’t be…
Ezekiel 31:13 Lexical
All the birds of the sky will dwell on his ruin, and all the animals of the field will be on his branches,
Psalms 104:12 Lexical
The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.
1 Kings 14:11 Lexical
The dogs will eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam who dies in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in th…
1 Kings 21:24 Lexical
The dogs will eat whoever dies of Ahab in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the field.”
Ezekiel 32:7 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joel 2:10 Lexical
The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shini…
Isaiah 13:10 Lexical
For the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened in its going out, an…
Isaiah 60:19 Lexical
The sun will be no more your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon give light to you, but the LORD will be y…
Psalms 148:3 Lexical
Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars!
Jeremiah 31:35 Lexical
The LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, wh…
Ezekiel 32:8 2 references
Ezekiel 32:10 2 references
Ezekiel 32:12 2 references
Ezekiel 32:14 2 references
Ezekiel 32:16 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ezekiel 28:12 Lexical
“Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and tell him, ‘The Lord GOD says: “You were the seal of full m…
2 Chronicles 35:25 Lexical
Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this da…
Ezekiel 27:32 Lexical
In their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you, and lament over you, saying, ‘Who is there like Tyre, like her…
2 Samuel 1:17 Lexical
David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
Ezekiel 32:18 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ezekiel 31:14 Lexical
to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves in their stature, and don’t set their top among the…
Ezekiel 31:16 Lexical
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit.…
Ezekiel 26:20 Lexical
then I will bring you down with those who descend into the pit, to the people of old time, and will make you dwell in th…
Ezekiel 32:19 1 reference
Ezekiel 32:20 2 references
Ezekiel 32:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 31:18 Lexical
“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Ezekiel 31:17 Lexical
They also went down into Sheol with him to those who are slain by the sword; yes, those who were his arm, who lived unde…
2 Samuel 1:22 Lexical
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return emp…
2 Samuel 1:25 Lexical
How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.
Numbers 16:33 Lexical
So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed on them, and they perished from amon…
Ezekiel 32:22 2 references
Ezekiel 32:23 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ezekiel 28:23 Lexical
For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets. The wounded will fall within her, with the sword on her…
Isaiah 14:19 Lexical
But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain who are thrust through with the s…
Numbers 19:16 Lexical
“Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall…
Ezekiel 32:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 31:18 Lexical
“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Ezekiel 30:4 Lexical
A sword will come on Egypt, and anguish will be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt. They take away her multitude,…
Ezekiel 28:23 Lexical
For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets. The wounded will fall within her, with the sword on her…
Ezekiel 26:20 Lexical
then I will bring you down with those who descend into the pit, to the people of old time, and will make you dwell in th…
Ezekiel 31:14 Lexical
to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves in their stature, and don’t set their top among the…
Ezekiel 32:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 31:18 Lexical
“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Isaiah 14:19 Lexical
But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain who are thrust through with the s…
Ezekiel 28:23 Lexical
For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets. The wounded will fall within her, with the sword on her…
Ezekiel 31:17 Lexical
They also went down into Sheol with him to those who are slain by the sword; yes, those who were his arm, who lived unde…
Numbers 19:16 Lexical
“Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall…
Ezekiel 32:26 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 10:2 Lexical
The sons of Japheth were: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
Ezekiel 38:3 Lexical
and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.
Ezekiel 38:2 Lexical
“Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy agains…
Ezekiel 27:13 Lexical
“‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandis…
Ezekiel 39:1 Lexical
“You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Mes…
Ezekiel 32:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 31:18 Lexical
“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
1 Samuel 31:4 Lexical
Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and t…
1 Chronicles 10:4 Lexical
Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and a…
2 Samuel 1:27 Lexical
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”
Ezekiel 31:17 Lexical
They also went down into Sheol with him to those who are slain by the sword; yes, those who were his arm, who lived unde…
Ezekiel 32:28 2 references
Ezekiel 32:29 2 references
Ezekiel 32:30 2 references
Ezekiel 32:31 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 31:18 Lexical
“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Ezekiel 24:14 Lexical
“‘“I, the LORD, have spoken it. It will happen, and I will do it. I won’t go back. I won’t spare. I won’t repent. Accord…
Ezekiel 14:23 Lexical
They will comfort you, when you see their way and their doings; then you will know that I have not done all that I have…
Ezekiel 30:22 Lexical
Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong arm, and t…
Ezekiel 11:8 Lexical
You have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword on you,” says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 32:32 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 31:18 Lexical
“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Ezekiel 28:10 Lexical
You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken it,” says the Lord GOD.’”
Ezekiel 44:9 Lexical
The Lord GOD says, “No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of a…
Ezekiel 11:7 Lexical
“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Your slain whom you have laid in the middle of it, they are the meat, and this is the ca…
Ezekiel 26:15 Lexical
“The Lord GOD says to Tyre: ‘Won’t the islands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when the slaught…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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