Ezekiel 32 1

Ezekiel 32:1 kjv

And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 32:1 nkjv

And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Ezekiel 32:1 niv

In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 32:1 esv

In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 32:1 nlt

On March 3, during the twelfth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, this message came to me from the LORD:

Ezekiel 32 1 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Ezk 32:1"And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezk 29:1"In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me,"Previous oracle against Egypt
Ezk 30:20"The thirteenth year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me,"Previous oracle against Egypt
Ezk 33:7"So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me."God's commission to Ezekiel
Jer 1:2"To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign."Jeremiah's commission
Isa 30:8"Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:"
Jer 43:10"And say, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have digged; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them."Judgment on Egypt
Isa 19:1"The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it."Oracle against Egypt
Jer 46:2"Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the king of Judah."Oracle against Egypt
Jer 50:1"The word that the LORD spake unto Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;"
Hab 2:6"Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a proverb, and a talk against him, saying, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long will it be, and, till it be ?"Judgment prophecy
Mic 2:4"And in that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We are utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how doth he remove it from me! turning back he hath divided our fields."
Joel 2:1"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;"Day of the Lord
Zep 1:7"Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath sanctified his guests."Day of the Lord
Zech 11:1"Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars."Oracle against Lebanon
Ezk 32:17"It came also in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Isa 13:1"The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see."Burdens and oracles
Ezk 26:1"And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"Oracle against Tyre
Ezk 28:1"The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,"Oracle against Tyre
Jer 51:11"Make sharp the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of Media: for his device against Babylon is this to destroy it; because the vengeance of the LORD is the vengeance of his temple."
Ezk 1:3"Then the word of the LORD came unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him."Ezekiel's initial commission
Ezk 3:12"Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a voice of great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place."Ezekiel's commission reinforced

Ezekiel 32 verses

Ezekiel 32 1 Meaning

This verse signifies the commencement of a prophetic oracle of lamentation directed at Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and his nation, portraying them as a fearsome but ultimately doomed sea monster. It introduces a message of severe judgment and destruction to befall Egypt.

Ezekiel 32 1 Context

Ezekiel 32 follows a series of prophecies against various nations and concludes with a broader indictment of Israel's apostasy. Chapter 31 prophesied the fall of Egypt symbolized by a mighty cedar tree brought low. Ezekiel 32 continues this theme of Egypt's imminent judgment, a significant oracle delivered in the twelfth year of Jehoiachin's exile. Historically, this period was marked by geopolitical shifts and the anticipation of Babylonian conquest, with Egypt playing a complex role. For the original audience, the Israelites in exile, these prophecies offered a theological framework for understanding the downfall of oppressive nations, including Egypt, which had often been a source of false hope. The oracle also served to dismantle any reliance on Egyptian military might, a common temptation for Judeans.

Ezekiel 32 1 Word Analysis

  • "And it came to pass": (Hebrew: וַֽיְהִי - wayehí) This common Hebrew formula introduces a narrative or historical event, signaling the divine delivery of prophecy.
  • "in the twelfth year": (Hebrew: שְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֵ֗ה - shénê esreh) The specific dating is crucial for understanding the historical backdrop and the timeliness of God's word. This year marks a significant point in the exile.
  • "in the twelfth month": (Hebrew: בְּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הַשִּׁבְעָ֣ה עָשָׂ֑ר - b’ḥódeš haššiḇʿā ʿāśār) The mention of the twelfth month, Adar, often associated with purging or judgment, sets a somber tone. However, some scholars interpret the phrase "in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month" as possibly referring to a later date as noted in verse 17, indicating a sequence or perhaps different aspects of the message.
  • "in the first day of the month": (Hebrew: בְּאֶחָ֥ד לַחֹֽדֶשׁ׃ - b’’eḥāð laḥódeš) The beginning of a month often marked new beginnings or cycles, here introducing a new phase of prophecy.
  • "that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,": (Hebrew: וַיְהִ֤י דְבַר־יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֔ר - wayehí děvar-Yĕhōwāh ’ēlai lē’mōr) This is a standard prophetic formula, affirming the divine origin and direct transmission of the message to Ezekiel.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month": This precise dating serves to anchor the prophecy within a specific historical context, giving it immediacy and credibility. It aligns with God's intention for his prophets to speak relevantly to their times.
  • "the word of the LORD came unto me": This phrase underscores the divine authority of Ezekiel's prophecy. The message is not his own speculation but a direct communication from Yahweh, the covenant God.

Ezekiel 32 1 Bonus Section

The dating of this prophecy is important because Ezekiel often grounds his messages in specific historical moments, lending them a sense of immediacy and prophetic fulfillment. The mention of the "twelfth year, twelfth month, first day" in verse 1, and then again in verse 17, has led to scholarly discussion. Some understand verse 1 as setting the stage for a broader oracle, which then begins in earnest with specific content in later verses. Others see it as indicating different pronouncements on the same theme delivered at slightly different times. Regardless, the repetition emphasizes the significant unfolding of God's plan concerning Egypt's fate. This verse serves as a divine attestation to Ezekiel's prophetic office and the critical importance of the message concerning Egypt's demise.

Ezekiel 32 1 Commentary

Verse 1 establishes the occasion for the prophetic utterance that follows. It is a solemn announcement of a fresh revelation from God delivered to Ezekiel. The meticulous dating emphasizes the timeliness of God's message to his prophet, ensuring the people understood that these pronouncements were directly from the divine authority and relevant to their historical circumstances. The introduction of the oracle regarding Egypt as a powerful, fallen beast highlights God's sovereign power over even the mightiest earthly kingdoms and His ultimate control over history. This message, delivered in the context of Judah's vulnerability and exile, would have resonated deeply, providing both comfort (in God's judgment on oppressors) and a solemn warning (about the consequences of national sin).