Ezekiel 32 13

Ezekiel 32:13 kjv

I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them.

Ezekiel 32:13 nkjv

Also I will destroy all its animals From beside its great waters; The foot of man shall muddy them no more, Nor shall the hooves of animals muddy them.

Ezekiel 32:13 niv

I will destroy all her cattle from beside abundant waters no longer to be stirred by the foot of man or muddied by the hooves of cattle.

Ezekiel 32:13 esv

I will destroy all its beasts from beside many waters; and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore, nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them.

Ezekiel 32:13 nlt

I will destroy all your flocks and herds
that graze beside the streams.
Never again will people or animals
muddy those waters with their feet.

Ezekiel 32 verses

Ezekiel 32 13 meaning

This verse signifies a total and utter desolation inflicted upon Egypt through divine judgment. The destruction of "all its livestock from beside the great waters" represents the annihilation of its economic life, sustenance, and agricultural foundation, which were intimately linked to the fertile Nile River. The phrase "so that no human foot or animal hoof may churn them anymore" paints a picture of complete inactivity and emptiness, rendering Egypt's life-giving waters unused, silent, and devoid of the vibrant presence that once defined its civilization. It underscores the cessation of all life and productivity, a reversal of the abundant vitality that historically characterized Egypt due to its reliance on the Nile.

Ezekiel 32 13 Context

Ezekiel 32 is part of a series of prophecies against various foreign nations (Ezekiel 25-32), specifically targeting Egypt (Ezekiel 29-32). This particular chapter presents a lamentation over the fall of Pharaoh and Egypt, comparing Pharaoh to a monstrous sea creature (leviathan/dragon) caught by God. The surrounding verses vividly describe Egypt's descent into ruin, emphasizing its defeat by the king of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) and its subsequent removal from its position of pride among the nations. The "great waters" in verse 13 clearly refer to the Nile River, which was the literal lifeblood of Egypt—its source of irrigation, fertility, transportation, and national identity. The cultural and historical context includes Egypt's long-standing boast of self-sufficiency and its idolatry, with its deities often associated with animal forms and the generative power of the Nile. This verse thus prophesies a profound judgment where the very foundations of Egypt's prosperity—its agriculture and animal husbandry tied to the Nile—would be utterly eradicated, silencing the vibrant life that once flowed through its lands.

Ezekiel 32 13 Word analysis

• I will destroy: This phrase signifies the direct, active, and intentional agency of Yahweh in bringing about this judgment. It is not a natural disaster, but a divine decree. The Hebrew word is אֲבַד (abad), meaning "to perish," "to be destroyed," or "to ruin," indicating a comprehensive and irreversible undoing.
• also all: Emphasizes the totality and completeness of the destruction. Nothing is left out, indicating an all-encompassing calamity.
• its livestock: Refers to בְּהֵמָה (behemah), meaning "beasts," "cattle," or "domesticated animals." In ancient Egypt, livestock was fundamental to the economy, agriculture (plowing, fertilizer), transportation, and daily sustenance (meat, milk, hides). Its destruction targets the very economic backbone of the nation. It also subtly critiques the Egyptian veneration of animals, showing the Creator's sovereignty over all creation.
• from beside the great waters: This pinpoints the source of life and fertility for Egypt. The "great waters," מַיִם רַבִּים (mayim rabbim), unequivocally refers to the Nile River and its associated canals and floodplains. The judgment strikes at the most vital aspect of Egypt's geography, transforming its source of life into a site of desolation.
• so that no human foot: This signifies the utter absence of human presence and activity. The Hebrew is רֶגֶל אָדָם (regel adam), "foot of man." No person will walk there, signifying depopulation or fear that prevents any human from engaging with the once-fertile land.
• or animal hoof: Adds to the sense of total desolation, extending it beyond humans to all forms of productive animal life. The Hebrew is פַּרְסַת בְּהֵמָה (parsath behemah), "hoof of an animal." It reinforces the complete emptiness—no beasts of burden, no grazing animals.
• may churn them anymore: The Hebrew verb is רָמַס (ramas), which means "to trample," "to tread," "to stir up," or "to foul." In the context of water, it implies the everyday activity of livestock entering rivers to drink, bathe, or ford, disturbing the water and keeping it in motion. This judgment indicates a cessation of all such activity, leaving the once bustling waters undisturbed, stagnant, and unused. This lack of interaction signals the death of a living landscape, an unnatural stillness.
• Word Group Analysis:
  • "I will destroy also all its livestock from beside the great waters": This phrase directly links God's active judgment to the primary sources of Egypt's economic and physical well-being. By striking at the livestock, fed and sustained by the Nile, the very cycle of life that made Egypt prosperous is broken at its most fundamental level.
  • "so that no human foot or animal hoof may churn them anymore": This second clause emphatically details the result of the destruction. It moves beyond merely the death of animals to describe a comprehensive state of eerie silence, inactivity, and abandonment. The fertile lands around the Nile, once bustling with life and agricultural activity, are now presented as an unmoving, silent wasteland—a powerful image of ultimate desolation and a reversal of God's blessing of life and dominion.

Ezekiel 32 13 Bonus section

The "churning" of the waters by foot or hoof implicitly references the vital connection between daily life, agriculture, and the sacredness of the Nile in Egyptian worldview. Egyptians perceived the Nile's annual flooding as a divine act ensuring their prosperity, a source of life and connection to their gods. By promising to cease all activity around these "great waters," God directly undermines the basis of their perceived security and the efficacy of their polytheistic beliefs and practices. This prophetic stillness of the Nile stands in stark contrast to its dynamic and life-giving role, becoming a powerful symbol of complete environmental and societal collapse through divine will. The stillness represents a prophetic overturning of the natural order that Egyptians held sacred, making it an act of judgment not just upon the people but also upon their land and the deities associated with it.

Ezekiel 32 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 32:13 is a pronouncement of profound divine judgment, graphically detailing the extent of Egypt's impending desolation. Yahweh's direct action will obliterate Egypt's most vital resource—its abundant livestock, which thrived due to the Nile's fertile sustenance. This specific targeting strikes at the very heart of Egyptian prosperity and identity, reversing its historically blessed state. The vivid imagery of the "great waters" remaining undisturbed by human or animal foot or hoof signifies not merely the absence of life, but a complete cessation of interaction and productivity, transforming the life-giving Nile into a symbol of barrenness. It stands as a testament to God's ultimate sovereignty over proud nations and their perceived self-sufficiency, turning their glory into silence. The silence of the unchurned waters symbolizes a land dead to its former vibrant life.