Ezekiel 32 15

Ezekiel 32:15 kjv

When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 32:15 nkjv

"When I make the land of Egypt desolate, And the country is destitute of all that once filled it, When I strike all who dwell in it, Then they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 32:15 niv

When I make Egypt desolate and strip the land of everything in it, when I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the LORD.'

Ezekiel 32:15 esv

When I make the land of Egypt desolate, and when the land is desolate of all that fills it, when I strike down all who dwell in it, then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 32:15 nlt

And when I destroy Egypt
and strip you of everything you own
and strike down all your people,
then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 32 verses

Ezekiel 32 15 meaning

Ezekiel 32:15 declares the Lord GOD's impending judgment upon Egypt, stating that its vital waters, particularly the Nile River, will be rendered "clear" and its "rivers... run like oil." This imagery does not describe an improvement, but rather a profound disruption and desolation. "Clear" for the Nile, which naturally carries life-giving silt, implies an unnatural stillness or stagnation, signifying the cessation of its natural, productive flow essential for agriculture and life. "Running like oil" similarly suggests a slow, sluggish, or even viscous state, replacing the vigorous, life-sustaining currents. This prophetic utterance foretells the economic, agricultural, and spiritual ruin of Egypt by striking at the very source of its perceived power and prosperity, asserting God's absolute sovereignty over creation.

Ezekiel 32 15 Context

Ezekiel 32:15 is situated within a series of divine judgments pronounced against various surrounding nations (Ezekiel 25-32), with chapters 29-32 specifically targeting Egypt and its proud Pharaoh. This particular chapter is presented as a lament or dirge over Pharaoh and Egypt, likening him to a great sea monster (leviathan) brought low by God. The preceding verses describe the spectacular and violent downfall of Pharaoh and his armies, emphasizing the widespread terror and grief his destruction will cause among other nations. Verse 15 details a critical aspect of this judgment: the deliberate desolation of Egypt's lifeblood—the Nile River. Historically, Egypt’s entire existence and prosperity hinged upon the predictable and fertile flow of the Nile, which irrigated its lands and formed the basis of its agricultural abundance. This verse is a direct polemic against Egypt's self-reliance, its national pride rooted in its riverine prosperity, and its pagan beliefs, which included worship of the Nile god Hapi as the source of fertility. By supernaturally altering the very nature of the Nile, Yahweh asserts His absolute power and demonstrates that He, not any false god or Pharaoh, is the true sovereign over all creation and the provider of life.

Ezekiel 32 15 Word analysis

• Then (אָז, ’āz): A temporal adverb, signifying a direct consequence or the next stage following the previously described acts of divine judgment, particularly the felling of Egypt's power and its proud king. It emphasizes the causal link.
• will I make (אֲשַׁקֵּט, ’ăshaqqēṭ, from שָׁקַט, shāqat): This is the Qal imperfect form, indicating an active, direct, and certain action by God. The root shāqat typically means "to be quiet," "at rest," "settle," or "still." In this context of judgment, it implies an unnatural cessation of movement, making the waters stagnant or lifeless, rather than genuinely peaceful or transparently clear in a positive sense.
• their waters (מֵימֵיהֶם, mêmêhem): Plural of מַיִם (mayim, water) with the possessive suffix "their." This refers primarily to the Nile River and its intricate network of branches and canals, which were synonymous with Egypt's life.
• clear (see "will I make," ’ăshaqqēṭ): The implication of "clearing" the water here is not for drinking purity but for an ominous, unnerving stillness. The Nile was naturally turbid with fertile silt, which was essential for Egypt’s agriculture. A "clear" Nile suggests a river devoid of this life-giving sediment, indicating agricultural ruin and desolation.
• and cause... to run (וְאוֹלִיךְ, wə’ôlîḵ, from יָלַךְ, yālakh): This Hiphil imperfect form (or Hiphil participle with a slight variation) denotes active causation – "I will make them go" or "I will lead them." God is the active agent in this unnatural process.
• their rivers (וּנְהָרוֹתָם, ûnəhārotam): Plural of נָהָר (nāhār, river) with "their." Again, referencing the extensive system of the Nile and its various tributaries and canals throughout Egypt.
• like oil (כַּשֶּׁמֶן, kaššemen): The preposition כְּ (kə, like/as) joined with שֶׁמֶן (shemen, oil). Oil is known for its viscosity, thickness, and slow-moving nature compared to water. This simile evokes an image of water becoming thick, sluggish, or even stagnant, unable to flow freely and provide sustenance. It paints a picture of desolation where the lifeblood of Egypt becomes a thick, slow, unusable substance.
• saith (נְאֻם, nə'um): A prophetic formula, asserting the divine origin and authoritative nature of the preceding message.
• the Lord GOD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, ’ădonāy YHWH): A composite divine title signifying supreme authority and ownership. ’ădonāy (Lord) denotes sovereignty, while YHWH (usually rendered "GOD" in combination or "LORD") is God's covenant name, emphasizing His eternal and personal faithfulness, even in judgment.

• "Then will I make their waters clear": This phrase describes an unsettling, unnatural clarity in the Nile. Unlike clean water for drinking, this refers to a stillness, an absence of the vital sediment that usually makes the Nile murky but fertile. It signals agricultural barrenness and ecological disruption caused by divine intervention.
• "and cause their rivers to run like oil": This vivid simile underlines the dramatic and detrimental alteration. The normal, rapid, life-sustaining flow of the Nile is replaced by a slow, thick, sluggish, or perhaps even separated-out "oil-like" movement. It speaks to a cessation of normal functions, signifying the ultimate economic and social collapse dependent on the river.
• "saith the Lord GOD": This concluding divine affirmation solidifies the pronouncement. It removes any doubt about the source or certainty of this devastating prophecy, placing it squarely under the unchallengeable authority of the Creator God, Yahweh.

Ezekiel 32 15 Bonus section

The imagery in Ezekiel 32:15 holds profound symbolic weight. For an Egyptian audience, a "clear" Nile would evoke horror rather than relief, signifying the absence of the life-giving silt that made their land fertile and supported their entire civilization. It would mean famine and desolation. The "like oil" analogy further contributes to this sense of stagnation and unusable quality; oil does not mix with water easily, and its thickness contrasts sharply with the river's expected flow. This serves as an extreme, almost surreal, reversal of blessing for a nation whose existence was a direct result of its unique river system. The prophecy not only forecasts material destruction but also serves as a theological statement, definitively challenging Egypt's pagan worldview where the Nile was sometimes personified or deified (e.g., as the god Hapi) and Pharaoh was seen as its controller. Yahweh asserts Himself as the ultimate controller, capable of rendering Egypt's greatest asset its greatest liability and undoing the very foundation of its supposed divine prosperity.

Ezekiel 32 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 32:15 articulates a terrifying vision of judgment targeting the very core of Egypt's identity and life source: the Nile River. By stating "I will make their waters clear," God paradoxically promises not purification, but an eerie, unnatural stillness for a river known for its nutrient-rich, cloudy silt. This clarity signals a lack of flow and an absence of the fertile deposits crucial for Egyptian agriculture, turning a symbol of life into one of death. Similarly, "cause their rivers to run like oil" further depicts a horrific transformation: the vibrant, swift, life-giving currents replaced by a thick, sluggish, unusable viscosity. This divine act is not a natural drought but a direct, supernatural intervention that fundamentally alters the nature of the river. It stands as a stark declaration against Egypt's self-reliance and its idolatrous worship of the Nile and Pharaoh as sources of life. This judgment underscores God's absolute sovereignty, reminding all that true life and sustenance flow only from Him, and that even the mightiest symbols of human pride can be rendered desolate by His word.