Ezekiel 32 16

Ezekiel 32:16 kjv

This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 32:16 nkjv

"This is the lamentation With which they shall lament her; The daughters of the nations shall lament her; They shall lament for her, for Egypt, And for all her multitude," Says the Lord GOD.' "

Ezekiel 32:16 niv

"This is the lament they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the Sovereign LORD."

Ezekiel 32:16 esv

This is a lamentation that shall be chanted; the daughters of the nations shall chant it; over Egypt, and over all her multitude, shall they chant it, declares the Lord GOD."

Ezekiel 32:16 nlt

Yes, this is the funeral song
they will sing for Egypt.
Let all the nations mourn.
Let them mourn for Egypt and its hordes.
I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

Ezekiel 32 verses

Ezekiel 32 16 Meaning

This verse describes a mournful lament, comparing the powerful Egyptian empire to a mighty beast that has fallen, causing surrounding nations and their inhabitants to tremble. It speaks of the ultimate downfall of oppressive powers, bringing a stark contrast between past pride and present desolation.

Ezekiel 32 16 Context

This verse is found in Ezekiel chapter 32, a chapter filled with dirges and laments for fallen kings and nations that had oppressed Israel. Specifically, this verse is part of a lament for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and by extension, the Egyptian empire. Pharaoh, often depicted as a great sea monster or dragon in Egyptian thought and also in the prophetic imagery (Ezekiel 29:3), had been a powerful force that Israel had often relied upon, or conversely, been oppressed by. Ezekiel's prophecy here serves a dual purpose: to declare God's judgment upon Egypt for its pride and oppression, and to provide comfort and reassurance to the exiled Israelites by demonstrating God's sovereignty over even the mightiest of earthly kingdoms. The "days" refers to the time of mourning and the aftermath of Egypt's destruction.

Ezekiel 32 16 Word analysis

• Woe (אוֹי - o•y): An interjection expressing sorrow, grief, or lamentation. It signifies a deep expression of sadness and impending doom.

• to the }( וּלְـ - û•lə): A preposition indicating destination or to whom something pertains. Here, it specifies for whom the lament is.

• you }( שַׂ֤נּוּאֵב־( sheh•oh•av - Hebrew scholars have noted this appears to be a typo in the Masoretic Text; typically it should be 'sinn•aw', meaning 'sing ye' or 'lament ye') - This interpretation is based on variant readings and scholarly consensus as the Masoretic text here appears corrupted. If read as "Sinnaw", it would mean "Sing" or "Lament". However, if following the received text "sheh•oh•av" no direct translation yields clear meaning in this context. A more widely accepted emendation is from "sharu' (שָׁרוּ) ye sang, a dirge" or "shiiru (שִׁירוּ) ye sing." This lament is meant to be sung as a dirge. The "you" in this verse is addressed to the nation of Egypt.

• O }(@): Another interjection of calling out or addressing.

• bull of }( פָּר־ }( pâ•r) - A strong, young bull. This is a common metaphor for strength, power, and aggression, often used for nations or kings.

• nations }( לְאֻמִּים }( lə•ʔum•mîm) - Peoples, nations, ethnic groups. It emphasizes Egypt's dominant position among other nations.

• In }( בְּתוֹךְ }( bə•ṯô•ḵ) - Within, among, in the midst of.

• your }( אֲגַמַּ֙יִךְ }( ’ă•ḡam•mê•ḵ) - Your lakes/pools. This likely refers to the Nile River and its deltas, the lifeblood and geographical characteristic of Egypt. It metaphorically represents Egypt's internal resources and domain.

• thou wast }( וַתְּהִ֣י }( wa•ṯ•hî) - And you became. This indicates a transition or a state of being in the past.

• entirely }( תָּמִ֣ימָה }( ṯâ•mî•mâ) - Whole, complete, perfect, pure. In this context, it could refer to Egypt's former supposed perfection or fullness of power, which is now ending.

• entirely }( לְסַח־ }( lə•saḥ•) - Cleanly, completely. Again emphasizes utter destruction and removal.

• thou wast }( וַתְּהִ֣י }( wa•ṯ•hî) - And you became.

• entirely }( יַשִּֽׁיתְךָ }( yaš•šî•ṯ•ḵā) - Render desolate, destroy, bring to an end. This word signifies complete devastation and obliteration.

• Word-group analysis: "You are a great dragon that lies in the midst of his rivers" (Ezekiel 29:3) provides a direct parallel to the imagery here, as Pharaoh is likened to a sea creature. The lament "Woe to you, O bull of nations, trapped in your lakes!" combines the metaphor of Egypt as a powerful but doomed beast with its geographical connection to the Nile. The repetition of "entirely" emphasizes the totality of its coming destruction. The sense is that Egypt, once powerful and full of life ("in your lakes"), will be completely emptied and destroyed.

Ezekiel 32 16 Bonus section

The imagery of Egypt as a "bull of nations" also resonates with other prophetic pronouncements where great nations are metaphorically represented as powerful animals (e.g., Babylon as a lion, Daniel 7:4). The "lakes" can be understood not just geographically as the Nile and its tributaries, but also symbolically representing the nation's internal strength and resources that will be completely drained away by divine judgment. This theme of divine judgment on oppressive national powers is a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament, offering hope to those who are oppressed by emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty and His plan for justice. The fall of Egypt, like other powerful empires in Ezekiel's prophecies (Tyre, Babylon), serves as a testament to God's justice and His people's eventual vindication.

Ezekiel 32 16 Commentary

This verse paints a vivid picture of judgment. Egypt, a nation once proud and mighty, symbolized by a strong bull and intrinsically linked to its rivers (the Nile), is depicted as utterly vanquished. The lament is for its complete destruction, becoming entirely desolate. This foreshadows the fall of Pharaoh's power, a source of both pride and often unreliable alliance for Israel. The "nations" mourning suggest the wide-reaching impact of such a downfall, perhaps reflecting relief from oppressed nations, or the sheer shock of a dominant power collapsing. The emphasis on "entirely" leaves no room for interpretation – the destruction will be total. This is a stark reminder that even the most formidable human empires are subject to divine judgment when they operate in pride and opposition to God's purposes.