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

Ezekiel 32:16 concludes the preceding lamentation over Pharaoh and the entire nation of Egypt, marking it as a universally chanted dirge. It declares that the lament, a somber song of mourning, will be recited by the "daughters of the nations." This signifies that Egypt's devastating downfall, orchestrated by the Lord GOD, will not be a private grief but a public spectacle, acknowledged and recounted across the world as a profound object lesson in divine judgment against pride and worldly power.

Ezekiel 32 16 Context

Ezekiel chapter 32 is part of a larger section (chapters 29-32) containing oracles against Egypt, prophesied between 588 and 585 BC, during the critical final years before Jerusalem's fall. Specifically, 32:1-16 details a lamentation for Pharaoh, described metaphorically as a magnificent sea monster (tannin) and a towering cedar, whose imminent downfall is assured by God. This lament frames Egypt's destruction not as a mere military defeat by Babylon, but as a direct act of divine judgment.

Historically, Judah had frequently wavered in its loyalty to Yahweh, often looking to Egypt for military and political support against the rising power of Babylon. These oracles served as a severe warning to Judah about the folly of trusting in such an unreliable and doomed earthly power. Culturally, laments were a common genre in the ancient Near East, sung over fallen heroes or nations. Ezekiel employs this form, but with a unique divine twist: the Lord GOD not only predicts the fall but orchestrates a universal lamentation for it, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty over all nations and their rulers. This particular verse concludes the first part of chapter 32, emphasizing the universal nature of Egypt's judgment and its didactic purpose for all peoples.

Ezekiel 32 16 Word analysis

• This is a lamentation (זֹאת קִינָה, zot qinah):
• זֹאת (zot): "This." A demonstrative pronoun, referring back to the preceding description of Egypt's demise in 32:1-15.
• קִינָה (qinah): "Lamentation," "dirge," "funeral song." This term specifically denotes a mournful song or poem, usually over the dead, but often extended to the ruin of a city or nation. It evokes a formal, public expression of grief and loss, typically sung by professional mourners or affected communities. Its use here signals the complete and irreversible end of Egypt's glory.
• and it will be chanted (וְהִיא תֻהְגֶּה, vehi tuhggeh):
• וְהִיא (vehi): "And it," referring to the lamentation.
• תֻהְגֶּה (tuhggeh): From the root הָגָה (hagah), meaning "to meditate," "to mutter," "to groan," "to devise," or "to recite/chant solemnly." Here in the Hophal (passive, causative) stem, it means "it will be caused to be chanted" or "it will be meditated upon/recited aloud." This isn't just a quiet reading; it implies a sustained, public, and deliberate utterance, emphasizing the weight and lasting impact of the message.
• the daughters of the nations (בְּנוֹת הַגּוֹיִם, b'not haggoyim):
• בְּנוֹת (b'not): "Daughters of." In biblical usage, "daughters" can refer to individual women, female inhabitants, or even symbolic representatives of cities/nations (e.g., "daughter of Zion"). Here, it represents women from various nations.
• הַגּוֹיִם (haggoyim): "The nations," "the Gentiles," "the peoples." This explicitly broadens the scope beyond just Egypt. It signifies that Egypt's downfall will be observed and mourned by all non-Israelite peoples, not necessarily out of sympathy, but as an undeniable event demonstrating God's universal sovereignty. In ancient cultures, women often led or participated in public lamentations, especially at funerals.
• shall chant it. (תֻהְגֶּה אֹתָהּ, tuhggeh otah):
• Repetition of tuhggeh reinforces the inevitability and public nature of the lament. Otah is the direct object "it."
• Over Egypt and all her multitude (עַל מִצְרַיִם וְעַל כָּל־הֲמוֹנָהּ, al Mitzrayim v'al kol-hamonah):
• עַל (al): "Over," "concerning." Specifies the subject of the lamentation.
• מִצְרַיִם (Mitzrayim): "Egypt." The specific object of divine wrath.
• כָּל־הֲמוֹנָהּ (kol-hamonah): "All her multitude," "all her throng." Hamonah (from הָמוֹן, hamon) refers to a noisy crowd, a tumultuous assembly, a multitude, or a throng—often encompassing population, military forces, wealth, and power. It signifies that the judgment is comprehensive, affecting every aspect of Egypt's strength and being.
• they shall chant it, declares the Lord GOD. (תֻהְגֶּה אֹתָהּ נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, tuhggeh otah n'um Adonai Yahweh):
• תֻהְגֶּה אֹתָהּ (tuhggeh otah): Reiterates the action, emphasizing that this lament will be chanted.
• נְאֻם (n'um): "Declares," "oracle," "utterance." A common prophetic formula indicating a direct, solemn divine pronouncement. It confirms that the prophecy originates from God and is not mere human conjecture.
• אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (Adonai Yahweh): "The Lord GOD." The combination of "Lord" (referring to mastery, authority) and the covenant name "Yahweh" (the self-existent, faithful God) underscores His absolute sovereignty, power, and unchanging will. He is the ultimate author and executor of this judgment.

• "This is a lamentation, and it will be chanted...": This phrase transforms a prophetic description of doom into an inescapable decree. The emphasis is on the certainty and public performance of the lament.
• "...the daughters of the nations shall chant it.": This is significant because it shifts the mourners from Egypt's own people to external nations. These "daughters" symbolize a global audience who witness God's judgment and, rather than celebrating Egypt's fall as a victory for themselves, acknowledge it as a tragic outcome dictated by the Most High. It speaks to the universal impact and pedagogical value of Egypt's fall.
• "Over Egypt and all her multitude they shall chant it...": This phrase stresses the comprehensive nature of the destruction. It's not just a specific ruler or segment, but the entire entity of Egypt—its people, power, wealth, and influence—that will be brought low and mourned universally.
• "...declares the Lord GOD.": This concluding divine imprimatur seals the entire prophecy, removing any doubt about its origin, authority, and ultimate fulfillment. It asserts Yahweh's unparalleled position as the sovereign ruler of all nations.

Ezekiel 32 16 Bonus section

The concept of "daughters of nations" participating in lamentations often points to the formal, ritualistic nature of mourning in the ancient Near East. While professional mourners existed, this phrase suggests a broader, collective expression of grief. Its application here, not by Egypt's own people, but by other nations, underscores a theological polemic: Egypt's self-deifying arrogance is debunked by the universal recognition of Yahweh's judgment, even by pagan peoples who would typically be hostile or indifferent. This lament also challenges the idea that any nation, regardless of its power or ancient lineage, can withstand the judgment of the one true God. The permanence implied by "it will be chanted" highlights the enduring lesson embedded in Egypt's fall for all subsequent generations and empires.

Ezekiel 32 16 Commentary

Ezekiel 32:16 encapsulates the divine verdict on Egypt, pronouncing its utter and irrevocable collapse not just as an internal event, but as a universally acknowledged lesson. The divine declaration elevates the preceding prophecies from a mere prediction to a mandatory lament, ordained by God himself. The command for "daughters of the nations" to chant this lamentation signifies that Egypt's demise is of global significance, meant to be observed, understood, and even sorrowfully recited by those who are not directly involved. This isn't necessarily an expression of pity from these nations, but rather a solemn recognition of God's unassailable power over even the most formidable empires, such as Egypt, a once-proud symbol of strength and self-reliance. It functions as a powerful polemic against any nation or individual trusting in their own might or idols, proclaiming Yahweh's ultimate dominion and demonstrating the fate of pride before a holy God. This universal mourning for a defeated giant served as both a comfort and a warning: a comfort to exiled Israel that God was still in control, punishing their oppressors; and a warning against trusting in human alliances rather than God alone.