Ezekiel 32:18 kjv
Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.
Ezekiel 32:18 nkjv
"Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, And cast them down to the depths of the earth, Her and the daughters of the famous nations, With those who go down to the Pit:
Ezekiel 32:18 niv
"Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.
Ezekiel 32:18 esv
"Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, and send them down, her and the daughters of majestic nations, to the world below, to those who have gone down to the pit:
Ezekiel 32:18 nlt
"Son of man, weep for the hordes of Egypt and for the other mighty nations. For I will send them down to the world below in company with those who descend to the pit.
Ezekiel 32 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 28:8 | "You will be brought down to the lowest parts of the pit." | Judgment of Tyre's king |
| Isaiah 14:15 | "But you are brought down to Sheol, to the lowest parts of the pit." | Judgment of Babylon's king |
| Psalm 88:4 | "I am counted among those who go down into the pit; I am like a man without strength." | Expression of deep distress |
| Psalm 82:7 | "Nevertheless, you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every prince." | Universality of death |
| Jeremiah 25:35 | "They will not escape, for I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished." | Divine judgment |
| Job 3:13-18 | "For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have slept; then there would have been rest for me with kings and counselors of the earth... There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest." | Desires peace in death |
| Proverbs 2:18 | "For her house sinks down to death, and her paths lead to the shades." | The way of immorality |
| Proverbs 21:16 | "A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of ghosts." | Consequences of straying |
| Isaiah 14:19 | "But you are thrown out of your grave like a rejected branch..." | Burial and rejection |
| Ezekiel 31:18 | "To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth beneath. You shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD." | Parallel comparison of Pharaoh |
| Lamentations 4:5 | "Those who were nurtured in purple now hug the rubbish heaps." | Fall from former status |
| Nahum 3:19 | "There is no easing your destruction, no healing your wound; all who hear the report of you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?" | Incurable destruction |
| Revelation 11:8 | "And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." | Spiritual "death" and defilement |
| Romans 9:22 | "What if God, wanting to show his wrath and to make known his power, has produced with great patience vessels of wrath ready for destruction?" | God's sovereignty over judgment |
| 1 Corinthians 10:11 | "Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our affection on evil things, as they did." | Warnings from past judgments |
| Jude 1:7 | "Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise committed acts of sexual immorality and went after unnatural relations, serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire." | Judgment as an example |
| 1 Peter 3:19-20 | "He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, who were disobedient in the days of Noah, when the ark was being prepared..." | Christ's preaching to spirits |
| Isaiah 34:3 | "Their slain shall be cast out; their stinking bodies shall go forth..." | Day of the Lord's vengeance |
| Jeremiah 19:7 | "And I will dash them against each other, even the fathers and the sons together, declares the Lord. I will not pity or spare or have compassion, so that I do not destroy them." | Divine devastation |
| Amos 5:10 | "They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks truthfully." | Rejection of correction |
Ezekiel 32 verses
Ezekiel 32 18 Meaning
This verse describes the ultimate fate of the once mighty Egyptians. They will be brought down to the earth, joining the lower parts of the pit. They will be with those who have gone down into the grave. The phrase "among those who go down into the pit" signifies their complete downfall and descent into the realm of the dead, a state of shame and non-existence from their former power. They will be positioned beneath the oldest of graves, emphasizing their ignominious end.
Ezekiel 32 18 Context
Ezekiel 32 contains a powerful oracle of lamentation and judgment directed against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and by extension, the nation of Egypt. The prophet Ezekiel is delivering this message during the Babylonian exile, a time when Jerusalem had fallen and many Judeans were suffering. Egypt, a nation once perceived as a strong ally or a formidable power, is here depicted as a weakened and fallen entity, destined for complete destruction.
This particular verse, verse 18, continues the imagery of Egypt's ultimate demise, likening its fallen state to being cast down into the deepest parts of the earth. This reflects the profound humiliation and complete obliteration of their former might and influence. The surrounding verses detail how Egypt, like mighty cedars that have fallen, will be joined by its vast army ("all its multitude") in the grave, a desolate place. The context emphasizes that this is a consequence of Egypt's pride, its oppressive nature, and its failure to heed God's warnings and justice.
Historically, Egypt was a significant regional power, often entangled in the political affairs of Israel and Judah. Its strength and perceived invincibility made its downfall a stark demonstration of Yahweh's sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel. This prophecy served as a powerful message of comfort and reassurance to the exiled Judeans, showing that even the mighty Egypt could not withstand God's judgment, thereby implying hope for Israel's eventual restoration.
Ezekiel 32 18 Word Analysis
- you (Hebrew: אתם - 'attem): Refers to Pharaoh and his multitudes.
- will go down (Hebrew: ירדו - yarədu): Imperfect verb, indicating future action or inevitable progression.
- to the lower parts (Hebrew: אל-תחתיתי - 'el-tachtitîy): Denotes the very bottom, the deepest regions.
- of the pit (Hebrew: הבאר - hab'êr): The grave, Sheol, a place of the dead.
- among those who go down (Hebrew: בתוך יורדי - bᵉthôkh yôrədîy): In the company of the deceased.
- to the pit (Hebrew: אל-באר - 'el-b'êr): Reinforces the destination of the grave.
- and I will make you (Hebrew: ואמררך - wa'amarəkkā): "I will set you" or "I will place you."
- to be feared (Hebrew: כי forem - kî 'eymāt): A feminine noun derived from a root meaning "terror," "dread," or "awe." In this context, it signifies being a source of dread or fear because of their downfall, or more likely, their ignominious fate will be terrifying to behold.
- in the land of the living (Hebrew: בארץ החיים - ba'aretz hachayîm): The realm of the living, a place of prominence and existence, contrasting sharply with their current destiny.
- with those who go down (Hebrew: עם יורדי - 'imm yôrədîy): With the dead.
- to the earth (Hebrew: אל-ארץ - 'el-'arẹt͡s): Back to the ground, dust, the elemental substance from which humanity is made.
- beneath (Hebrew: תחת - tachath): Underneath, below.
- your (Hebrew: המיתים - hametîym): Plural definite noun meaning "the dead ones."
- former (Hebrew: מימי - mîyêmîy): "From the days of."
- glory (Hebrew: כבודך - kebhôdəkā): Their past honor, splendor, and greatness.
- is destroyed (Hebrew: הלכּות - halloḵôth): Participle from a root meaning "to go," suggesting destruction or removal.
Groups of words analysis:"to the lower parts of the pit... to the pit": This repeated emphasis highlights the absolute and utter descent into oblivion and death."to be feared in the land of the living": This paradox points to the utter shame; a once great power is now remembered in the land of the living as a terrifying example of downfall. Their "fear" is not one of power, but of their complete and shameful demise."with those who go down to the earth": Placing them with the unburied or common dead, below even those with distinguished graves."beneath your former glory is destroyed": This signifies that their former magnificence is utterly ruined, and they lie entombed below where they once shone.
Ezekiel 32 18 Bonus Section
The imagery of being brought "down to the lowest parts of the pit" is a recurring motif in biblical prophecies against powerful, arrogant nations (e.g., Isaiah 14:15 for Babylon, Ezekiel 28:8 for Tyre). This consistency highlights a divine standard for dealing with hubris and defiance across different cultures and eras. The ultimate reduction to dust ("go down to the earth") is a powerful reminder of humanity's mortality and the vanity of earthly power. The comparison to the "trees of Eden" in the preceding verse (Ezekiel 32:17) provides a stark contrast: those once thought mighty and grand, like tall cedars, are brought down to the most degraded level of the dead, indistinguishable from commoners.
Ezekiel 32 18 Commentary
This verse seals the fate of Egypt's formidable power, declaring its irreversible descent into the grave. The repeated mention of the "pit" (Sheol) emphasizes a state of utter annihilation and shame. Egypt, like a fallen colossus, will find its resting place among the ignominious dead, buried below its former glory.
The phrase "to be feared in the land of the living" is crucial. It signifies that their future reputation will not be one of power or respect, but rather a fearful example of what happens when nations oppose God's purposes and rely on their own strength. Their end is so disastrous that even in the realm of the living, they serve as a terrifying cautionary tale. This demonstrates the totality of God's judgment – it affects not just the physical body but also the reputation and memory of the entity judged.
For practical application, this verse underscores the futility of national pride and military might when disconnected from divine principles. It teaches that true enduring glory is found in righteousness and faithfulness to God. Nations or individuals who live in pride and oppression will ultimately face a devastating downfall, becoming a somber warning to others.