Ezekiel 32 18

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 verses

Ezekiel 32 18 meaning

Ezekiel 32:18 is a divine command to the prophet Ezekiel, referred to as "son of man," to intone a lament (wail) over Egypt's numerous populace. It prophesies their inescapable downfall and descent into Sheol, the realm of the dead, placing them alongside other previously mighty, but now vanquished, nations. This verse vividly declares God's imminent judgment on Egypt and its Pharaoh, emphasizing their reduction from a position of pride and power to one of shame and demise, akin to all other humbled empires.

Ezekiel 32 18 Context

Ezekiel 32:18 initiates the second of two laments over Egypt in chapter 32, which is part of a larger section (chapters 29-32) containing oracles against Egypt. The first lament (vv. 1-16) portrays Pharaoh as a fearsome sea monster (leviathan/dragon) caught by God, and his demise plunging the land into darkness and sorrow. This second lament (vv. 17-32) focuses on Egypt's descent into Sheol. Pharaoh, once portrayed as a majestic cedar, is now utterly cut down. The immediate context of verse 18 sets the scene for a vivid description of Egypt, along with its proud king, joining other vanquished great nations in the underworld. These nations, having once wielded great power and intimidated the living, now lie humbled in Sheol, often in dishonorable graves. The oracle highlights God's sovereignty over all nations, serving as a warning against national pride and idolatry, particularly pertinent to the exiles who might have been tempted to rely on Egypt. Historically, Egypt was a regional superpower that constantly vied for influence with Judah, often leading Israel into alliances contrary to God's will. Its judgment underscores that God holds all nations accountable.

Ezekiel 32 18 Word analysis

• Son of man (Hebrew: בֶּן־אָדָם, ben-adam): This recurring address is unique to Ezekiel among the prophets. It emphasizes the prophet's humanity and dependence on God, contrasting with the divine majesty of the one giving the command. It grounds Ezekiel's message in the mortal experience, even as he speaks for the divine.

• wail (Hebrew: קוֹנֵן, qônēn from root קִין qin): This is a command to sing a qīnāh, a lament or funeral dirge. It signifies deep mourning, public expression of grief, and the finality of loss. It is a prophetic performative act, a verbal demonstration of the coming catastrophe.

• over the multitudes of Egypt (Hebrew: הָמוֹן מִצְרַיִם, hāmôn Mitsrayim): "Multitudes" refers not just to a large number of people or an army, but encapsulates the full embodiment of Egypt's boastful might, its noisy abundance, its proud population, and its former prestige. The lament is for the entire identity of Egypt, now brought low.

• and send them down (Hebrew: הוֹרֵד, hôrēd): This verb is causative, meaning "cause to descend" or "make them go down." It underscores God's active, deliberate involvement in Egypt's downfall, rather than merely predicting a passive decline. The prophet's lament thus becomes the announcement of this divine action.

• to the underworld (Hebrew: שְׁאוֹלָה, Sh'olah): This refers to Sheol, the common grave or the realm of the dead in Hebrew thought. It is a shadowy, subterranean place where all the deceased go. For a nation, descent into Sheol symbolizes not just death but national humiliation, the stripping away of all earthly glory and power, ending their collective existence among the living nations.

• with the daughters of mighty nations (Hebrew: אֶת־בְּנוֹת גּוֹיִם אַדִּירִים, et bᵊnôt gôyim ’addîrîm):

  • daughters of (bᵊnôt): This is an idiomatic expression often meaning "the inhabitants of," "the cities of," or simply identifying a group with a specific quality. Here it personifies the mighty nations.
  • mighty nations (gôyim ’addîrîm): These are powerful, formidable nations that have previously fallen, like Assyria, Elam, Meshech-Tubal, Edom, and Sidon, all mentioned as being in Sheol in the subsequent verses (32:22-30). This phrase emphasizes the great equalizer of death, showing that no nation, however mighty, can escape the common fate of judgment and oblivion when God acts. Egypt is stripped of its unique status and grouped with the humbled.

• "wail over the multitudes of Egypt and send them down to the underworld": This phrase highlights the dual nature of the prophet's role – both mournful messenger and declarative agent of divine judgment. The lament is an enactment of the coming reality, reinforcing God's will to humble a proud nation.

Ezekiel 32 18 Bonus section

• The "wail" (qīnāh) functions as a public sermon in Ezekiel's ministry. It communicates the sorrowful outcome of sin and pride to the Judean exiles, urging repentance and faith in the God who controls all nations.
• The grouping of Egypt with other "mighty nations" in Sheol is a powerful theological statement. It refutes any belief in Egypt's unique invincibility, pagan gods' protection, or an exemption from the consequences of idolatry and defiance. All, great and small, stand equal before God's ultimate judgment.
• This verse contributes to Ezekiel's overarching theme of God's universal sovereignty, not just over Israel, but over all nations and even the cosmic order (symbolized by the bringing down of celestial bodies earlier in the chapter).
• The vivid imagery of Sheol as a populated underworld, where past vanquished kings observe and mock the newly arrived mighty, offers a unique polemical twist against the Mesopotamian idea of a dark, silent underworld; instead, it's a place where former glory is bitterly contrasted with present shame.

Ezekiel 32 18 Commentary

Ezekiel 32:18 serves as a stark divine mandate for the prophet to mourn the inevitable, total collapse of Egypt's grandeur. It’s a performative prophecy, where the act of lamenting solidifies the judgment. Egypt's numerous populace and their associated power are destined for Sheol, the collective realm of the dead, effectively ending their national might and reducing them to mere shades. The crucial comparison to "daughters of mighty nations" underscores that Egypt, despite its long-held self-importance and regional dominance, is not exceptional in the eyes of God; it shares the same fate of humbled and defunct empires already dwelling in the underworld. This prophetic dirge vividly paints the scene of God actively dismantling national pride, using earthly powers (Babylon) as instruments, to illustrate divine sovereignty and the transient nature of all worldly power.