Ezekiel 32 25

Ezekiel 32:25 kjv

They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.

Ezekiel 32:25 nkjv

They have set her bed in the midst of the slain, With all her multitude, With her graves all around it, All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; Though their terror was caused In the land of the living, Yet they bear their shame With those who go down to the Pit; It was put in the midst of the slain.

Ezekiel 32:25 niv

A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.

Ezekiel 32:25 esv

They have made her a bed among the slain with all her multitude, her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for terror of them was spread in the land of the living, and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are placed among the slain.

Ezekiel 32:25 nlt

They have a resting place among the slaughtered, surrounded by the graves of all their hordes. Yes, they terrorized the nations while they lived, but now they lie in shame with others in the pit, all of them outcasts, slaughtered by the sword.

Ezekiel 32 verses

Ezekiel 32 25 meaning

Ezekiel 32:25 describes the ultimate judgment awaiting the nation of Edom. Despite their royal power and perceived strength, Edom's kings and princes are prophesied to suffer a violent military defeat, being "slain by the sword." Their fate is not merely physical death but a descent into the underworld (Sheol), where they will lie in ignominy alongside other "uncircumcised," pagan nations. This signifies their loss of all national honor and distinctiveness, condemned to a disgraced existence in the realm of the dead with those who lacked covenant relationship with God.

Ezekiel 32 25 Context

This verse is an integral part of Ezekiel's lengthy "Lamentation Concerning Pharaoh and All His Multitude" found in chapter 32 (verses 1-32). The broader context of Ezekiel's prophecies (chapters 25-32) focuses on divine judgments against surrounding foreign nations—Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and specifically Egypt. These pronouncements emphasize God's absolute sovereignty over all peoples, whether near or far from Israel.

The specific context for verse 25 is within a descriptive section (Ezek 32:17-32) detailing Egypt's descent into Sheol (the grave/underworld) after its defeat. Pharaoh, once a mighty "sea monster" (Ezek 32:2) and "great cedar" (Ezek 31), is commanded to go down to the underworld. There, he encounters a host of other great, proud nations—Assyria, Elam, Meshech-Tubal—who have also suffered violent defeats and lie in dishonor, identified by their "uncircumcised" status and their location in "the pit." Edom is singled out in verse 25 as yet another proud kingdom that has fallen to this same inglorious fate. This catalog of fallen nations underscores the universality of divine judgment and the utter futility of worldly power against God.

Historically, Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian exile (circa 593-571 BC). Edom, descendants of Esau, held deep historical enmity toward Israel. During the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (586 BC), Edom rejoiced at Judah's downfall, taking advantage of their weakness and participating in plundering, actions for which they are consistently condemned by Old Testament prophets (e.g., Obadiah, Psalms 137). Culturally, "uncircumcised" (עֲרֵלִים - ‘ărēlîm) was not merely a physical description but a profound theological and social distinction. It marked an individual or nation as outside the Abrahamic covenant, therefore lacking divine favor, ritually impure, and implicitly spiritually deficient. To be destined to lie "with the uncircumcised" in Sheol was a declaration of profound disgrace and ignominy, negating any perceived national honor or ethnic superiority Edom might have claimed.

Ezekiel 32 25 Word analysis

• There is Edom: The phrase introduces the nation by name. Edom (אֱדוֹם, 'Ed̄om), meaning "red," refers to the descendants of Esau, traditionally hostile to Israel, renowned for their pride and perceived invulnerability. This placement emphasizes their specific, notable downfall.
• all her kings and all her princes: (מְלָכֶיהָ וְכָל-נְשִׂיאֶיהָ, melaḵeha vĕḵol-nĕsî'eha) – This comprehensively refers to the entirety of Edom's ruling class, military leaders, and governmental power structure. It signifies a judgment not just on a few individuals but on the whole leadership and, by extension, the entire nation it represents.
• who with their might: (בִּגְבוּרָתָם, bigəvūrāṯām) – Denotes their inherent strength, power, military valor, or fortifications. This highlights the ironic contrast between their perceived might, which made them feel secure and formidable, and their actual inability to resist God's judgment.
• were laid with those who were slain by the sword: (וַיּוּרְדוּ עִם-חַלְלֵי-חֶרֶב, vayyûrĕdû ‘im-ḥallê-ḥerev) – Signifies a violent, military demise rather than a peaceful natural death. "Slain by the sword" (חַלְלֵי-חֶרֶב, ḥallê-ḥerev) marks them as casualties of war, experiencing a dishonorable and brutal end common to the vanquished. "Were laid" points to their consignment to the grave.
• they shall lie with the uncircumcised: (יִשְׁכְּבוּ אֶת-הָעֲרֵלִים, yišəkvû ‘eṯ-hā‘ărēlîm) – This is a deep polemical insult. The "uncircumcised" (עָרֵל, ‘ārel) refers to those without the mark of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 17). In this context, it signifies a people ritually unclean, spiritually defiled, and without God's covenant favor, doomed to an ignoble afterlife. It denies Edom any special status, placing them among pagan, unredeemed nations.
• and with those who go down to the pit: (אֶת-יוֹרְדֵי-בוֹר, ‘eṯ-yôrdê-bōr) – Refers to Sheol, the common abode of the dead, depicted here as a "pit" (בּוֹר, bōr). For the wicked and the ungodly, it's portrayed as a dark, dusty, and silent realm of oblivion and despair. This phrase solidifies their final, dismal destination.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Edom, all her kings and all her princes": This phrase underlines the totality of Edom's national identity and power. The judgment encompasses not just a part, but the entire entity of the nation, from its highest authorities down.
• "who with their might were laid with those who were slain by the sword": This clause highlights the stark irony of their downfall. All their accumulated strength and power were ultimately ineffective in preventing their violent, humiliating demise, proving the futility of relying on human strength against divine decree.
• "they shall lie with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pit": This powerful double phrase articulates the spiritual and existential dishonor of Edom's end. Not only are they reduced to the grave, but their final resting place is alongside the ritually unclean, highlighting their lack of spiritual distinctiveness and covenant blessings. This reinforces a total rejection by God, casting them into an ultimate ignominious fate in the underworld with other ungodly nations.

Ezekiel 32 25 Bonus section

• The prophetic structure employed here is a "dirge" or funeral lament, typically reserved for the dead. Ezekiel's use of this form for a nation still perceived as powerful (like Egypt and Edom) powerfully signals their certain, pre-ordained demise and descent into a state of death and oblivion.
• The repetitive use of the "uncircumcised" (עֲרֵלִים, 'ărēlîm) motif throughout Ezekiel 32 (e.g., vv. 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32) emphasizes a recurring divine principle: true distinction before God is not in earthly power or perceived national heritage, but in a covenant relationship, the spiritual reality represented by circumcision. Nations outside this, even if powerful, face a similar inglorious judgment in death.
• This passage functions as a stark contrast to Israel's promised glorious resurrection and restoration in later prophecies within Ezekiel. While nations like Edom descend to an inglorious Sheol with the uncircumcised, Israel is promised new life, the Spirit, and restoration (Ezekiel 37).

Ezekiel 32 25 Commentary

Ezekiel 32:25 serves as a concise, yet profound, declaration of divine judgment against the proud and hostile nation of Edom. It is a striking portrayal of national humbling, as their esteemed leadership, symbolized by "kings and princes," and their military prowess, indicated by "might," are utterly vanquished. The phrase "slain by the sword" paints a picture of a violent and dishonorable end, directly contrasting with any notion of their past strength or presumed invulnerability. The deepest insult and gravest aspect of their condemnation lies in their post-mortem association: "they shall lie with the uncircumcised." This is far more than a physical description; it's a polemical declaration that Edom, despite their lineage through Esau, is considered no better than other pagan nations without a covenant relationship with God. Their fate in the afterlife is merged with the "unclean," stripping them of any ethnic or perceived spiritual advantage. Coupled with "those who go down to the pit" (Sheol), it depicts a finality of doom, consigning them to a dismal, shadowed existence in the underworld, sharing the ignominy of all who are judged by God. The verse is a powerful testament to God's absolute sovereignty and unwavering justice against national arrogance and hostility toward His chosen people.