Ezekiel 32:3 kjv
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net.
Ezekiel 32:3 nkjv
'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will therefore spread My net over you with a company of many people, And they will draw you up in My net.
Ezekiel 32:3 niv
"?'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "?'With a great throng of people I will cast my net over you, and they will haul you up in my net.
Ezekiel 32:3 esv
Thus says the Lord GOD: I will throw my net over you with a host of many peoples, and they will haul you up in my dragnet.
Ezekiel 32:3 nlt
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
I will send many people
to catch you in my net
and haul you out of the water.
Ezekiel 32 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 32:3 | "Now therefore, put forth a likeness of Pharaoh king of Egypt..." | Immediate context: Ezekiel 32 |
| Isaiah 19:1 | "The burden against Egypt..." | Prophecy against Egypt |
| Jeremiah 46:2 | "...against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt..." | Historical judgment on Egypt |
| Jeremiah 50:34 | "Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His name..." | God as redeemer, linked to judgment |
| Isaiah 14:29 | "Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod that struck you is broken..." | Judgment on oppressive powers |
| Isaiah 14:12 | "How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!..." | Imagery of fallen prideful rulers |
| Psalm 89:10 | "You crushed Rahab like one who is slain..." | God's power over chaos/nations |
| Revelation 13:1 | "And I saw a beast rising out of the sea..." | Beast from the sea imagery |
| Revelation 17:12 | "And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings..." | Nations/kingdoms represented symbolically |
| Nahum 3:4 | "Because of the many prostitutions of the harlot, the pleasing and graceful enchantress..." | Judgment on Nineveh, similar language |
| Lamentations 4:21 | "Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom... the cup shall pass to you also..." | Shared judgment for wrongdoing |
| Isaiah 27:1 | "In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent..." | Divine judgment on mythical sea monsters |
| Psalm 74:14 | "You broke the heads of Leviathan..." | God's victory over chaotic powers |
| Job 41:1 | "Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook..." | Description of immense power |
| Matthew 7:29 | "For he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." | Christ's authority compared |
| Luke 4:32 | "And they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority." | Authority in teaching |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:4 | "...who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship..." | Antichrist's defiance |
| Romans 9:17 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'I have raised you up for this very purpose, of showing my power in you, that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.'" | Pharaoh raised for God's purpose |
| 2 Corinthians 10:4 | "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds..." | Spiritual warfare |
| 1 Peter 5:6 | "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." | Humility under God's power |
| Proverbs 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Connection between pride and fall |
| Daniel 4:37 | "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." | God's ability to humble pride |
Ezekiel 32 verses
Ezekiel 32 3 Meaning
The verse describes the formidable power and impending doom of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, depicted as a mighty dragon in the Nile. His reign is characterized by strength and arrogance, but the prophecy announces his complete destruction and downfall, casting him and his dominion into ruin.
Ezekiel 32 3 Context
Ezekiel chapter 32 continues God's message of judgment against Egypt. The chapter shifts from a judgment on Egypt as a nation to a symbolic representation of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, as a mighty dragon dwelling in the Nile. This powerful imagery serves to underscore Egypt's former glory, its current arrogance, and its inevitable and utter destruction. Pharaoh, depicted as a formidable creature, has been a source of pride and oppression. The prophecy highlights God's sovereignty over all nations and rulers, demonstrating that even the most powerful will not escape His divine judgment. This chapter falls within the broader context of the Babylonian exile, where Judah, having trusted in Egypt, learns a hard lesson about the futility of relying on earthly powers.
Ezekiel 32 3 Word Analysis
- "Now" (וְעַתָּה / v'atah): Connects this prophecy to what has just been said, marking a transition.
- "therefore" (כִּי / ki): Implies a consequence or a logical continuation of preceding statements.
- "put forth" (נָשָׂא / nasa'): Can mean to lift up, carry, bear, or here, to raise up, set forth, or exhibit.
- "a likeness" (מָשָׁל / mashal): A parable, proverb, or a taunt-song. It suggests a figurative depiction.
- "of Pharaoh" (לְפַרְעֹה / l'far'oh): Refers to the King of Egypt.
- "king of Egypt" (מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַיִם / melech-mitzrayim): Specific identification of the ruler.
- "thou" (אַתָּה / atah): Direct address to Pharaoh.
- "art like" (דָּמִיתָ / damitah): Thou art like, resembling.
- "a young lion" (בְּכֹר־אַרְיֹות / b'chor-aryot): Literally "firstborn of lions." Indicates a period of strength and aggressive power in youth, implying the peak of Pharaoh's might and arrogance.
- "in thy rivers" (בִּנְהָרֹתֶיךָ / binharotekha): Refers to the Nile River and its canals, the lifeblood and symbolic domain of Egypt.
- "and thou hast been" (וְאַתָּה־הֱיִיתָ / v'atah-heyitah): Past continuous action, emphasizing a state or characteristic.
- "in the rivers" (בַּנְּהָרֹת / ban'harot): Reinforces his presence and dominance within his territory.
- "and thou didst muddy" (וַתַּחְשֹׁךְ / vat'chshoch): Thou didst disturb, make turbid, muddy. Suggests a disruption and fouling of the waters.
- "the waters" (הַמַּיִם / hamayim): The literal waters of the Nile, also symbolizing purity or the prosperity of the land.
- "with thy feet" (בְּרַגְלֶיךָ / b'ragleikha): Using his feet to churn the waters, a physical act of disturbance.
- "and thou didst make" (וַתְּשַׁקֵּץ / vat'shak'etz): Thou didst foul, defile, or make abominable. A strong word for pollution.
- "their waters" (מֵימֵיהֶם / meimeihem): The waters of others, implying a wider impact on surrounding areas or even the symbolic waters of God's creation/domain.
Group Analysis:
- "put forth a likeness of Pharaoh king of Egypt": This phrase establishes the rhetorical device of the parable or symbolic representation that will follow, focusing the judgment on Egypt's ruler.
- "thou art like a young lion... in thy rivers": This depicts Pharaoh in his prime power, powerful and dominant within his own territory, the Nile.
- "thou hast been in the rivers... and thou didst muddy the waters with thy feet and thou didst make their waters foul": This describes Pharaoh's actions not just as dominance, but as destructive and polluting. His pride and power have corrupted the very sources of life and prosperity, affecting others ("their waters"). This speaks to how his actions impact other nations, possibly through war, oppression, or disrupting political stability.
Ezekiel 32 3 Bonus Section
The imagery of a mighty beast in the waters, specifically the Nile, is a common theme in ancient Near Eastern mythology, often representing primeval chaos or powerful rulers who claimed divine authority. By using this imagery and then declaring God's judgment upon Pharaoh in these terms, Ezekiel aligns God's power against Egypt's purported might. God is presented as superior to any earthly power or even mythological representations of chaos. The specific phrase "young lion" might suggest a ruler in his prime, but one whose ferocity has turned destructive rather than protective. This highlights that Pharaoh's pride has led him to misuse his strength. The "muddying" and "fouling" of waters suggests not only environmental pollution but also the corruption of justice and truth within Egypt, impacting its people and potentially its neighbors who relied on the Nile's predictable flow.
Ezekiel 32 3 Commentary
This verse introduces a potent allegory where Pharaoh is likened to a "young lion" thriving in the "rivers" (Nile). This image signifies his former power, pride, and dominance over Egypt and its surrounding regions. However, the metaphor quickly turns to one of corruption and pollution. Pharaoh, through his arrogance and actions, has not only asserted his strength but has "muddy" and "fouled" the waters with his feet, symbolizing the way he has destabilized, oppressed, and contaminated the political and spiritual environment. The prophecy foretells a coming judgment that will deal with this corrupted power, dismantling his proud reign and cleansing the land he has defiled.