Read & explore together
A Lament for Pharaoh King of Egypt
Ezekiel 32:1–16 is a lament over Pharaoh king of Egypt. In strong poetic images, it describes capture, darkness, fear and desolation, showing that Egypt’s pride and power will be brought down by the Lord Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
The passage begins by dating the word that came to Ezekiel and naming it as a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt. The poem then addresses Pharaoh with images from river, field and sky, and ends by saying that the nations will use this lament over Egypt and all its multitude.
Ezekiel 32:1–16Main takeaway
This lament teaches that the Lord Yahweh brings down Egypt, and when the land is made desolate they will know that he is Yahweh.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A lament for PharaohThe poem begins with a command to take up a lamentation over Pharaoh. Pharaoh is compared first to a young lion among nations, then to a monster in the seas.
Explanation
The poem begins with a command to take up a lamentation over Pharaoh. Pharaoh is compared first to a young lion among nations, then to a monster in the seas. The picture changes quickly from strength to disorder, because he troubles and fouls the waters around him.
02Caught and cast downThe Lord Yahweh says he will spread out his net with many peoples and bring Pharaoh up in it.
Explanation
The Lord Yahweh says he will spread out his net with many peoples and bring Pharaoh up in it. The sea creature that stirred the waters will be dragged onto land and cast into the open field. Birds and animals feeding on the fallen body deepen the lament’s image of complete defeat.
03Darkness and fear among the nationsThe lament then widens from Egypt itself to the heavens and the nations. The extinguishing of Pharaoh is described with darkened stars, sun and moon.
Explanation
The lament then widens from Egypt itself to the heavens and the nations. The extinguishing of Pharaoh is described with darkened stars, sun and moon. Many peoples and kings are troubled, amazed and afraid when his destruction is brought among nations and his fall is seen.
04Babylon, desolation and recognitionThe poem names the king of Babylon as the sword coming against Egypt. Egypt’s pride and multitude will be brought to nothing.
Explanation
The poem names the king of Babylon as the sword coming against Egypt. Egypt’s pride and multitude will be brought to nothing. After destruction, the waters are pictured as clear and undisturbed. When the land becomes desolate and waste, the stated result is that they will know that Yahweh is the Lord.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the poem describe Pharaoh at the start, and what do those images show about him?
Look closely at the two comparisons in Ezekiel 32:2 and notice that both strength and destructive disturbance are included.
02What changes when Pharaoh is moved from water to land in the lament?
Trace the movement through Ezekiel 32:3–6 and note how the net, the field, and the animals all underline his downfall.
03After Egypt is made desolate, what does the passage say people will know?
Read the outcome statement in Ezekiel 32:15 and connect it with the closing lament in Ezekiel 32:16.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 32:1–16
1In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and tell him, ‘You were likened to a young lion of the nations; yet you are as a monster in the seas. You broke out with your rivers, and troubled the waters with your feet, and fouled their rivers.’ ”
3The Lord Yahweh says: “I will spread out my net on you with a company of many peoples. They will bring you up in my net.
4I will leave you on the land. I will cast you out on the open field, and will cause all the birds of the sky to settle on you. I will satisfy the animals of the whole earth with you.
5I will lay your flesh on the mountains, and fill the valleys with your height.
6I will also water the land in which you swim with your blood, even to the mountains. The watercourses will be full of you.
7When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and make its stars dark. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon won’t give its light.
8I will make all the bright lights of the sky dark over you, and set darkness on your land,” says the Lord Yahweh.
9“I will also trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries which you have not known.
10Yes, I will make many peoples amazed at you, and their kings will be horribly afraid for you, when I brandish my sword before them. They will tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall.”
11For the Lord Yahweh says: “The sword of the king of Babylon will come on you.
12I will cause your multitude to fall by the swords of the mighty. They are all the ruthless of the nations. They will bring the pride of Egypt to nothing, and all its multitude will be destroyed.
13I will destroy also all its animals from beside many waters. The foot of man won’t trouble them any more, nor will the hoofs of animals trouble them.
14Then I will make their waters clear, and cause their rivers to run like oil,” says the Lord Yahweh.
15“When I make the land of Egypt desolate and waste, a land destitute of that of which it was full, when I strike all those who dwell therein, then they will know that I am Yahweh.
16“ ‘ “This is the lamentation with which they will lament. The daughters of the nations will lament with this. They will lament with it over Egypt, and over all her multitude,” says the Lord Yahweh.’ ”