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Egypt Cast into the Pit
This prophecy speaks of Egypt going down to the pit with other fallen nations. Its repeated grave and sword language shows that feared power does not escape the judgement spoken by the Lord Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
The passage opens with a dated word to Ezekiel. He is told to wail for Egypt’s multitude and cast them down to the lower parts of the earth. The prophecy then names other nations already pictured there before ending with Pharaoh among them.
Ezekiel 32:17–32Main takeaway
Ezekiel 32:17–32 teaches that Egypt and Pharaoh will be laid among the slain with other nations that had caused terror in the land of the living.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Egypt is told to go downThe message begins with a precise date and a command for Ezekiel to wail for Egypt’s multitude.
Explanation
The message begins with a precise date and a command for Ezekiel to wail for Egypt’s multitude. Egypt is cast down with famous nations to the lower parts of the earth. The question about beauty is followed by the command to go down and be laid with the uncircumcised.
02Slain by the sword and lying stillEgypt will fall among those slain by the sword and be drawn away with all her multitudes. Then the strong among the mighty speak from the middle of Sheol with those who help him.
Explanation
Egypt will fall among those slain by the sword and be drawn away with all her multitudes. Then the strong among the mighty speak from the middle of Sheol with those who help him. They have gone down, and the uncircumcised lie still, slain by the sword.
03Other nations already in the pitAsshur, Elam, Meshech and Tubal are each described with graves around them. They had caused terror in the land of the living, yet now they are in the pit, slain by the sword, uncircumcised, and bearing shame.
Explanation
Asshur, Elam, Meshech and Tubal are each described with graves around them. They had caused terror in the land of the living, yet now they are in the pit, slain by the sword, uncircumcised, and bearing shame. The repeated wording links these nations together in one fate.
04Pharaoh joins the same companyThe prophecy turns back to Egypt with the direct words, "you will be broken". Edom, the princes of the north and the Sidonians are also there with the slain.
Explanation
The prophecy turns back to Egypt with the direct words, "you will be broken". Edom, the princes of the north and the Sidonians are also there with the slain. Pharaoh will see them and be comforted over his multitude, because he too will be laid among the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What commands are given about Egypt at the start of the prophecy?
Notice the actions Ezekiel is told to take and the words spoken to Egypt: wail, cast them down, go down, and be laid with the uncircumcised.
02How does the passage describe the nations already in the pit?
Look for the repeated descriptions around Asshur, Elam, Meshech and Tubal, especially graves, the sword, terror in the land of the living, and shame.
03What reason does the final verse give for Pharaoh’s fate?
The closing line states the reason directly in Yahweh’s words before repeating that Pharaoh and his multitude will be laid among the slain.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 32:17–32
17Also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
18“Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her and the daughters of the famous nations, to the lower parts of the earth, with those who go down into the pit.
19Whom do you pass in beauty? Go down, and be laid with the uncircumcised.
20They will fall among those who are slain by the sword. She is delivered to the sword. Draw her away with all her multitudes.
21The strong among the mighty will speak to him out of the middle of Sheol with those who help him. They have gone down. The uncircumcised lie still, slain by the sword.
22“Asshur is there with all her company. Her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,
23whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit, and her company is around her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who caused terror in the land of the living.
24“There is Elam and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who have gone down uncircumcised into the lower parts of the earth, who caused their terror in the land of the living, and have borne their shame with those who go down to the pit.
25They have made Elam a bed among the slain with all her multitude. Her graves are around her, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for their terror was caused in the land of the living, and they have borne their shame with those who go down to the pit. He is put among those who are slain.
26“There is Meshech, Tubal, and all their multitude. Their graves are around them, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for they caused their terror in the land of the living.
27They will not lie with the mighty who are fallen of the uncircumcised, who have gone down to Sheol with their weapons of war and have laid their swords under their heads. Their iniquities are on their bones; for they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
28“But you will be broken among the uncircumcised, and will lie with those who are slain by the sword.
29“There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, who in their might are laid with those who are slain by the sword. They will lie with the uncircumcised, and with those who go down to the pit.
30“There are the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who have gone down with the slain. They are put to shame in the terror which they caused by their might. They lie uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword, and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.
31“Pharaoh will see them and will be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword,” says the Lord Yahweh.
32“For I have put his terror in the land of the living. He will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude,” says the Lord Yahweh.