Ezekiel 32:13
I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The Nile River was Egypt's defining feature, flooding annually to deposit nutrient-rich silt that sustained agriculture. Egypt's population clustered along the Nile and its delta; the desert beyond was uninhabitable. Egyptian religion deified the Nile (Hapi, god of inundation), and crocodiles (Sobek) and hippos were considered sacred.
Ezekiel's prophecy of silent, undisturbed waters indicated catastrophic depopulation and economic collapse. While not literally fulfilled to complete desolation, Egypt's decline after Babylonian invasion was dramatic. The once-thriving riverbanks saw reduced activity; trade diminished; population fell. The prophecy's hyperbolic language emphasized the severity of judgment: Egypt's vitality would be drained, leaving mere remnants of former glory.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing that sin's consequences extend beyond individuals to affect broader communities and creation inform your ethical decisions?
- What does this verse teach about God's sovereignty over not just human affairs but the entire created order?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them. God extends judgment beyond humans to animals, indicating total ecological devastation. The phrase all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters refers to the Nile's rich ecosystem—hippopotami, crocodiles, waterfowl, livestock watering at the river. The Nile was Egypt's lifeblood; its fertility supported dense populations and abundant wildlife.
Neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them describes eerie desolation. The waters become undisturbed—not because of ecological preservation but because depopulation has eliminated activity. The Hebrew dalach (דָּלַח, "trouble") means to stir up, make turbid, disturb. Egypt's bustling riverbanks will fall silent; no human foot or animal hoof will disturb the waters. This isn't peace but death—the stillness of abandonment.
This principle appears throughout Scripture: sin's consequences extend beyond the guilty to affect creation itself (Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 8:19-22). When humans rebel against God, the earth suffers. Conversely, restoration includes ecological renewal (Isaiah 11:6-9, 35:1-7). The NT anticipates new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Creation's fate is tied to humanity's relationship with God.