Ezekiel 32:18
Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.
Original Language Analysis
בֶּן
Son
H1121
בֶּן
Son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 17
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֕ם
of man
H120
אָדָ֕ם
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 17
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
נְהֵ֛ה
wail
H5091
נְהֵ֛ה
wail
Strong's:
H5091
Word #:
3 of 17
to groan, i.e., bewail; hence (through the idea of crying aloud), to assemble (as if on proclamation)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הֲמ֥וֹן
for the multitude
H1995
הֲמ֥וֹן
for the multitude
Strong's:
H1995
Word #:
5 of 17
a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth
י֥וֹרְדֵי
and cast them down
H3381
י֥וֹרְדֵי
and cast them down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
7 of 17
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
א֠וֹתָהּ
H853
א֠וֹתָהּ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וּבְנ֨וֹת
even her and the daughters
H1323
וּבְנ֨וֹת
even her and the daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
9 of 17
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
גּוֹיִ֧ם
nations
H1471
גּוֹיִ֧ם
nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
10 of 17
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
אַדִּרִ֛ם
of the famous
H117
אַדִּרִ֛ם
of the famous
Strong's:
H117
Word #:
11 of 17
wide or (generally) large; figuratively, powerful
תַּחְתִּיּ֖וֹת
unto the nether parts
H8482
תַּחְתִּיּ֖וֹת
unto the nether parts
Strong's:
H8482
Word #:
14 of 17
lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depths (figuratively, a pit, the womb)
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
15 of 17
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
Cross References
Ezekiel 31:14To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.Jeremiah 1:10See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.Ezekiel 32:16This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.Ezekiel 32:2Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.Micah 1:8Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.Isaiah 16:9Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.Ezekiel 31:16I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.Ezekiel 26:20When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;Ezekiel 43:3And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.Hosea 6:5Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern conceptions of the afterlife pictured Sheol/the pit as a shadowy underworld where the dead exist in weakened state. Ezekiel uses this imagery to depict Egypt joining other fallen empires in the realm of the dead—no longer powerful but defeated, no longer proud but humbled. Death is the great equalizer.
Questions for Reflection
- What does descent into the pit teach about death as the great equalizer?
- How does afterlife imagery serve prophetic purposes?
- What does shared judgment teach about corporate accountability?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt introduces a lament for Egypt's population. And cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth predicts descent into Sheol (the realm of the dead). With them that go down into the pit places Egypt among defeated nations in the afterlife. This is prophetic certainty—speak of future judgment as already accomplished. The famous nations' daughters suggests even allied/related peoples share Egypt's fate. Judgment affects not just the primary target but all connected to them.