Ezekiel 32:2
Son 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.
Original Language Analysis
בֶּן
Son
H1121
בֶּן
Son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 23
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֗ם
of man
H120
אָדָ֗ם
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 23
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
שָׂ֤א
take up
H5375
שָׂ֤א
take up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
3 of 23
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
קִינָה֙
a lamentation
H7015
קִינָה֙
a lamentation
Strong's:
H7015
Word #:
4 of 23
a dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כְּפִ֥יר
a young lion
H3715
כְּפִ֥יר
a young lion
Strong's:
H3715
Word #:
11 of 23
a village (as covered in by walls); also a young lion (perhaps as covered with a mane)
גּוֹיִ֖ם
of the nations
H1471
גּוֹיִ֖ם
of the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
12 of 23
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
נִדְמֵ֑יתָ
unto him Thou art like
H1819
נִדְמֵ֑יתָ
unto him Thou art like
Strong's:
H1819
Word #:
13 of 23
to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider
כַּתַּנִּ֣ים
and thou art as a whale
H8577
כַּתַּנִּ֣ים
and thou art as a whale
Strong's:
H8577
Word #:
15 of 23
a marine or land monster, i.e., sea-serpent or jackal
בַּיַּמִּ֔ים
in the seas
H3220
בַּיַּמִּ֔ים
in the seas
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
16 of 23
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וַתָּ֣גַח
and thou camest forth
H1518
וַתָּ֣גַח
and thou camest forth
Strong's:
H1518
Word #:
17 of 23
to gush forth (as water), generally to issue
נַהֲרוֹתָֽם׃
their rivers
H5104
נַהֲרוֹתָֽם׃
their rivers
Strong's:
H5104
Word #:
18 of 23
a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
מַ֙יִם֙
the waters
H4325
מַ֙יִם֙
the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
20 of 23
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
בְּרַגְלֶ֔יךָ
with thy feet
H7272
בְּרַגְלֶ֔יךָ
with thy feet
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
21 of 23
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
Cross References
Ezekiel 29:3Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.Ezekiel 27:2Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;Isaiah 27:1In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.Jeremiah 4:7The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.Ezekiel 28:12Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.Ezekiel 34:18Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?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 38:13Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
Historical Context
The dragon (Hebrew 'tannin'—sea monster/crocodile) was Egypt's national symbol. Pharaoh's claim to divine status made him see himself as supreme, though God saw him as merely a large, dangerous animal to be hunted and destroyed.
Questions for Reflection
- How might your self-perception differ from God's perspective on your life and character?
- What role does honest self-examination play in spiritual growth and humility?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Pharaoh is depicted as a 'young lion of the nations' and a 'dragon in the seas'—powerful, predatory, and dangerous. Yet despite self-perception as royal and majestic ('lion'), he's actually a destructive monster ('dragon') troubling the waters. This reveals the gap between self-perception and reality. Pride distorts self-understanding, seeing nobility where God sees destructiveness.