Ezekiel 32:23
Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתְנ֥וּ
are set
H5414
נָתְנ֥וּ
are set
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
2 of 18
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
בְּיַרְכְּתֵי
in the sides
H3411
בְּיַרְכְּתֵי
in the sides
Strong's:
H3411
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, the flank; but used only figuratively, the rear or recess
ב֔וֹר
of the pit
H953
ב֔וֹר
of the pit
Strong's:
H953
Word #:
5 of 18
a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
וַיְהִ֣י
H1961
וַיְהִ֣י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
6 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
סְבִיב֖וֹת
is round about
H5439
סְבִיב֖וֹת
is round about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
8 of 18
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
כֻּלָּ֤ם
H3605
כֻּלָּ֤ם
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חֲלָלִים֙
all of them slain
H2491
חֲלָלִים֙
all of them slain
Strong's:
H2491
Word #:
11 of 18
pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted
נֹפְלִ֣ים
fallen
H5307
נֹפְלִ֣ים
fallen
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
12 of 18
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
בַּחֶ֔רֶב
by the sword
H2719
בַּחֶ֔רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
13 of 18
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתְנ֥וּ
are set
H5414
נָתְנ֥וּ
are set
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
15 of 18
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Cross References
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;Psalms 27:13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.Ezekiel 26:17And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!
Historical Context
Assyrian military brutality was legendary and deliberate—they used terror as policy, impaling, flaying, and mutilating captives to terrorize potential rebels. Assyrian records and reliefs boast of these atrocities. Yet all this cruelty couldn't prevent Assyria's fall. Violence begets violence; those who terrorize eventually face terror. Divine justice ensures evildoers experience what they inflicted on others.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the fate of brutal empires demonstrate divine justice?
- What does violence begetting violence teach about earthly power?
- Why can't terror save those who employ it?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit continues describing Assyria's burial. And her company is round about her grave indicates mass burial. All of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living notes the irony: those who terrorized others now lie defeated. Which caused terror emphasizes Assyria's brutal reputation—feared throughout the ancient world for extreme violence. Yet all their terror couldn't prevent their own destruction. Those who live by violence die by violence. Fear they inspired couldn't save them. Only God is ultimately fearsome.