Ezekiel Chapter 32 · Verse 24

Authorized King James Version

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There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.

Original Language Analysis

שָׁ֤ם H8033
שָׁ֤ם
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 1 of 26
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
עֵילָם֙ There is Elam H5867
עֵילָם֙ There is Elam
Strong's: H5867
Word #: 2 of 26
elam, a son of shem and his descendants, with their country; also of six israelites
וְכָל H3605
וְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 3 of 26
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הֲמוֹנָ֔הּ and all her multitude H1995
הֲמוֹנָ֔הּ and all her multitude
Strong's: H1995
Word #: 4 of 26
a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth
סְבִיב֖וֹת round about H5439
סְבִיב֖וֹת round about
Strong's: H5439
Word #: 5 of 26
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
קְבֻרָתָ֑הּ her grave H6900
קְבֻרָתָ֑הּ her grave
Strong's: H6900
Word #: 6 of 26
sepulture; (concretely) a sepulcher
כֻּלָּ֣ם H3605
כֻּלָּ֣ם
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 7 of 26
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חֲלָלִים֩ all of them slain H2491
חֲלָלִים֩ all of them slain
Strong's: H2491
Word #: 8 of 26
pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted
הַנֹּפְלִ֨ים fallen H5307
הַנֹּפְלִ֨ים fallen
Strong's: H5307
Word #: 9 of 26
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
בַּחֶ֜רֶב by the sword H2719
בַּחֶ֜רֶב by the sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 10 of 26
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
אֲֽשֶׁר H834
אֲֽשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 11 of 26
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
י֥וֹרְדֵי which are gone down H3381
י֥וֹרְדֵי which are gone down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 12 of 26
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
עֲרֵלִ֣ים׀ uncircumcised H6189
עֲרֵלִ֣ים׀ uncircumcised
Strong's: H6189
Word #: 13 of 26
properly, exposed, i.e., projecting loose (as to the prepuce); used only technically, uncircumcised (i.e., still having the prepuce uncurtailed)
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 14 of 26
near, with or among; often in general, to
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ in the land H776
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ in the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 15 of 26
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
תַּחְתִּיּ֗וֹת into the nether parts H8482
תַּחְתִּיּ֗וֹת into the nether parts
Strong's: H8482
Word #: 16 of 26
lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depths (figuratively, a pit, the womb)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 17 of 26
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתְנ֤וּ which caused H5414
נָתְנ֤וּ which caused
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 18 of 26
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
חִתִּיתָם֙ their terror H2851
חִתִּיתָם֙ their terror
Strong's: H2851
Word #: 19 of 26
fear
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ in the land H776
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ in the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 20 of 26
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
חַיִּ֔ים of the living H2416
חַיִּ֔ים of the living
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 21 of 26
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ yet have they borne H5375
וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ yet have they borne
Strong's: H5375
Word #: 22 of 26
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
כְלִמָּתָ֖ם their shame H3639
כְלִמָּתָ֖ם their shame
Strong's: H3639
Word #: 23 of 26
disgrace
אֶת H854
אֶת
Strong's: H854
Word #: 24 of 26
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
י֥וֹרְדֵי which are gone down H3381
י֥וֹרְדֵי which are gone down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 25 of 26
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
בֽוֹר׃ to the pit H953
בֽוֹר׃ to the pit
Strong's: H953
Word #: 26 of 26
a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)

Cross References

Genesis 10:22The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.Ezekiel 16:54That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.Ezekiel 32:18Son 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.Ezekiel 32:25They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.Ezekiel 32:30There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.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 16:52Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.Jeremiah 25:25And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,Genesis 14:1And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;Ezekiel 39:26After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.

Analysis & Commentary

There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave continues the catalog of fallen nations in Sheol. All of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth describes their fate. Elam was east of Babylon (modern Iran). Which caused their terror in the land of the living notes they once terrorized others. Yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit means their terror couldn't prevent their own destruction and shame. Those who inspire fear ultimately experience fear; those who inflict shame ultimately bear shame. Divine justice is precisely reciprocal.

Historical Context

Elam was conquered by Assyria (circa 640 BC under Ashurbanipal), demonstrating that even regional powers fall when God decrees it. Elam's inclusion in this catalog of fallen nations reinforces the universal pattern: all earthly powers are temporary; all empires fall; only God's kingdom endures. Terror and military might provide no protection from divine judgment.

Questions for Reflection