Ezekiel 32:4
Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.
Original Language Analysis
וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ
Then will I leave
H5203
וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ
Then will I leave
Strong's:
H5203
Word #:
1 of 16
properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive
הָאָֽרֶץ׃
of the whole earth
H776
הָאָֽרֶץ׃
of the whole earth
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
2 of 16
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֥י
upon the open
H6440
פְּנֵ֥י
upon the open
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
4 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲטִילֶ֑ךָ
I will cast thee forth
H2904
אֲטִילֶ֑ךָ
I will cast thee forth
Strong's:
H2904
Word #:
6 of 16
to pitch over or reel; hence (transitively) to cast down or out
וְהִשְׁכַּנְתִּ֤י
to remain
H7931
וְהִשְׁכַּנְתִּ֤י
to remain
Strong's:
H7931
Word #:
7 of 16
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
עָלֶ֙יךָ֙
H5921
עָלֶ֙יךָ֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
9 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
ע֣וֹף
and will cause all the fowls
H5775
ע֣וֹף
and will cause all the fowls
Strong's:
H5775
Word #:
10 of 16
a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
of the heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
of the heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
11 of 16
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְהִשְׂבַּעְתִּ֥י
upon thee and I will fill
H7646
וְהִשְׂבַּעְתִּ֥י
upon thee and I will fill
Strong's:
H7646
Word #:
12 of 16
to sate, i.e., fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively)
מִמְּךָ֖
H4480
מִמְּךָ֖
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
13 of 16
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
חַיַּ֥ת
the beasts
H2416
חַיַּ֥ת
the beasts
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
14 of 16
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
Cross References
Isaiah 18:6They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.Ezekiel 29:5And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.
Historical Context
This imagery reverses Egyptian funeral practices. Egypt's elaborate mummification and tomb-building sought to preserve bodies for afterlife. Prophesying exposure to scavengers struck at core Egyptian values and religious beliefs.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's judgment sometimes involve exposing and stripping away false dignities and pretensions?
- What false securities or dignities might God need to remove to bring you to humility and dependence on Him?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The captured dragon would be 'left upon the land' and 'cast forth upon the open field'—exposed, helpless, dishonored. All creatures would feed upon him, representing total humiliation. Denial of proper burial was the ultimate disgrace in ancient culture. This judgment reveals that pride leads to ultimate humiliation (Matthew 23:12).