Ezekiel 32:22

KJV

Asshur [is] there and all her company: his graves [are] about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:

KJV (with Strong's)

Asshur {H804} is there and all her company {H6951}: his graves {H6913} are about {H5439} him: all of them slain {H2491}, fallen {H5307} by the sword {H2719}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"Ashur is there with her hordes; their graves are all around them, all of them slain, killed by the sword.

Berean Standard Bible

Assyria is there with her whole company; her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.

American Standard Version

Asshur is there and all her company; her graves are round about her; all of them slain, fallen by the sword;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 32:22 is a poignant segment of a prophetic lamentation, a funeral dirge delivered by Ezekiel concerning the impending and inevitable downfall of Egypt and its proud Pharaoh. In this verse, the prophet vividly portrays the fate of Assyria, a once-dominant and fearsome empire, as a chilling precedent. Assyria, with its vast armies and numerous casualties, is depicted as already having met its violent end and now resides in the realm of the dead, its graves surrounding it. This serves as a stark and sobering warning to Egypt, emphasizing that its immense pride and perceived invincibility will not exempt it from a similar, divinely ordained judgment and eventual demise.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 32 forms part of a series of prophetic oracles against foreign nations, specifically targeting Egypt, which occupies chapters 29-32. This particular chapter is framed as a "lamentation" or "dirge" (Ezekiel 32:2, 16), a funeral song sung over a nation already doomed to destruction. The vivid imagery of Egypt as a great sea monster (leviathan) being caught and dragged to its demise sets a dramatic tone. Verses [Ezekiel 32:17-32](/ezekiel/32-17 "Ezekiel 32:17-32 - Nations in Sheol") specifically describe Egypt's descent into Sheol, the underworld or common grave, where it will join a grim "reception committee" of other once-mighty, but now vanquished, nations. Assyria is presented first in this macabre roll call, serving as the primary and most illustrative example of a great power brought low, thereby underscoring the inevitability of Egypt's similar fate. The repetition of "fallen by the sword" throughout this section emphasizes the violent and decisive nature of their judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Assyria (Asshur) was one of the most formidable and brutal empires of the ancient Near East, known for its military might, extensive conquests, and cruel treatment of conquered peoples. Its capital, Nineveh, fell in 612 BC to a coalition of Babylonians and Medes, marking a decisive end to its dominance. This historical reality provides the grim backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecy, as Assyria's demise was a recent and well-known event. Culturally, the concept of Sheol was the common grave of all humanity, a shadowy realm where the dead resided, regardless of their moral standing. While not a place of specific punishment in the way later concepts of hell developed, it represented the end of earthly life and power, a state of weakness and inactivity. For a nation, being "gathered to Sheol" signified utter defeat, loss of national identity, and the shame of an unburied or mass grave, a profound dishonor in ancient Near Eastern thought.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment on Pride and Arrogance**. Assyria's fall, like Egypt's impending doom, serves as a stark demonstration that no earthly power, no matter how vast or seemingly invincible, can defy the sovereign will of God. Their military might and oppressive dominion ultimately led to their downfall, a consistent message found throughout the prophets, as seen in [Isaiah's oracle against Babylon](/isaiah/13 "Isaiah 13 - Oracle Against Babylon"). Connected to this is the **Universality of Death and Judgment**, illustrating that all human kingdoms are transient and subject to God's ultimate reckoning. The greatest empires of the past lie vanquished in the grave, awaiting their final judgment, a destiny that awaits all who oppose the Lord. Finally, the passage functions as a **Solemn Warning to the Living**, particularly to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. By pointing to Assyria's fate—"slain, fallen by the sword"—Ezekiel delivers a direct and chilling message: Egypt's impending doom is not unique but follows a divine pattern established by other arrogant nations that defied the Lord, a principle echoed in [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Asshur (Hebrew, _ʼAshshûwr'_):** Refers to Assyria, the powerful ancient Near Eastern empire and its people. The word implies "successful," but ironically, in this context, it highlights the empire's ultimate failure and destruction despite its former might. Its presence "there" in Sheol signifies its complete and irreversible downfall, serving as a grim example for Egypt.
* **slain (Hebrew, _châlâl'_):** From a root meaning "pierced (especially to death)" or "polluted." This word emphasizes the violent and devastating nature of Assyria's defeat. It speaks of a mass slaughter, not just a few casualties, but a widespread demise that left the land strewn with the dead, signifying a complete military and national collapse.
* **graves (Hebrew, _qeber'_):** A sepulchre or burying place. The plural "graves" and the phrase "his graves are about him" paint a picture of countless burial sites surrounding the fallen empire, indicating the immense number of those who perished in its downfall. It underscores the overwhelming extent of the destruction and the finality of death for this once-mighty nation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Asshur [is] there and all her company":** This clause immediately establishes the subject: Assyria, personified, along with its entire military and national contingent. The phrase "is there" points to its current location in Sheol, the realm of the dead, setting the stage for the grim imagery that follows. It highlights that even the most formidable of empires is not exempt from this universal destination.
* **"his graves [are] about him":** This vivid image emphasizes the sheer scale of the casualties suffered by Assyria. The "graves" are not just one or two, but numerous, surrounding the fallen nation. This signifies a catastrophic loss of life, a complete and overwhelming defeat that left countless dead, underscoring the thoroughness of God's judgment against its pride and oppression.
* **"all of them slain, fallen by the sword":** This concluding phrase reiterates and intensifies the previous imagery. "All of them" stresses the totality of the destruction, leaving no survivors from the "company." The phrase "slain, fallen by the sword" explicitly states the violent means of their demise, highlighting the brutal reality of warfare and divine retribution. The sword, a symbol of military might, ironically becomes the instrument of their undoing, a testament to the transient nature of human power.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 32:22 makes powerful use of several literary devices to convey its message. **Personification** is evident as Assyria is treated as a single entity, a king or a nation, residing in Sheol with its "company" and surrounded by "his graves," giving a human-like quality to the fallen empire. This allows the prophet to vividly portray its demise as a personal descent into death. **Imagery** is central, painting a grim picture of "graves about him" and "slain, fallen by the sword," which evokes a sense of desolation, mass death, and the finality of judgment. The repetition of the theme of being "fallen by the sword" throughout Ezekiel 32, especially in the descriptions of other nations in Sheol, creates a powerful sense of **Anaphora** and a recurring motif of violent, decisive judgment. Furthermore, the very structure of the chapter as a **Lamentation** or funeral dirge for a living nation is a literary device in itself, emphasizing the certainty and sorrowful nature of Egypt's impending doom by treating it as if it has already occurred.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 32:22 profoundly underscores the biblical truth of God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and the transient nature of human power. It serves as a powerful reminder that earthly kingdoms, no matter how mighty or arrogant, are ultimately accountable to the divine King. The fall of Assyria, a nation renowned for its brutality and pride, demonstrates that God's justice will prevail, bringing low those who exalt themselves against Him and oppress others. This passage reinforces the theological principle that human strength, military might, and political dominance are fleeting illusions when compared to the eternal and unchallengeable authority of the Almighty. It calls all nations and individuals to humility and recognition of God's ultimate dominion, for all earthly glory is but dust before His righteous judgment.

* [Isaiah 14:9-11](/isaiah/14-9 "Isaiah 14:9-11 - The King of Babylon in Sheol")
* [Nahum 3:19](/nahum/3-19 "Nahum 3:19 - The Fall of Nineveh")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Precedes Destruction")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 32:22 offers a timeless and sobering reflection for individuals and nations alike. It challenges our tendency to place ultimate trust in human strength, economic prosperity, or military might, reminding us that all earthly power is temporary and subject to the sovereign will of God. For nations, it serves as a perpetual warning against the dangers of unchecked pride, oppressive policies, and self-reliance that ignores divine justice. For individuals, it prompts introspection: Where do we place our security and hope? Do we, like ancient empires, build our lives on fleeting achievements and earthly accolades, or do we humbly acknowledge God's ultimate authority? This passage calls us to cultivate humility, to live justly, and to recognize that true and lasting security is found not in human endeavors, but in the eternal kingdom of God. It encourages us to re-evaluate our priorities, ensuring that our lives are built on foundations that will endure beyond the transient glories of this world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might modern nations or individuals exhibit the kind of pride and self-reliance that characterized ancient Assyria and Egypt?**
* **How does understanding the transient nature of earthly power, as depicted in this verse, shape our prayers and actions regarding current global events?**
* **What personal "graves" or areas of defeat in our lives might God be using to teach us humility and reliance on Him?**
* **How can we, as believers, live in light of God's ultimate sovereignty over all nations, both in times of peace and in times of turmoil?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of Assyria being mentioned first among the fallen nations in Sheol?**

Answer: Assyria's prominence as the first nation mentioned in the list of the fallen (Ezekiel 32:18-32) is highly significant. Historically, Assyria was the dominant superpower of the ancient Near East before Babylon, notorious for its military might and brutal conquests. Its fall in 612 BC was a monumental event. By placing Assyria first, Ezekiel immediately establishes a powerful precedent: if even the most formidable and feared empire could be utterly destroyed and consigned to the grave, then Egypt, despite its current strength, is certainly not immune. It sets a chilling tone, emphasizing the universality and inevitability of God's judgment against all proud nations, making Egypt's fate seem all the more certain and dire. It highlights that no earthly power is beyond God's reach or judgment, a theme consistently found in prophetic literature, such as [Isaiah 10:5-19](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5-19 - God's Judgment on Assyria").

**What is "Sheol" as referred to in this passage?**

Answer: In the Old Testament, "Sheol" (often translated as "the grave" or "the pit") refers to the common abode of the dead, a shadowy, subterranean realm where all deceased individuals, regardless of their moral standing, were believed to go. It is not typically depicted as a place of eternal punishment or reward in the same way that later theological concepts of heaven and hell developed. Rather, it represents the cessation of earthly life, a place of inactivity and silence, separated from the living and from God's active presence. In Ezekiel 32, Sheol is personified as a vast underworld where the defeated kings and their armies gather, a grim assembly of the once-mighty now stripped of their power and glory. The descent into Sheol signifies utter defeat, national demise, and the loss of all earthly distinction, as seen in [Psalm 88:10-12](/psalm/88-10 "Psalm 88:10-12 - Questions from the Pit").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 32:22 speaks directly of the judgment of an ancient empire, its theological trajectory points powerfully to the ultimate triumph of Christ. The passage vividly portrays the finality of death and the humbling of all earthly power before divine judgment. In Christ, we see the ultimate fulfillment of God's sovereignty over all kingdoms and the defeat of death itself. Unlike the kings of Assyria and Egypt, who descended into Sheol as vanquished foes, Jesus willingly entered death, only to conquer it decisively. His resurrection from the grave (Sheol) demonstrates His victory over sin, death, and all the powers of darkness, as celebrated in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers"). The "graves" that surround Assyria symbolize the end of human dominion, but Christ's empty tomb signifies the beginning of an eternal, unshakable kingdom. He is the true King who will ultimately bring all proud nations and oppressive systems to account, not merely consigning them to a shadowy grave, but establishing a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells and His reign is eternal and just ([Revelation 21:1-4](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1-4 - The New Heaven and New Earth")). Thus, the lament over Assyria's fall foreshadows the ultimate judgment of all ungodly power and the glorious, Christ-centered fulfillment of God's righteous rule.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 32:26

There [is] Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves [are] round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.

Ezekiel 32:29

There [is] Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by [them that were] slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.

Ezekiel 32:30

There [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 32:24

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.

Psalms 83:8

Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

Psalms 83:10

[Which] perished at Endor: they became [as] dung for the earth.

Ezekiel 31:3

Behold, the Assyrian [was] a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.