And they shall not lie with the mighty [that are] fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though [they were] the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
And they shall not lie {H7901} with the mighty {H1368} that are fallen {H5307} of the uncircumcised {H6189}, which are gone down {H3381} to hell {H7585} with their weapons {H3627} of war {H4421}: and they have laid {H5414} their swords {H2719} under their heads {H7218}, but their iniquities {H5771} shall be upon their bones {H6106}, though they were the terror {H2851} of the mighty {H1368} in the land {H776} of the living {H2416}.
They do not lie with the fallen warriors of the uncircumcised who descended to Sh'ol with their weapons of war, their swords laid under their heads, and their crimes upon their bones; because these warriors terrorized the land of the living.
They do not lie down with the fallen warriors of old, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were placed under their heads, whose shields rested on their bones, although the terror of the mighty was once in the land of the living.
And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, that are gone down to Sheol with their weapons of war, and have laid their swords under their heads, and their iniquities are upon their bones; forthey werethe terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
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Isaiah 14:18
All the kings of the nations, [even] all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. -
Isaiah 14:19
But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, [and as] the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. -
Ezekiel 32:21
The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. -
Job 3:13
For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, -
Job 3:15
Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: -
Job 20:11
His bones are full [of the sin] of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. -
Psalms 109:18
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
Context of Ezekiel 32:27
Ezekiel chapter 32 contains a lamentation concerning Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his multitude, prophesying their dramatic fall. This chapter is part of a larger section (Ezekiel 29-32) where God pronounces judgment against Egypt, a powerful nation that often served as a deceptive ally or a source of false hope for Israel. The prophecies use vivid, often hyperbolic, imagery to describe Egypt's descent into Sheol, the realm of the dead, alongside other defeated nations.
Verse 27 specifically details the fate of Egypt's mighty warriors, contrasting their earthly glory with their ignominious state in the afterlife. It highlights their inability to share in the "honor" of other fallen warriors who were buried with respect, emphasizing their unique disgrace due to their "uncircumcised" status and accumulated iniquities.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "hell" in this context is Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), which generally refers to the grave or the underworld, the common abode of the dead, rather than a place of eternal torment as understood in later theology. However, in Ezekiel, it is often depicted as a place of shadows and dishonor for the wicked, particularly for those who opposed God. The imagery of laying "swords under their heads" is a traditional custom for noble warriors, indicating a burial with honor; yet, the subsequent phrase about "iniquities upon their bones" dramatically negates this honor, revealing the true, dishonored state of those judged by God.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 32:27 serves as a potent warning against placing trust in human power, military might, or worldly achievements. It reminds us that external honors and earthly reputations are ultimately meaningless in the face of divine judgment. True honor and peace come not from what we accumulate or achieve in this life, but from our spiritual standing before God. The verse calls us to consider our spiritual condition, to recognize that our iniquities have lasting consequences, and to seek reconciliation with God rather than relying on fleeting earthly strengths. It reinforces the biblical truth that God's judgment is impartial and that sin, regardless of one's earthly status, will ultimately be accounted for.