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Ezekiel 32:2

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Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou [art] as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

Son {H1121} of man {H120}, take up {H5375} a lamentation {H7015} for Pharaoh {H6547} king {H4428} of Egypt {H4714}, and say {H559} unto him, Thou art like {H1819} a young lion {H3715} of the nations {H1471}, and thou art as a whale {H8577}{H8565} in the seas {H3220}: and thou camest forth {H1518} with thy rivers {H5104}, and troubledst {H1804} the waters {H4325} with thy feet {H7272}, and fouledst {H7515} their rivers {H5104}.

"Human being, raise a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt; say to him, 'You compared yourself to a lion among the nations; In fact, you are more like a crocodile in the lakes. You burst out of your streams, churn the water with your feet and foul their streams.'

“Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning up the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’

Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou wast likened unto a young lion of the nations: yet art thou as a monster in the seas; and thou didst break forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

Commentary

Commentary on Ezekiel 32:2 (KJV)

Ezekiel 32:2 is part of a prophetic lamentation (a funeral dirge) delivered by the prophet Ezekiel concerning Pharaoh Hophra, the king of Egypt. This verse sets the stage for a vivid and powerful allegory describing the impending downfall of Egypt, a dominant world power of its time.

Historical and Cultural Context

The prophecy in Ezekiel 32 is dated to the twelfth year of Judah's exile, a period when Egypt was a significant geopolitical force, often influencing the smaller nations of Judah and its neighbors. However, Egypt's power was waning, facing the rising threat of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. The "lamentation" is not a sign of sorrow for Pharaoh, but a declaration of his inevitable demise, serving as a warning to other proud nations. Ancient Egypt was known for its mighty Nile River, which was the lifeblood of the nation, making the imagery of "rivers" and "waters" particularly poignant and symbolic of Egypt's domain and influence.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment on Pride: The primary theme is God's judgment against the arrogance and destructive power of nations, personified by Pharaoh. Pharaoh, despite his might, is depicted as a creature to be brought down by God. This foreshadows the broader biblical principle that pride goes before destruction.
  • Metaphor of a Destructive Beast: Pharaoh is compared to a "young lion of the nations" and a "whale in the seas." These powerful, untamed creatures symbolize his ferocity, predatory nature, and unbridled ambition. The lion represents his terrestrial dominance, while the "whale" (or sea monster/dragon) speaks to his vast, chaotic influence over the "waters" – often symbolic of peoples or nations in prophetic literature.
  • Defilement and Chaos: The imagery of Pharaoh "troubling the waters with thy feet, and fouling their rivers" vividly portrays the disruptive and corrupting influence of his reign. His actions not only disturbed the peace but also polluted the sources of life and order, indicating the moral and political chaos he inflicted upon his own people and surrounding nations.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: Despite Pharaoh's perceived strength, this lamentation underscores the ultimate sovereignty of God, who orchestrates the rise and fall of empires. Even the mightiest kings are subject to His divine decree, as seen in other prophecies against proud rulers like those in Isaiah 14 (King of Babylon).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "whale" is tannin (תַּנִּין), which can refer to a large sea creature, a dragon, or a serpent. In ancient Near Eastern mythology, such creatures often symbolized chaos and primordial evil. By likening Pharaoh to a tannin, Ezekiel not only emphasizes his immense power but also hints at his destructive and chaotic nature, which God is about to subdue. The phrase "fouledst their rivers" (or "muddying their streams") highlights the defilement and disruption Pharaoh caused, making the very source of life (the Nile) unclean through his actions.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 32:2 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of unchecked power and pride. For individuals and nations alike, it teaches that:

  • Power without righteousness leads to destruction: Any authority, whether personal or national, that operates without moral restraint and justice ultimately brings ruin upon itself and others.
  • God sees and judges: No matter how mighty or intimidating a force may seem, it is not beyond the reach of divine judgment. This offers comfort to the oppressed and a call to humility for those in positions of influence.
  • Our actions have consequences: Just as Pharaoh "fouled" the rivers, our choices can pollute our own lives and the lives of those around us, creating chaos and defilement. It encourages us to strive for purity and order in our conduct.
This verse reminds us that true strength is found not in oppressive power, but in aligning with God's justice and humility, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 29:3 (7 votes)

    Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river [is] mine own, and I have made [it] for myself.

  • Nahum 2:11 (5 votes)

    ¶ Where [is] the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, [even] the old lion, walked, [and] the lion's whelp, and none made [them] afraid?

  • Nahum 2:13 (5 votes)

    Behold, I [am] against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

  • Ezekiel 27:2 (4 votes)

    Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;

  • Isaiah 27:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea.

  • Ezekiel 28:12 (3 votes)

    Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

  • Jeremiah 4:7 (3 votes)

    The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; [and] thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.