Ezekiel 32:23

Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.

Whose graves {H6913} are set {H5414} in the sides {H3411} of the pit {H953}, and her company {H6951} is round about {H5439} her grave {H6900}: all of them slain {H2491}, fallen {H5307} by the sword {H2719}, which caused {H5414} terror {H2851} in the land {H776} of the living {H2416}.

Their graves are in the deepest parts of the pit, her hordes are all around her grave, all of them slain, killed by the sword, those who terrorized the land of the living.

Her graves are set in the depths of the Pit, and her company is all around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword— those who once spread terror in the land of the living.

whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit, and her company is round about her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who caused terror in the land of the living.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 32:23 is part of a profound prophetic lament, or dirge, delivered by the prophet Ezekiel concerning the impending downfall of Pharaoh and the mighty nation of Egypt. This chapter vividly portrays Egypt's descent into Sheol, the biblical realm of the dead, where it will join other once-powerful nations that have already fallen due to divine judgment. The verses preceding this one describe various nations (like Assyria, Elam, Meshech-Tubal) already confined to "the pit," and Egypt is depicted as joining their ranks. Verse 23 specifically describes the fate of those who were once formidable and instilled fear, now humbled and confined to their graves within this underworld.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Humiliation: The verse powerfully illustrates that no earthly power, however great or terrifying, is beyond God's ultimate judgment. Those who once caused "terror in the land of the living" are now themselves confined and powerless in death.
  • The Transience of Earthly Power: It underscores the temporary nature of human might, military strength, and political influence. All earthly glory fades, and death brings even the most fearsome rulers low.
  • Sheol (The Pit): The repeated mention of "the pit" and "graves" highlights the ancient Near Eastern concept of Sheol, the collective grave or underworld, a place of shadows and confinement where the dead reside. This is not a place of conscious torment as later understood in some traditions, but a realm of utter powerlessness and separation from the living. The imagery emphasizes the finality of their earthly reign.

Linguistic Insights

The term "pit" (Hebrew: bor) used here is a common biblical metaphor for the grave or Sheol, emphasizing a dark, confined space. It's often associated with cisterns or dungeons, underscoring the idea of being trapped. The phrase "slain, fallen by the sword" (Hebrew: chalal) denotes a violent, ignominious death, often implying divine punishment rather than a natural end. The crucial phrase, "which caused terror in the land of the living" (Hebrew: chittith b'erets chayyim), creates a striking contrast. It highlights the irony that those who once instilled fear and dread are now utterly helpless, their power nullified in death. This linguistic nuance emphasizes the reversal of fortunes for the proud.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 32:23 serves as a timeless reminder of God's sovereignty over all nations and individuals. It challenges the human tendency to rely on military might, political power, or the ability to intimidate others. Instead, it calls us to humility and to recognize that true power belongs to God alone. This passage encourages us to reflect on the lasting impact of our lives: do we seek to cause terror, or do we strive to live righteously and justly? Ultimately, it points to the accountability we all face beyond this life, and that earthly glory is fleeting. This serves as a stark reminder that all earthly power and terror are ultimately subject to divine judgment and are fleeting, a theme echoed in passages like Daniel 4:37, where King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God's power to humble the proud. The concept of Sheol, or 'the pit', as a place where even the mightiest are brought low, is vividly depicted in Isaiah 14:9, where Sheol itself is portrayed as stirring to meet a fallen king.

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Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 26:20 (6 votes)

    When 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;

  • Psalms 27:13 (3 votes)

    [I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

  • Ezekiel 32:24 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Ezekiel 32:27 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Ezekiel 26:17 (3 votes)

    And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, [that wast] inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror [to be] on all that haunt it!

  • Psalms 116:9 (2 votes)

    I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

  • Jeremiah 11:19 (2 votes)

    But I [was] like a lamb [or] an ox [that] is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.