Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 32

Verse 1

the twelfth year. See the table on p. 1105.

twelfth month . About one year and a half after the fall of Jerusalem.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 2

Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .

Thou art like = Thou bast been likened to.

and thou art = yet art thou. The contrast is between what was noble and less noble.

whale = crocodile

seas = a collection of waters, like the branches of the Nile. Compare Isaiah 27:1 .

rivers. Heb, nahar . Not the same word as in Ezekiel 32:6 .

Verse 3

the Lord GOD . Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah , See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

company = gathered host. Compare Ezekiel 16:40 .

many: or, mighty.

people = peoples.

Verse 4

fill = satisfy.

Verse 5

height = thy high heap i.e. of thy slain.

Verse 6

wherein thou swimmest : or, of thy overflowing.

rivers = torrents, or ravines. Hebrew ' aphikim , See note on 2 Samuel 22:16 . Not the same word as in Ezekiel 32:2 .

Verse 7

put thee out = extinguish thee.

I will cover , &c. Compare Isaiah 13:10 ; Isaiah 14:12 .Joel 2:10 ; Joel 3:15 .Amos 8:9 . Revelation 6:12-14 .

Verse 8

bright lights = light = bearers. Ref, to Pentateuch (Genesis 1:14 ). App-92 , Hebrew. ma'or .

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

Verse 10

every man . Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh , App-13 .

Verse 13

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 14

deep = subside.

Verse 17

the month: i.e. the twelfth month. See Ezekiel 32:1 .

Verse 18

cast them down = cause them to descend: i.e. by Heb, idiom declare (by the dirge) that they shall descend. See note on Ezekiel 14:8 , Ezekiel 14:9 ; Ezekiel 20:28 .

nether = lower.

the pit. Hebrew. bor = a grave dug in the earth. See note on 31. is, showing the meaning of Sheol in Ezekiel 32:21 .

Verse 19

the uncircumcised. This word is repeated ten times in this chapter, and always in connection with an ignominious death (verses: Ezekiel 32:19 , Ezekiel 32:21 , Ezekiel 32:24-30 , Eze 19:32 ). Compare Jeremiah 9:25 , Jeremiah 9:26 .

Verse 20

slain by the sword. Note the Figure of speech Cycloidea ( App-6 ), by which these words occur as a refrain twelve times in the following verses (twelve being the number of governmental perfection or completion. See App-10 ).

draw her = drag her away: i.e. to the grave.

Verse 21

The strong = The strongest, or chiefeet.

shall speak, &c, Note the Figure of speech Prosopopoeia ( App-6 ), by which dead people are represented as speaking.

hell = the grave. Hebrew. Sheol . App-35 .

Verse 22

Asshur : i.e. the great empire of Assyria.

graves . Hebrew. keber = burying-places, or sepulchres. See App-36 . Same word as in verses: Ezekiel 32:23 , Ezekiel 32:25 , Ezekiel 32:26 .

Verse 23

company = gathered host.

in the land of the living. Used here as the opposite of the land of the dead. See note on Ezekiel 26:20 . The expression occurs six times in this chapter.

Verse 25

multitude. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads multitudes" (plural)

Verse 27

with their weapons of war. This determines the nature of the place here described as "the grave", "the pit", and "Sheol".

iniquities. Hebrew ' avah . App-44 .

Verse 28

broken: or, overthrown.

Verse 32

caused. Hebrew nathan = given: as distinct from their terror. See note on Ezekiel 20:25 .

My. Hebrew text has "His"; margin "My".