Ezekiel 32:13
I will destroy all its beasts from beside many waters; and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore, nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just about literal animals; it speaks to Egypt's powerful presence, symbolized by its teeming life and bustling activity by the great waters. When even the "beasts" and the normal movement of "man and beast" cease to trouble the waters, it paints a picture of utter, profound desolation—a complete silencing of their former influence.
This passage continues Ezekiel's dirge over Egypt, shifting from its symbolic representation as a mighty crocodile to its utter desolation. Following the prophecy of Egypt's downfall, this verse paints a picture of complete emptiness where life once teemed, emphasizing that both the land and its waters will be left undisturbed by human activity or animal herds. The verse predicts a future where Egypt's power, its "beasts," and its ability to "trouble" or "disturb" neighboring nations will be gone, leaving the land in a state of silent, untroubled ruin.
The mighty Nile, once teeming with life and activity, will fall silent. What does this powerful imagery reveal about God's judgment?
Ezekiel paints a picture of utter desolation for Egypt. The 'beasts' that once grazed by the waters, and the 'man' who stirred them, are all to be destroyed or removed.
Literal Ruin
On a literal level, this means the cattle, horses, and people who populated the fertile riverbanks of Egypt would be gone. The Chaldean army would plunder their livestock, and the land would be left empty.
Metaphorical Stillness
But this is more than just a military conquest. The 'beasts' and 'man' also symbolize Egypt's restless activity and its tendency to 'trouble' other nations.
This stirring up of the waters represented Egypt's political and military meddling in the region. God is declaring that this era of disruption is over. The 'waters' will be still, pure, and undisturbed, reflecting a land no longer capable of causing trouble.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 32:13 is available in the Sola app.
Imagine a river so still that nothing disturbs its surface. What does this profound quiet signify in the context of God's judgment?
The image of the waters being 'troubled' by man and beast is key here. Historically, Egypt was known for its powerful military might and its tendency to interfere with its neighbors.
The End of Aggression
When God says 'neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them,' He's declaring an end to Egypt's aggressive foreign policy. Their political and military 'stirring up' of the nations would cease.
A Symbol of True Rest
This stillness isn't just about emptiness; it's about a restored peace. The nations that were previously harassed by Egypt would finally experience tranquility, like a river flowing smoothly without disturbance.
God’s judgment, while severe, ultimately brings a unique kind of peace. The powerful might that once caused chaos is removed, allowing for a quiet rest.
Understand the original words
abad · Hebrew Verb
To make waste, lay desolate, or annihilate; often used in the context of divine judgment resulting in the removal of inhabitants or prosperity from a land.
The prophecy against Egypt, with its vivid imagery of destruction, speaks into a time when the mighty empires of the ancient Near East were in flux. The Babylonian exile was a stark reminder of God's judgment, and Egypt, like other nations, faced divine reckoning. This context highlights that even powerful nations could not escape God's sovereign hand.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conducts his first deportation of Judeans, including prominent figures and treasures, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to a further massive deportation of Judeans to Babylon. This event signifies the end of the Davidic kingdom.
c. 573 BC
Prophecy Against Tyre
Ezekiel delivers a prophecy against the powerful Phoenician city of Tyre, detailing its pride and prophesying its downfall and desolation.
c. 571 BC— this verse
Prophecy Against Egypt
Ezekiel delivers a series of prophecies against Egypt, portraying its king as a great monster in the Nile and predicting its complete destruction and desolation.
c. 550 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great begins his conquests, laying the foundation for the Persian Empire, which would eventually conquer Babylon and allow the Jewish exiles to return home.
This passage also describes a sweeping judgment upon a land, removing both people ('man') and animals ('beasts'), echoing the thoroughness of the destruction prophesied for Egypt in Ezekiel.
Jeremiah 51:34Jeremiah speaks of Babylon consuming and crushing its victims, like a beast, which parallels the predatory imagery used to describe Egypt's former power that Ezekiel is now dismantling.
Isaiah 31:3This verse directly criticizes reliance on horses (a type of beast) for strength, a theme that resonates with Ezekiel's prophecy where the 'beasts' of Egypt, representing its power and resources, are destroyed.
Ezekiel 32:2This verse immediately preceding the one in question sets the stage, comparing Pharaoh and his multitude to powerful beasts in the waters, highlighting the symbolic meaning of the 'beasts' being removed in verse 13.
pooleEzekiel 32:13: "I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them."
All the beasts thereof; the sheep and oxen devoured by hungry Chaldean soldiers, or else driven away; the horses taken up to mount the horsemen of the Chaldee army, whose own horses were tired or spoiled. Beside the great waters; the pastures lying along the river’s side, and along their canals, should be emptied of…
ellicottEzekiel 32:13: "I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them."
(13) Will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters .—The figurative description of this and the following verses is taken from the vast herds of cattle in Egypt going to the river to drink, and trampling the banks and disturbing the water with their feet (comp. Ezekiel 32:2 ). These represent…
This isn't just about literal animals; it speaks to Egypt's powerful presence, symbolized by its teeming life and bustling activity by the great waters. When even the "beasts" and the normal movement of "man and beast" cease to trouble the waters, it paints a picture of utter, profound desolation—a complete silencing of their former influence.
This passage continues Ezekiel's dirge over Egypt, shifting from its symbolic representation as a mighty crocodile to its utter desolation. Following the prophecy of Egypt's downfall, this verse paints a picture of complete emptiness where life once teemed, emphasizing that both the land and its waters will be left undisturbed by human activity or animal herds. The verse predicts a future where Egypt's power, its "beasts," and its ability to "trouble" or "disturb" neighboring nations will be gone, leaving the land in a state of silent, untroubled ruin.
This passage continues Ezekiel's dirge over Egypt, shifting from its symbolic representation as a mighty crocodile to its utter desolation. Following the prophecy of Egypt's downfall, this verse paints a picture of complete emptiness where life once teemed, emphasizing that both the land and its waters will be left undisturbed by human activity or animal herds. The verse predicts a future where Egypt's power, its "beasts," and its ability to "trouble" or "disturb" neighboring nations will be gone, leaving the land in a state of silent, untroubled ruin.
"I will destroy all its beasts from beside many waters; and no foot of man shall trouble them anymore, nor shall the hoofs of beasts trouble them." — This isn't just about literal animals; it speaks to Egypt's powerful presence, symbolized by its teeming life and bustling activity by the great waters. When even the "beasts" and the normal movement…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
