The verse highlights a stark contrast: while mighty warriors were buried with their weapons, a symbol of their earthly power, these specific fallen men, despite this supposed honor, carry their "iniquities upon their bones." This means their sins are inextricably linked to their final resting place, revealing that earthly accolades and even warrior burials cannot erase the reality of their unrighteousness in God's eyes.
And they do not lie with the mighty, the fallen from among the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their heads, and whose iniquities are upon their bones; for the terror of the mighty men was in the land of the living.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is describing the shadowy realm of Sheol where fallen nations and mighty warriors end up after death, contrasting their fates. This verse specifically addresses a group of "mighty men" who were once the terror of the living, emphasizing that despite their past fearsomeness and the ancient custom of burying warriors with their weapons, their sins will ultimately follow them into the grave, signifying a disgraced and ignominious end. This follows God's pronouncements on fallen Egypt and precedes further judgments on other nations, all depicted as descending into the underworld.
Imagine being buried with all the pomp and circumstance of a great warrior, your weapons beside you, your sword beneath your head. What does this verse say about those who don't get that kind of burial?
Ezekiel paints a stark picture of the afterlife for the wicked. Some mighty warriors, even in their demise, are depicted with their weapons of war, swords under their heads. This signifies a certain, albeit worldly, honor—a recognition of their earthly power, even in death. They 'lie with the mighty.'
However, the verse contrasts this with the fate of others. They 'shall not lie with the mighty.' This isn't about a physical location in Sheol, but about the dignity and recognition of their end. Their weapons and symbolic gestures of honor are overshadowed by a more profound reality: their iniquities are upon their bones.
This speaks to the ultimate judgment. While earthly power and even death rituals might afford a temporary illusion of status, God's justice ensures that sin’s consequence—being forgotten, dishonored, their very bones bearing the weight of their evil—is the true legacy for the wicked.
These were people who instilled fear in the hearts of kings and nations. So why does Ezekiel say their legacy is shame, not might?
The verse states that these fallen individuals 'were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.' This acknowledges their immense earthly power and the fear they commanded. They were warriors, likely kings or powerful leaders, whose influence was felt even by other powerful rulers.
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Yet, despite this terrifying might, their ultimate end is marked by shame. Their iniquities, their sins and the just judgment for them, are 'upon their bones.' This imagery suggests that their wicked deeds are permanently affixed to their remains, a lasting testament to their sin rather than their strength.
The contrast is profound: the terror they inspired in life is replaced by the ignominy of their judgment in death. Their earthly power did not protect them from divine reckoning; instead, it became a factor in their condemnation, ensuring their sins would be eternally remembered alongside their bones.
Understand the original words
sheol · Hebrew Noun
The place of the dead in Old Testament thought, referring to the shadowy underworld or the grave where all humans ultimately descend. It is often depicted as a place of darkness and silence, distinct from the presence of the living God.
avon · Hebrew Noun
Moral perversity, twisting of the truth, or guilt resulting from sin. It denotes a departure from the straight path of God’s law, carrying the consequence of judgment and divine wrath.
This verse describes the fate of the Scythians after their defeat, contrasting their ignominious end with the proper burials of mighty warriors. It highlights how their violence and iniquity led to a dishonorable end, even though they once instilled terror in the land, a stark warning to nations like Egypt that their own pride and wickedness would bring similar ruin.
c. 625-605 BC
Scythian Domination of Western Asia
The Scythians, a nomadic people from the Eurasian steppes, exerted significant military and political influence, even raiding as far south as Egypt. Their power was a source of terror to settled civilizations in the region.
c. 612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
An alliance of Babylonians and Medes, possibly aided by Scythian forces initially, conquered the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. This marked a major shift in regional power and the decline of Assyrian dominance.
c. 605 BC— this verse
Scythian Defeat by Cyaxares
Cyaxares, the Median king, eventually defeated the Scythians in battle, ending their oppressive rule over much of Western Asia. This event allowed for the rise of the Median and Babylonian empires.
c. 605-597 BC
Babylonian Captivity Begins
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon rose to power, launching campaigns against the remnants of the Assyrian empire and subjugating Judah, leading to the first deportation of Judean exiles.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar II, destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a second, larger deportation of Judeans to Babylon. This event forms a significant backdrop to Ezekiel's prophecies.
This passage describes fallen kings being laid in their own graves, not with the 'mighty' in a place of honor, echoing the idea in Ezekiel that the depicted nations won't have a place with the truly honored fallen.
Jeremiah 22:19The prophecy here speaks of a donkey's burial for Jehoiakim, signifying a dishonorable end, which parallels Ezekiel's description of the uncircumcised fallen not lying with the mighty.
Ezekiel 32:29This verse describes the powerful nations going down to Sheol 'with their weapons of war,' directly mirroring the imagery used in Ezekiel 32:27 for the fallen warriors.
1 Samuel 31:11This verse mentions the valiant men retrieving the bodies of Saul and his sons to burn them and bury the bones, highlighting the importance placed on proper burial rites for the mighty, contrasting with the fate described in Ezekiel 32:27.
pooleEzekiel 32:27: "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."
They shall not lie with the mighty; the leaders of these Scythians were not buried with a pomp like that of Asshur or Elam, but, surprised by the fraud of Halyattes and Cyaxares, wer…
barnesEzekiel 32:27: "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 - Better, "Shall they not lie?" or, "Are they not laid?" The custom of burying warriors with their swords, shields, or helmets, raider their heads is well know…
The verse highlights a stark contrast: while mighty warriors were buried with their weapons, a symbol of their earthly power, these specific fallen men, despite this supposed honor, carry their "iniquities upon their bones." This means their sins are inextricably linked to their final resting place, revealing that earthly accolades and even warrior burials cannot erase the reality of their unrighteousness in God's eyes.
Ezekiel is describing the shadowy realm of Sheol where fallen nations and mighty warriors end up after death, contrasting their fates. This verse specifically addresses a group of "mighty men" who were once the terror of the living, emphasizing that despite their past fearsomeness and the ancient custom of burying warriors with their weapons, their sins will ultimately follow them into the grave, signifying a disgraced and ignominious end. This follows God's pronouncements on fallen Egypt and precedes further judgments on other nations, all depicted as descending into the underworld.
Ezekiel is describing the shadowy realm of Sheol where fallen nations and mighty warriors end up after death, contrasting their fates. This verse specifically addresses a group of "mighty men" who were once the terror of the living, emphasizing that despite their past fearsomeness and the ancient custom of burying warriors with their weapons, their sins will ultimately follow them into the grave, signifying a disgraced and ignominious end. This follows God's pronouncements on fallen Egypt and precedes further judgments on other nations, all depicted as descending into the underworld.
"And they do not lie with the mighty, the fallen from among the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their heads, and whose iniquities are upon their bones; for the terror of the migh…" — The verse highlights a stark contrast: while mighty warriors were buried with their weapons, a symbol of their earthly power, these specific fallen men, despite this supposed honor, carry their "iniq…
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Last reviewed October 2026
