Ezekiel 32:13

I will slaughter all her cattle beside the abundant waters. No human foot will muddy them again, and no cattle hooves will disturb them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord speaks through Ezekiel to deliver a pronouncement against Pharaoh and Egypt. The declaration occurs within a sequential oracle detailing the imminent military defeat and ecological ruin of the nation.

The words — הַאֲבַדְתִּי (ha'avadti) means "I will destroy," and בְּהֶמְתָּהּ (behemtah) translates to "its livestock." These terms specify the scope of the coming eradication.

The thread — The imagery aligns with the uninhabited land decree in Ezekiel 29:11, the dual man-and-beast slaughter in Ezekiel 29:8, and the dried streams and foreign desolation in Ezekiel 30:12.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that the declared judgment leaves no provision for restoration or reoccupation. It demands acceptance that the destruction of both population and infrastructure is final and irreversible.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְהַֽאֲבַדְתִּי֙ve./ha.'a.vad.Tiand/ I will destroy אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all בְּהֶמְתָּ֔הּbe.hem.Ta/hlivestock/ its מֵעַ֖לme./'Alfrom/ at מַ֣יִםMa.yimwaters רַבִּ֑יםra.Bimmany וְלֹ֨אve./Lo'and/ not תִדְלָחֵ֤םtid.la.Che/mit will make turbid/ them רֶֽגֶל־re.gel-a foot of אָדָם֙'a.Dama human ע֔וֹדodagain וּפַרְס֥וֹתu./far.Sotand/ hooves of בְּהֵמָ֖הbe.he.Mahlivestock לֹ֥אlo'not תִדְלָחֵֽם׃tid.la.Che/mit will make turbid/ them

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 29:11 No foot of man or beast will pass through, and it will be uninhabited for forty years.
Ezekiel 29:8 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will bring a sword against you and cut off from you man and beast.
Ezekiel 30:12 I will make the streams dry up and sell the land to the wicked. By the hands of foreigners I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Ezekiel 32:2 “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.’
Ezekiel 34:18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear waters? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?