Bible Strands
Ezekiel 32:15
‘When I make the land of Egypt a desolation and empty it of all that filled it, when I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the LORD.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezekiel delivers a divine declaration concerning Egypt, situated within a prophetic lament that frames the nation's impending judgment. The words — The Hebrew שְׁמָמָה (shemamah) and נְשַׁמָּה (neshammah) describe a state of desolation and the active process of being made desolate, detailing how the land will be emptied. The thread — The pattern of nations recognizing Yahweh through His judgments appears in Exodus 7:5 and Exodus 14:4, where Pharaoh and Egypt are forced to acknowledge His authority. Why it lands — The text states that God will empty Egypt and strike down its inhabitants so that observers will know He is the LORD, requiring the reader to accept that divine sovereignty operates through concrete historical judgment rather than abstract claims.
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
King James Version
When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the Lord.
Cross-references
- Exodus 7:5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”
- Ezekiel 6:7 The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
- Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelites did.
- Exodus 14:18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I am honored through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
- Psalms 9:16 The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion Selah
- Psalms 83:17 May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace.
- Ezekiel 29:12 I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolate lands, and her cities will lie desolate for forty years among the ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.
- Ezekiel 29:19 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army.
- Ezekiel 30:26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
- Psalms 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.