They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies they had lived in its shade among the nations.
Parallel translations
- WEB They also went down into Sheol with him to those who are slain by the sword; yes, those who were his arm, who lived under his shadow in the middle of the nations.
- KJV They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
- NKJV They also went down to hell with it, with those slain by the sword; and those who were its strong arm dwelt in its shadows among the nations.
- NASB They also went down with it to Sheol to those who were slain by the sword; and those who were its strength lived in its shade among the nations.
- NLT Its allies, too, were all destroyed and had passed away. They had gone down to the grave—all those nations that had lived in its shade.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Egypt's allies and subjects—'those who were his arm'—go down to Sheol with it. Those who relied on Egypt's strength share its ruin.
Overview
The nations that lived under Egypt's shadow and lent it military support descend with it to the place of the slain. Trusting in a doomed power means sharing its doom, a sober lesson against placing confidence in human might. Scripture repeatedly warns Israel and others not to lean on Egypt's arm (Isaiah 31:1) but on the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 9:17The wicked will return to Sheol—all the nations who forget God.
- Ezek 31:6All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.
- Ezek 31:3Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
- Ezek 32:20–31They will fall among those slain by the sword. The sword is appointed! Let them drag her away along with all her multitudes.
- Ezek 30:21–25“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. See, it has not been bound up for healing, or splinted for strength to hold the sword.
- Dan 4:11–12The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
- Ezek 30:6–8For this is what the LORD says: The allies of Egypt will fall, and her proud strength will collapse. From Migdol to Syene they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Lord GOD.
- Neh 3:17–18Next to him, the Levites made repairs under Rehum son of Bani, and next to him, Hashabiah, ruler of a half-district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
- Mark 4:32But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”
- Lam 4:20The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”
- Isa 14:9Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you—all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones.
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The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 31:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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