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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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.
- 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 shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God.
- Ezek 31:6All the birds of the sky made their nests in its boughs; and under its branches all the animals of the field gave birth to their young; and all great nations lived under its shadow.
- Ezek 31:3Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, and with a forest-like shade, and of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs.
- Ezek 32:20–31They shall fall among those who are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword; draw her away and all her multitudes.
- Ezek 30:21–25Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and behold, it has not been bound up, to apply medicines, to put a bandage to bind it, that it be strong to hold the sword.
- Dan 4:11–12The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached to the sky, and its sight to the end of all the earth.
- Ezek 30:6–8Yahweh says: They also who uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: they shall fall by the sword in it from the tower of Seveneh, says the Lord Yahweh.
- Neh 3:17–18After him, the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
- Mark 4:32yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”
- Lam 4:20The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.
- Isa 14:9Sheol from beneath has moved for you to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the departed spirits for you, even all the rulers of the earth. It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
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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.
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