They shall fall among those who are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword; draw her away and all her multitudes.
Parallel translations
- KJV They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.
- BSB They will fall among those slain by the sword. The sword is appointed! Let them drag her away along with all her multitudes.
- NKJV “They shall fall in the midst of those slain by the sword; She is delivered to the sword, Drawing her and all her multitudes.
- NASB They shall fall in the midst of those who are killed by the sword. She is turned over to the sword; they have dragged her and all her hordes away.
- NLT The Egyptians will fall with the many who have died by the sword, for the sword is drawn against them. Egypt and its hordes will be dragged away to their judgment.
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 will fall among the sword-slain and be dragged down with all her hordes. The sword of God's judgment claims her along with her multitudes.
Overview
The verse pictures Egypt delivered to the sword and pulled down to share the fate of the slain. The repeated emphasis on death by the sword stresses the violent, decisive end of this power. Egypt's masses, in whom she trusted, only follow her into the pit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Ps 28:3Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
- Ezek 32:23–26whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit, and her company is around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who caused terror in the land of the living.
- Prov 24:11Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
- Jer 22:19He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, drawn and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.”
- Ezek 29:8–12Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I will bring a sword on you, and will cut off man and animal from you.
- Ezek 32:29–30There is Edom, her kings and all her princes, who in their might are laid with those who are slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with those who go down to the pit.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
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 32:20 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.