King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 32:16 Mean?

Ezekiel 32:16 in the King James Version says “This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lamen...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.”

Ezekiel 32:16 · KJV

Context

14

Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord GOD.

15

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. destitute: Heb. desolate from the fulness thereof

16

This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

17

It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

18

Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.

Read Ezekiel 32 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD. God prescribes a formal lamentation (qinah, קִינָה)—a funeral dirge, mourning song for the dead. The term appears in laments over Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:17), Jerusalem (Lamentations), and Tyre (Ezekiel 27). The daughters of the nations shall lament her indicates international mourning—surrounding peoples performing funeral rites for fallen Egypt.

The threefold repetition "they shall lament" emphasizes the mourning's intensity and inevitability. This isn't optional but decreed by God: Egypt's fall will be so catastrophic that even distant nations will observe formal lamentation. The phrase for Egypt, and for all her multitude distinguishes the nation from its population—both the political entity and its people are objects of mourning.

Ironically, this lamentation is both sympathetic (recognizing tragedy) and condemnatory (acknowledging just judgment). The nations mourn not merely from pity but from fear (v. 10)—"if this happened to Egypt, we could be next." This parallels Revelation 18:9-19, where kings and merchants lament Babylon's fall, mourning the loss of their false security and commercial partner. Such mourning reveals misplaced affections—grief over fallen human glory rather than repentance toward God.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

In the ancient Near East, formal lamentation was a recognized literary genre with professional mourners (often women) hired to compose and perform dirges. These laments followed conventional patterns: recalling past glory, bewailing present devastation, invoking divine names, expressing hopelessness.

Ezekiel's prophecy that "daughters of the nations" would lament Egypt indicates the international shock her fall would produce. Historically, Egypt's decline after Babylonian invasion did produce widespread political recalculation among surrounding nations. While we don't have records of literal funeral songs, the geopolitical mourning was real: kingdoms that had relied on Egyptian alliances realized their vulnerability and either submitted to Babylon or faced similar judgment.

Reflection Questions

  1. What worldly powers, institutions, or securities do you mourn when they fall, revealing where your trust has been misplaced?
  2. How should believers respond when God's judgment falls on nations or systems—with triumphalism, with grief, or with something else?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
תְּקוֹנֵ֣נָּה1 of 17

“her they shall lament”

H6969

to strike a musical note, i.e., chant or wail (at a funeral)

הִיא֙2 of 17
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וְק֣וֹנְנ֔וּהָ3 of 17

“This is the lamentation”

H7015

a dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments)

בְּנ֥וֹת4 of 17

“her the daughters”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

הַגּוֹיִ֖ם5 of 17

“of the nations”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

תְּקוֹנֵ֣נָּה6 of 17

“her they shall lament”

H6969

to strike a musical note, i.e., chant or wail (at a funeral)

אוֹתָ֑הּ7 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עַל8 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מִצְרַ֤יִם9 of 17

“for her even for Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וְעַל10 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

כָּל11 of 17
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הֲמוֹנָהּ֙12 of 17

“and for all her multitude”

H1995

a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth

תְּקוֹנֵ֣נָּה13 of 17

“her they shall lament”

H6969

to strike a musical note, i.e., chant or wail (at a funeral)

אוֹתָ֔הּ14 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נְאֻ֖ם15 of 17

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

אֲדֹנָ֥י16 of 17

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִֽה׃17 of 17

“GOD”

H3069

god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 32:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 32:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 32:22 Samuel 1:17Ezekiel 26:172 Chronicles 35:25Jeremiah 9:172 Samuel 3:33-34

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Ezekiel 32 →

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 32 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Ezekiel 32 with CommentaryAll Ezekiel ChaptersComplete Ezekiel QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes