Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:

EZEKIEL 32:22KJV
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Ezekiel 32:22 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 32:22 mean?

Ezekiel 32:22 describes the nation of Assyria (“Asshur”) as already present in the grave, surrounded by its people, all of whom have been killed in battle. The verse uses this image to show that even powerful nations like Assyria have fallen and now lie among the dead, defeated by the sword.

In this chapter, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to lament the downfall of Egypt, using the fate of other great nations as a warning. By mentioning Assyria and its company lying in graves, Ezekiel is reminding his audience that no empire, no matter how mighty, is immune to destruction. This sets the stage for the message that Egypt too will share the same fate as those who have gone before.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 32:22

  • Asshur (אַשּׁוּר, 'ashshur'): This is the Hebrew name for Assyria, a dominant empire known for its military power. Mentioning Assyria highlights that even the strongest nations have ended up in the grave.
  • Company (קָהָל, qāhāl): This word means an assembly or group, here referring to all the people associated with Assyria. The verse emphasizes that not just the leaders, but the whole nation’s people, have fallen.
  • Graves (קֶבֶר, qeber): The word for graves points to a collective burial place, underlining the totality of their defeat and death.
  • Slain (חָלָל, ḥālāl) and Fallen (נָפַל, nāphal): These words stress that the people did not die naturally but were killed violently, “fallen by the sword,” showing the completeness and violence of their end.

Why Ezekiel 32:22 matters

  • Ezekiel 32:22 clears up any idea that military strength or past glory can protect a nation from judgment or downfall.
  • The verse connects Assyria’s fate to the wider theme in Ezekiel 32, where Egypt is warned that it too will join these fallen empires in the grave.
  • By naming Assyria specifically, the verse reminds readers that God’s judgment is not limited to one nation but applies to all who act with pride and violence.

Where else these words appear

“graves” Hebrew H6913 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 23:4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
  • 1 Kings 13:31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
  • Job 10:19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

“slain” Hebrew H2491 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 34:27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:22 For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
  • Ezekiel 9:7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

“company” Hebrew H6951 · used in 116 verses

  • Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
  • 1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
  • Nehemiah 5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

“Asshur” Hebrew H804 · used in 138 verses

  • Genesis 2:14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
  • 2 Kings 20:6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
  • Isaiah 36:8 Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.