Ezekiel 32:14

Then will I make their waters deepe, and cause their riuers to runne like oyle, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 32:14 (KJV)

Ezekiel, a prophet to the exiled Israelites in Babylon during the sixth century BCE, delivers a stark oracle against Egypt and its ruler, Pharaoh. In the surrounding chapters (Ezekiel 29‑32) he foretells the nation’s imminent downfall and destruction, emphasizing God’s sovereign judgment.

The language of the verse is highly symbolic. The phrase “make their waters deep” conveys God’s act of bringing chaos and upheaval to Egypt, turning what should be a source of life into a threatening, turbulent force. Likewise, “cause their rivers to run like oil” portrays once‑abundant waterways becoming thick, slow‑moving, and lifeless, a vivid picture of devastation and desolation.

Water in biblical imagery frequently represents life, abundance, and divine blessing. By depicting Egypt’s waters as deep and its rivers as oil‑like, the text declares the removal of God’s blessings and the withdrawal of life‑giving provision. This reversal underscores the consequences of Egypt’s pride, idolatry, and oppression of God’s people, leading to utter barrenness.

Divine judgment is a recurring theme throughout Ezekiel. Egypt’s arrogance in exalting itself above God and its oppression of Israel provoke a severe response. The imagery of turbulent, oil‑like waters illustrates God’s power to disrupt the natural order and bring chaos upon those who defy Him, reinforcing the certainty of judgment.

Note: This exact wording does not appear in any verse of Ezekiel in the King James Version. The prophecy against Egypt in Ezekiel (chapters 29‑32) speaks of flood, sword, and desolation, but the specific phrase “make their waters deep” paired with “rivers to run like oil” is not found in the biblical text.