Ezekiel 32:2

art like a young lion Perhaps: wast likened to, though the construction is exceedingly hard (cf. Ezekiel 31:18). So far as the form of words goes the meaning might rather be: O lion of the nations thou art undone(Isaiah 6:5; Hosea 10:15), the root being another. The prophet has a fondness, however, for using the Niph. (Cf. Ezekiel 14:4; Ezekiel 14:7; Ezekiel 19:5; Ezekiel 33:30; Ezekiel 36:3.) The words can hardly mean: thou thoughtest thyself a young lion. Cf. Ezekiel 38:13.

and thou art whereas thou wast as a dragon (monster) in the rivers, lit. seas;cf. Isaiah 19:5; Isaiah 27:1; Job 41:23. The construction seems to imply an antithesis between this clause and the previous one.

camest forth with didst break forth in thy rivers. The term "break forth" is used of coming forth out of the womb (Psalms 22:9; cf. Job 38:8), and also of those in ambush breaking out of their hiding-place (Judges 20:33). The term describes not the origin of the monster but his activity; cf. "didst foul." Ew. conjectured for "in thy rivers," with thy nostrilsthou didst spout (cause spray) with thy nostrils; cf. Job 41:18-20. The object of the verb is wanting here, however, and the verb though used of Jordan (Job 40:23) is employed intransitively. Cf. however, Micah 4:10.

their rivers Or, streams those of the waters. The vitality of the monster and his violent activity are suggested by his troubling the waters and fouling the streams. Cf. the opposite idea, Ezekiel 32:13.