Wisdom of solomon 17:14 - But they, all through the night which was powerless indeed, And which came upon them out of the recesses of powerless Hades, All sleeping the same sleep,

Generated Verse: Wisdom of solomon 17:14

What does "Wisdom of solomon 17:14" mean?


This verse from Wisdom of Solomon 17:14 is part of a larger description of the terrifying night that befell the Egyptians during the plagues. Let's break it down:

"But they, all through the night which was powerless indeed..." "They" refers to the Egyptians who are being plagued. The night is described as "powerless indeed" not because it lacked darkness or fear, but because it was a night where their own gods and powers were demonstrably ineffective. It was a night of total helplessness and vulnerability for them. Their power was stripped away.

"...And which came upon them out of the recesses of powerless Hades..." Hades, in Greek mythology, is the realm of the dead or the underworld. Here, "powerless Hades" suggests that even the forces of death and darkness are subject to the power of God. The terrors of the night seem to emanate from the deepest, most fearsome depths of the underworld, yet even those depths are ultimately under God's control. This adds to the idea that the plagues are not just natural disasters, but a manifestation of divine power.

"...All sleeping the same sleep..." This is the key phrase. The Egyptians, despite their terror and fear, are described as "all sleeping the same sleep." This doesn't necessarily mean a peaceful or restful sleep. It likely refers to a sleep of terror and helplessness, a sleep where nightmares plague them, and they are all equally vulnerable. This shared experience emphasizes the universality of their suffering. It is a sleep brought on by fear, and their inability to do anything about their situation.
It could also subtly hint at death. To "sleep the same sleep" could be a euphemism for dying.

In summary, the verse conveys the following ideas:

Total helplessness: The Egyptians were utterly powerless against the terrors of the night.
Divine power: The plagues were a demonstration of God's power, even over the forces of death and darkness.
Shared suffering: The Egyptians experienced the same fear and vulnerability, united in their helplessness.
Possible implication of death: A dark foreshadowing that hints at the shared fate of the Egyptians during the plagues.

The verse is rich in imagery and highlights the contrast between the power of God and the powerlessness of the Egyptians and their gods during the plagues. It emphasizes the terrifying experience they endured and their complete lack of control over the situation.

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