Ezekiel30

Ezekiel 30 prophesies the imminent "day of the LORD" for Egypt, a time of widespread desolation and judgment. The Lord declares that Egypt and its allied nations, including Ethiopia and Libya, will fall by the sword, their multitude taken away, and their foundations broken. This destruction will be executed by Nebuchadrezzar, King of Babylon, leading to the scattering of Egyptians. Ultimately, these judgments are intended to make them know that the Lord is God.

Listen to this chapter

The Day of the LORD Against Egypt

Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Son of man, prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Wail, ‘Alas for that day!’

For the day is near, the Day of the LORD is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

A sword will come against Egypt, and there will be anguish in Cush when the slain fall in Egypt, its wealth is taken away, and its foundations are torn down.

Cush, Put, and Lud, and all the various peoples, as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land, will fall with Egypt by the sword.

For this is what the LORD says: The allies of Egypt will fall, and her proud strength will collapse. From Migdol to Syene they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Lord GOD.

They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities.

Then they will know that I am the LORD when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are shattered.

On that day messengers will go out from Me in ships to frighten Cush out of complacency. Anguish will come upon them on the day of Egypt’s doom. For it is indeed coming.

Judgment Executed by Babylon

This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

He and his people with him, the most ruthless of the nations, will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain.

I will make the streams dry up and sell the land to the wicked. By the hands of foreigners I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken.

This is what the Lord GOD says: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. There will no longer be a prince in Egypt, and I will instill fear in that land.

I will lay waste Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgment on Thebes.

I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and cut off the crowds of Thebes.

I will set fire to Egypt, Pelusium will writhe in anguish, Thebes will be split open, and Memphis will face daily distress.

The young men of On and Pi-beseth will fall by the sword, and those cities will go into captivity.

The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.

So I will execute judgment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

The Broken Arm of Pharaoh

In the eleventh year, on the seventh day of the first month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. See, it has not been bound up for healing, or splinted for strength to hold the sword.

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand.

I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.

I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.

I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I place My sword in the hand of Babylon’s king, and he wields it against the land of Egypt.

I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Study Notes for Ezekiel 30

Verse 1

This oracle against Egypt is the sixth in a series (Ezek. 29–32) and emphasizes the totality of God's coming judgment.

Verse 2

The prophet is commanded to lead a lament, underscoring the severity of the disaster awaiting Egypt.

Verse 3

The 'day of the LORD,' a concept usually associated with judgment upon Israel, is here applied to a Gentile nation, emphasizing God's universal sovereignty. It signals the time when God executes judgment upon the nations ('heathen').

Verse 4

The judgment affects not only Egypt but also her southern ally, Ethiopia (Cush), demonstrating the widespread collapse of the regional power structure.

Verse 5

This list includes Egypt’s foreign allies and mercenaries who will fall alongside her. Lydia (Lud) and Chub are likely references to soldiers hired from Asia Minor and North Africa.

Verse 6

The judgment will extend throughout the entire land, from the northern Delta down to the 'tower of Syene' (modern Aswan), marking the southern border.

Verse 8

The judgment’s central purpose is theological: the *recognition formula* ('they shall know that I am the LORD') confirms that the destruction is not random warfare but divine action.

Verse 9

Messengers traveling by ship will spread the news of Egypt's fall, causing panic among the complacent, distant allies like Ethiopia.

Verse 10

God names Nebuchadrezzar as the specific instrument of divine wrath, confirming that the Babylonian invasion is orchestrated by the LORD.

Verse 12

To 'make the rivers dry' refers to the destruction of the Nile system, the lifeblood of Egypt, symbolizing the total collapse of the nation's agriculture and economy.

Verse 13

The judgment targets both the political and religious life of Egypt. **Noph** (Memphis) was a major administrative and cultic center. The destruction of idols and princes signifies the end of Egyptian rule.

Verse 14

The prophecy lists key cities: **Pathros** (Upper Egypt), **Zoan** (Tanis), and **No** (Thebes, or Luxor), indicating the judgment will sweep across the entire kingdom.

Verse 15

**Sin** (Pelusium) was a strategically vital fortress on the eastern frontier. Its destruction means the removal of Egypt's military shield against invasion from the north.

Verse 18

**Tehaphnehes** was a city near the border where many Jewish refugees had fled (Jer. 43:7). The 'breaking of the yokes' signifies the end of Egyptian authority and regional dominance.

Verse 20

This oracle is precisely dated (April 29, 587 BC), placing it during the final stages of Jerusalem’s siege, likely after Pharaoh Hophra had failed to effectively intervene against Nebuchadnezzar (cf. Jer. 37:5).

Verse 21

The 'arm' is a common biblical metaphor for strength, especially military power. God declares that Pharaoh’s power has been decisively broken and cannot be recovered or healed.

Verse 22

God asserts His sovereign control over the conflict, promising to break both the recently weakened arm and any remaining strong arm of Pharaoh.

Verse 24

The prophecy emphasizes the divine reversal of power: God strengthens Babylon's military capability while simultaneously crippling Egypt's, showing that historical events are directed by the LORD.

Verse 26

The final outcome of the judgment is the dispersal of the Egyptians (diaspora) and the ultimate fulfillment of the recognition formula, establishing God's name and power among the nations.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Ezekiel30

The Day of the LORD Against Egypt

Judgment Executed by Babylon

The Broken Arm of Pharaoh

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options