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.

The Day of the LORD Against Egypt

1
The word of ADONAI came to me: ​
2
"Human being, prophesy; say that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Wail, "Oh no! It's today!" ​
3
For the day is near, the Day of ADONAI, a day of clouds, the time of the Goyim. ​
4
The sword will come against Egypt, and Ethiopia will be in anguish, when the slain fall in Egypt, when they take away her wealth, and her foundations are torn down. ​
5
Ethiopia, Put and Lud, all the mixed population and Kuv, and the people of allied lands will die by the sword with them.' ​
6
"ADONAI says this: 'Those supporting Egypt will fall; its arrogant power will be brought down; from Migdol to S'venah they will die by the sword,' says Adonai ELOHIM. ​
7
"They will be desolate even when compared with other desolate countries, likewise her cities in comparison with other ruined cities.
8
They will know that I am ADONAI when I set fire to Egypt, and those supporting it are destroyed. ​
9
When that day comes, I will send out messengers in ships to terrify the unsuspecting Ethiopians; and anguish will overcome them on the day of Egypt. Yes, here it comes! ​

Judgment Executed by Babylon

10
"Adonai ELOHIM says: 'I will destroy the hordes of Egypt through N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel. ​
11
He and his people, the most barbarous of the nations, will be brought in to ravage the land. They will unsheathe their swords against Egypt and fill the land with corpses.
12
I will dry up the streams of the Nile and sell the land to the wicked. Through the power of foreigners I will make the land and all that is in it desolate. I, ADONAI, have spoken.' ​
13
"Here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'I will destroy the idols, make the false gods in Nof cease to exist. No longer will there be a prince from the land of Egypt; I will put fear in the land of Egypt, ​
14
desolate Patros, set fire to Tzo'an, execute judgements in No, ​
15
pour my fury on Seen the stronghold of Egypt, and destroy the hordes of No. ​
16
Yes, I will set fire to Egypt; Seen will writhe in anguish; No will be torn apart; enemies will attack Nof in broad daylight.
17
The young men of On and Pi-Veset will die by the sword, while the cities themselves will go into captivity.
18
At T'chafn'ches the day will grow dark when I break the yokes of Egypt there, and the pride she takes in her power ceases. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity. ​
19
Thus will I execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am ADONAI.'"

The Broken Arm of Pharaoh

20
On the seventh day of the first month of the eleventh year, the word of ADONAI came to me: ​
21
"Human being, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; it has not been bound up with dressings and bandages, so that it can heal and become strong enough again to wield the sword. ​
22
Therefore Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the sound one and the broken one, and I will make the sword fall from his hand. ​
23
I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.
24
I will strengthen the arms of the king of Bavel and put my sword in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh; he will groan like a man mortally wounded. ​
25
Yes, I will hold up the arms of the king of Bavel; but the arms of Pharaoh will droop. They will know that I am ADONAI when I put my sword in the hand of the king of Bavel, and he stretches it out over the land of Egypt.
26
Yes, I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries; and they will know that I am ADONAI.'" ​

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.

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