Ezekiel 30:2

Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!

Son {H1121} of man {H120}, prophesy {H5012} and say {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Howl {H3213} ye, Woe worth {H1929} the day {H3117}!

"Human being, prophesy; say that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'Wail, "Oh no! It's today!"

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

Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Wail ye, Alas for the day!

Commentary on Ezekiel 30:2 (KJV)

Ezekiel 30:2 opens a powerful prophetic oracle against Egypt, a significant nation in the ancient world. This verse immediately sets a somber tone, conveying God's impending judgment upon this proud kingdom.

Context

The prophet Ezekiel served during the Babylonian exile, delivering God's messages to the Jewish people in captivity and to surrounding nations. Chapters 29-32 of Ezekiel are dedicated to prophecies concerning Egypt, detailing its downfall at the hands of Babylon. Historically, Egypt had been a source of both alliance and temptation for Israel, and this prophecy underscores God's sovereign control over all nations, regardless of their perceived strength or influence. The command to "Howl ye, Woe worth the day!" signals a period of intense mourning and devastation that will come upon Egypt, likely referring to the invasion by Nebuchadnezzar's forces.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority and Judgment: The phrase "Thus saith the Lord GOD" asserts the absolute authority and divine origin of this prophecy. It signifies that the impending destruction is not mere political upheaval but a direct act of God's righteous judgment against Egypt's pride, idolatry, and its unreliability as an ally to Israel.
  • Prophetic Urgency: The imperative "prophesy and say" highlights Ezekiel's role as God's messenger, tasked with delivering a severe warning. The call to "Howl ye" demands a public expression of deep grief and despair, indicating the magnitude of the coming calamity.
  • The Day of the Lord: While not explicitly named "the Day of the Lord" in this verse, the exclamation "Woe worth the day!" strongly echoes the concept of a specific time of divine reckoning, often described as a day of darkness and destruction for God's enemies. This theme is prevalent throughout prophetic literature, serving as a warning to all who oppose God's will. See Zephaniah 1:7 for another instance of this theme.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Son of man" (Hebrew: ben 'adam): This is God's most frequent address to Ezekiel, appearing over 90 times in the book. It emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity and frailty in contrast to the divine majesty of God, yet he is chosen to be God's mouthpiece. Compare with Ezekiel 2:1.
  • "Thus saith the Lord GOD" (Hebrew: Koh 'amar Adonai Yahweh): This is a formulaic declaration used by prophets to introduce a direct message from God, underscoring its unquestionable truth and authority. It removes any doubt about the source of the prophecy.
  • "Howl ye" (Hebrew: Yelilu): An intense imperative verb meaning to wail or cry out loudly, typically in response to great distress, sorrow, or tragedy. It suggests a lamentation that will be widespread and deeply felt.
  • "Woe worth the day!" (Hebrew: Hoy la-yom): This archaic English expression means "Woe be to the day!" or "Alas for the day!" The word "worth" here is an old verb meaning "to become" or "to happen to." It is an exclamation of dread, indicating that the day of judgment will be a day of immense suffering and misfortune.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 30:2 serves as a timeless reminder of God's sovereignty over all earthly powers. It teaches us that no nation, no matter how mighty, is exempt from divine judgment when it engages in pride, idolatry, or oppression. For believers, it reinforces the importance of trusting in God alone, rather than placing hope in human institutions or alliances that can ultimately fail. It also underscores the urgency of heeding God's warnings and responding with humility and repentance, for a "day" of reckoning will come for all who refuse to acknowledge His authority.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 13:6

    ¶ Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

  • Joel 1:5

    Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

  • Joel 1:11

    Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

  • Isaiah 15:2

    He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off.

  • Ezekiel 21:12

    Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it [shall be] upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon [thy] thigh.

  • Zechariah 11:2

    Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.

  • Revelation 18:10

    Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

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