


Ezekiel 30:20
Bible Versions
¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [month], in the seventh [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
On the seventh day of the first month of the eleventh year, the word of ADONAI came to me:
In the eleventh year, on the seventh day of the first month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the firstmonth, in the seventhdayof the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
-
Ezekiel 29:17
¶ And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first [month], in the first [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, -
Ezekiel 26:1
¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, -
Ezekiel 29:1
¶ In the tenth year, in the tenth [month], in the twelfth [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, -
Ezekiel 1:2
In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, -
Ezekiel 31:1
¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third [month], in the first [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 30:20 serves as a precise chronological marker, introducing a new divine oracle directed through the prophet Ezekiel. This verse states: "And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Context
This verse provides the exact date for the prophecy that immediately follows it in Ezekiel 30:21-26. The dating system used by Ezekiel refers to the years of King Jehoiachin's captivity in Babylon, which began in 597 BC. The "eleventh year" is particularly significant as it coincides with the final siege and impending fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, an event detailed in historical books like 2 Kings 25:1 and Jeremiah 39:1. While Judah faced its ultimate destruction, this specific oracle is directed against Egypt, a nation that Judah often looked to for military aid, only to be disappointed. This prophecy foretells the breaking of Pharaoh's arm and the strengthening of Babylon's, reinforcing God's sovereignty over all nations.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "the word of the LORD came unto me" is a standard prophetic formula in Hebrew, dabar Yahweh hayah elay. It signifies a direct, undeniable divine utterance to the prophet, establishing the authenticity and authority of the message that follows. There are no complex linguistic nuances in this particular dating clause; its power lies in its directness and recurring nature throughout Ezekiel's prophecies.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 30:20, though a dating verse, reminds us of several enduring truths: