Ezekiel 30

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 30

1¶ The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

2Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!

3For the day [is] near, even the day of the LORD [is] near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.

4And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.

5Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.

6Thus saith the LORD; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.

7And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries [that are] desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities [that are] wasted.

8And they shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and [when] all her helpers shall be destroyed.

9In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it cometh.

10Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.

11He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.

12And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken [it].

13Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause [their] images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.

14And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.

15And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.

16And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph [shall have] distresses daily.

17The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these [cities] shall go into captivity.

18At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.

19Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

20¶ 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,

21Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.

22Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.

23And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

24And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded [man].

25But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt.

26And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a prophecy against Egypt, declaring a "cloudy day" of the Lord's judgment upon it and its confederates. Nations such as Ethiopia, Libya, and Lydia, along with other mingled peoples, are foretold to fall by the sword alongside Egypt. The Lord states He will use Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, to bring about this destruction, drying up rivers, making the land waste, and destroying idols in cities like Noph. Pharaoh's power is symbolically broken, his arms rendered useless, while the arms of the king of Babylon are strengthened. This comprehensive judgment will result in Egypt's desolation, the scattering of its people, and the ultimate recognition of divine sovereignty. Messengers will also be sent to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, signifying the widespread impact of this divine wrath.

Long Summary

Ezekiel 30 records a prophecy concerning the impending "day of the LORD" for Egypt, described as a "cloudy day" and "the time of the heathen." The Lord declares that a sword will come upon Egypt, bringing great pain to its allies, including Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, and other associated peoples, who shall fall by the sword. The pride of Egypt's power will be brought down, and its cities will become desolate amidst wasted lands. Messengers will be sent to alarm the careless Ethiopians, signifying the widespread impact of this judgment. The Lord explicitly names Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, as His instrument to destroy the land, fill it with the slain, and make its rivers dry. Furthermore, the prophecy details the destruction of Egypt's idols and images, particularly in Noph, and foretells the cessation of Egyptian princes, instilling fear throughout the land. Specific cities like Pathros, Zoan, No, Sin, Aven, Pibeseth, and Tehaphnehes are marked for desolation, fire, and captivity, their strength and pomp ceasing. A later prophecy, dated to the eleventh year, first month, seventh day, reiterates the Lord's action: He has broken Pharaoh's arm, rendering it unable to wield a sword. The Lord declares Himself against Pharaoh, promising to break both his strong arm and the previously broken one, scattering the Egyptians among the nations. Conversely, the arms of the king of Babylon will be strengthened, and the Lord's sword placed in his hand, ensuring Pharaoh's defeat and the ultimate recognition that the Lord is God.

Core Concepts

  • Day of the LordThis refers to a specific time of divine judgment, here applied to Egypt and its allies, characterized by desolation, war, and widespread suffering, signifying the Lord's intervention in human affairs.
  • Judgment on EgyptThe central theme, detailing the Lord's decision to bring severe punishment upon Egypt for its pride and idolatry, leading to its downfall through military defeat and desolation.
  • Role of BabylonNebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, is explicitly identified as the Lord's chosen instrument to execute this judgment, bringing the sword and making the land waste, thereby fulfilling divine prophecy.
  • Desolation and ScatteringKey consequences of the judgment, where Egypt's cities become desolate, its land wasted, and its people dispersed among other nations, removing its power and influence.
  • Destruction of IdolatryThe Lord specifically promises to destroy Egypt's idols and images, particularly in Noph, signifying the end of its false worship and the removal of its spiritual strongholds.
  • Broken Arm of PharaohA powerful metaphor for the complete loss of Pharaoh's military and political strength, rendering him powerless to resist the divine judgment or defend his kingdom.
  • Divine SovereigntyThroughout the chapter, the repeated phrase 'they shall know that I am the LORD' underscores that these judgments are orchestrated by God to reveal His ultimate power and authority over all nations.