Nebuchadnezzar appears uniquely as God's instrument to destroy Egyptian idols and religious centers, contrasting his typical role as Israel's divine chastiser.
Ezekiel 30
The Day of the Lord Against Egypt
1The LORD’s word came again to me, saying,
2“Son of man, prophesy, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’
3For the day is near, even the LORD’s day is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of the nations.
4A sword will come on Egypt, and anguish will be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt. They take away her multitude, and her foundations are broken down.
5“‘“Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the mixed people, Cub, and the children of the land that is allied with them, will fall with them by the sword.”
6“‘The LORD says: “They also who uphold Egypt will fall. The pride of her power will come down. They will fall by the sword in it from the tower of Seveneh,” says the Lord GOD.
7“They will be desolate in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities will be among the cities that are wasted.
8They will know that I am the LORD when I have set a fire in Egypt, and all her helpers are destroyed.
9“‘“In that day messengers will go out from before me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid. There will be anguish on them, as in the day of Egypt; for, behold, it comes.”
10“‘The Lord GOD says: “I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease, by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11He and his people with him, the terrible 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.
12I will make the rivers dry, and will sell the land into the hand of evil men. I will make the land desolate, and all that is therein, by the hand of foreigners. I, the LORD, have spoken it.”
13“‘The Lord GOD says: “I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause the images to cease from Memphis. There will be no more a prince from the land of Egypt. I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.
14I will make Pathros desolate, and will set a fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments on No.
15I will pour my wrath on Sin, the stronghold of Egypt. I will cut off the multitude of No.
16I will set a fire in Egypt Sin will be in great anguish. No will be broken up. Memphis will have adversaries in the daytime.
17The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth will fall by the sword. They will go into captivity.
18At Tehaphnehes also the day will withdraw itself, when I break the yokes of Egypt there. The pride of her power will cease in her. As for her, a cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.
19Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”’”
Pharaoh's Broken Arms
20In the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
21“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Behold, it has not been bound up, to apply medicines, to put a bandage to bind it, that it may become strong to hold the sword.
22Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong arm, and that which was broken. I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.
23I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
24I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before the king of Babylon with the groaning of a mortally wounded man.
25I will hold up the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall down. Then they will know that I am the LORD when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he stretches it out on the land of Egypt.
26I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”
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Theme
Ezekiel 30 contains two distinct prophecies against Egypt, both emphasizing God's sovereign judgment through foreign powers. The first oracle (verses 1-19) announces 'the day of the LORD' against Egypt and her allies, detailing how Nebuchadnezzar will devastate the land, destroy its cities, and eliminate its idols and leadership. The second prophecy (verses 20-26) uses the metaphor of Pharaoh's broken arms to illustrate Egypt's military weakness and God's intention to strengthen Babylon instead, scattering the Egyptians among the nations.
Context
This chapter continues the series of oracles against Egypt that began in chapter 29, intensifying the judgment theme before moving to the final Egyptian prophecies in chapters 31-32.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 The Day of the LORD Announced God commands Ezekiel to prophesy about the approaching day of judgment against Egypt.
- 4-9 Egypt and Her Allies Fall The sword will devastate Egypt, Ethiopia, and their allied nations, bringing widespread destruction.
- 10-12 Nebuchadnezzar as God's Instrument Babylon's king will serve as God's agent to destroy Egypt and make the land desolate.
- 13-19 Complete Devastation of Egyptian Cities God will destroy Egypt's idols, eliminate its leadership, and execute judgment on specific cities.
- 20-21 Pharaoh's First Broken Arm God reveals that He has already broken Pharaoh's arm, leaving it unhealed and weak.
- 22-26 Both Arms Broken, Babylon Strengthened God will break both of Pharaoh's arms while strengthening Babylon's king to scatter Egypt.
The Day of the Lord Against Egypt
30:1–30:19 prophecy wrathful
A prophecy of the Day of the Lord against Egypt, describing comprehensive destruction through Nebuchadnezzar and the elimination of Egyptian idols and leadership.
person_contrast
Nebuchadnezzar appears uniquely as God's instrument to destroy Egyptian idols and religious centers, contrasting his typical role as Israel's divine chastiser.
Pharaoh's Broken Arms
30:20–30:26 prophecy solemn
God declares He will break Pharaoh's arms while strengthening Babylon's king, leading to Egypt's defeat and the scattering of its people among nations.
person_contrast
Ezekiel uniquely depicts divine judgment through bodily metaphor, contrasting Pharaoh's "broken arm" with Nebuchadnezzar's divinely "strengthened arms" to illustrate geopolitical power transfer.
Insights
Ezekiel uniquely depicts divine judgment through bodily metaphor, contrasting Pharaoh's "broken arm" with Nebuchadnezzar's divinely "strengthened arms" to illustrate geopolitical power transfer.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Ezekiel 30:2 1 reference
Ezekiel 30:4 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ezekiel 32:24 Lexical
“There is Elam and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who have gone down uncirc…
Ezekiel 32:20 Lexical
They will fall among those who are slain by the sword. She is delivered to the sword. Draw her away with all her multitu…
Ezekiel 13:14 Lexical
So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its found…
Ezekiel 32:25 Lexical
They have made Elam a bed among the slain with all her multitude. Her graves are around her, all of them uncircumcised,…
Ezekiel 30:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 27:10 Lexical
“‘“Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you. They showed your bea…
Genesis 10:6 Lexical
The sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
Jeremiah 46:9 Lexical
Go up, you horses! Rage, you chariots! Let the mighty men go out: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, wh…
Nahum 3:9 Lexical
Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength. Put and Libya were her helpers.
Ezekiel 38:5 Lexical
Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;
Ezekiel 30:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 24:21 Lexical
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the de…
Ezekiel 31:18 Lexical
“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Amos 6:8 Lexical
“The Lord GOD has sworn by himself,” says the LORD, the God of Armies: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, and detest his fortr…
Amos 3:11 Lexical
Therefore the Lord GOD says: “An adversary will overrun the land; and he will pull down your strongholds, and your fortr…
Ezekiel 29:10 Lexical
therefore, behold, I am against you and against your rivers. I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation…
Ezekiel 30:7 1 reference
Ezekiel 30:10 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ezekiel 29:19 Lexical
Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off…
Ezekiel 26:7 Lexical
“For the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, wit…
Ezekiel 12:23 Lexical
Tell them therefore, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb i…
Ezekiel 34:10 Lexical
The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against the shepherds. I will require my sheep at their hand, and cause them to cease f…
Ezekiel 30:11 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ezekiel 28:7 Lexical
therefore, behold, I will bring strangers on you, the terrible of the nations. They will draw their swords against the b…
Ezekiel 5:2 Lexical
A third part you shall burn in the fire in the middle of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled. You shall t…
Exodus 15:9 Lexical
The enemy said, ‘I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the plunder. My desire will be satisfied on them. I will…
Ezekiel 35:8 Lexical
I will fill its mountains with its slain. The slain with the sword will fall in your hills and in your valleys and in al…
Ezekiel 30:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 16:36 Lexical
‘The Lord GOD says, “Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with…
Ezekiel 14:6 Lexical
“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Return, and turn yourselves from your idols! Turn away your fa…
Ezekiel 20:31 Lexical
When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols…
Ezekiel 33:25 Lexical
Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “You eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. S…
Ezekiel 20:39 Lexical
“‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not lis…
Ezekiel 30:15 1 reference
Ezekiel 30:17 4 references
Lexicals 4
Amos 4:10 Lexical
“I sent plagues among you like I did Egypt. I have slain your young men with the sword, and have carried away your horse…
Lamentations 2:21 Lexical
“The youth and the old man lie on the ground in the streets. My virgins and my young men have fallen by the sword. You h…
Isaiah 31:8 Lexical
“The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the…
2 Chronicles 29:9 Lexical
For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this…
Ezekiel 30:18 2 references
Ezekiel 30:20 1 reference
Ezekiel 30:21 2 references
Ezekiel 30:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 24:21 Lexical
‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the de…
Ezekiel 20:33 Lexical
As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will b…
Isaiah 40:10 Lexical
Behold, the Lord GOD will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his r…
Ezekiel 13:20 Lexical
“Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against your magic bands, with which you hunt the souls to make them fly, an…
Ezekiel 29:3 Lexical
Speak and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the…
Ezekiel 30:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 31:17 Lexical
They also went down into Sheol with him to those who are slain by the sword; yes, those who were his arm, who lived unde…
Ezekiel 32:28 Lexical
“But you will be broken among the uncircumcised, and will lie with those who are slain by the sword.
Job 24:12 Lexical
From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God doesn’t regard the folly.
Ezekiel 32:32 Lexical
“For I have put his terror in the land of the living. He will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain…
Ezekiel 32:31 Lexical
“Pharaoh will see them and will be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword,”…
Interlinear
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