Ezekiel 30:1-26
When Egypt's Day Comes
1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Wail, ‘Alas for that day!’
3For the day is near, the Day of the LORD is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.
4A sword will come against Egypt, and there will be anguish in Cush when the slain fall in Egypt, its wealth is taken away, and its foundations are torn down.
5Cush, Put, and Lud, and all the various peoples, as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land, will fall with Egypt by the sword.
6For this is what the LORD says: The allies of Egypt will fall, and her proud strength will collapse. From Migdol to Syene they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Lord GOD.
7They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities.
8Then they will know that I am the LORD when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are shattered.
9On that day messengers will go out from Me in ships to frighten Cush out of complacency. Anguish will come upon them on the day of Egypt’s doom. For it is indeed coming.
10This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11He and his people with him, the most ruthless 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 streams dry up and sell the land to the wicked. By the hands of foreigners I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken.
13This is what the Lord GOD says: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. There will no longer be a prince in Egypt, and I will instill fear in that land.
14I will lay waste Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgment on Thebes.
15I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and cut off the crowds of Thebes.
16I will set fire to Egypt, Pelusium will writhe in anguish, Thebes will be split open, and Memphis will face daily distress.
17The young men of On and Pi-beseth will fall by the sword, and those cities will go into captivity.
18The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.
19So I will execute judgment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.”
20In the eleventh year, on the seventh day of the first month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
21“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. See, it has not been bound up for healing, or splinted for strength to hold the sword.
22Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand.
23I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
24I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.
25I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I place My sword in the hand of Babylon’s king, and he wields it against the land of Egypt.
26I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
Berean Standard Bible
Ezekiel is told to wail because the day of the LORD is near, a day of clouds and a time of judgment for the nations. A sword will come against Egypt, its allies will fall, and the proud support on which Egypt depends will be broken.
The places named stretch across Egypt and its neighboring lands: Migdol, Syene, Pathros, Cush, Put, Lud, Arabia, Libya, and the men of the covenant land. The geography shows that Egypt's influence reaches widely, so its fall will be felt beyond one city or ruler.
The LORD will dry up the Nile, sell the land into the hands of foreigners, and make the idols and images cease. Pharaoh's strength will be broken, and the people will know that He is the LORD. The prophecy addresses a particular imperial power, not a general license to despise a nation.
Ezekiel is told that the arm of Pharaoh has been broken, while the arm of the king of Babylon has been strengthened. God will put His sword into Babylon's hand against Egypt and scatter the Egyptians among the nations. The image contrasts a ruler who cannot save with the LORD who governs the rise and fall of powers.
Questions
1 What kind of day is announced?
AnswerA day of clouds and judgment for Egypt and the nations connected with it.
2 What would happen to Egypt's allies?
AnswerThey would fall, and the power supporting Egypt would be broken.
3 What would happen to the Nile?
AnswerThe LORD would dry up the Nile and hand the land over to foreigners.
4 Whose arms are contrasted?
AnswerPharaoh's broken arm is contrasted with the strengthened arm of Babylon's king.
What This Means for Us
Political power can appear permanent because it influences many places at once. Ezekiel reminds us that reach is not sovereignty and that empires are accountable for what they do with their strength.
Do not build your identity around a powerful institution or nation. Pray for leaders, tell the truth about their failures, and remember that no human power deserves the worship or certainty that belongs to God.
Prayer
LORD, keep us humble before political and cultural power. Give leaders justice, protect those caught in conflict, and teach us to trust Your rule without excusing the harm human rulers cause. Amen.