Ezekiel 30:1-5

A Lament for Egypt

1 Again 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!’

3 For 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. ^[a]

4 A sword will come against Egypt, and there will be anguish in Cush ^[b] when the slain fall in Egypt, its wealth is taken away, and its foundations are torn down.

5 Cush, Put, and Lud, ^[c] and all the various peoples, as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land, will fall with Egypt by the sword.

Ezekiel 30:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 30

This chapter is a continuation of the prophecy against Egypt, both against the country and the king of it. It is introduced with expressions of lamentation, because of the destruction coming on, Eze 30:1-3, and not only Egypt, and the cities thereof, should be destroyed, but all her friends, associates, and allies; the Ethiopians, Lydians, Lybians, and others, Eze 30:4-9. Nebuchadnezzar and his army were to be the instruments of her ruin, Eze 30:10-12, particular cities are mentioned by name, which should suffer much, and become desolate, Eze 30:13-19 and then Pharaoh king of Egypt himself is threatened with broken arms, and his people to be scattered among the nations, Eze 30:20-23, and the king of Babylon is again mentioned, whose arms should be strengthened to do all this, Eze 30:24-26.

Footnotes

• [a] Hebrew does not include of doom.
• [b] That is, the upper Nile region; also in verses 5 and 9
• [c] Or Lydia