Ezekiel 30:16-26

16 I will set fire to Egypt; Pelusium will writhe in agony. Thebes will be taken by storm; Memphis will be in constant distress.

17 The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis will fall by the sword, and the cities themselves will go into captivity.

18 Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt; there her proud strength will come to an end. She will be covered with clouds, and her villages will go into captivity.

19 So I will inflict punishment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken

20 In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of the LORD came to me:

21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword.

22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand.

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

24 I 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 him like a mortally wounded man.

25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt.

26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Ezekiel 30:16-26 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Joshua 7:15
• 2. S Isaiah 19:13
• 3. Genesis 41:45
• 4. S Jeremiah 43:7
• 5. S Leviticus 26:13; S Isaiah 9:4
• 6. S ver 3
• 7. Ezekiel 28:22
• 8. S Ezekiel 26:1; S Ezekiel 29:17; Ezekiel 31:1; Ezekiel 32:1
• 9. S Jeremiah 48:25
• 10. S Jeremiah 44:30
• 11. Jeremiah 30:13; Jeremiah 46:11
• 12. S Genesis 15:18; S Jeremiah 46:25
• 13. Psalms 37:17; Zechariah 11:17
• 14. S Ezekiel 29:12
• 15. Zechariah 10:6,12; Zechariah 12:5
• 16. S Ezekiel 21:14; Zephaniah 2:12
• 17. Jeremiah 51:52
• 18. 1 Chronicles 21:12
• 19. S Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 45:1,5; S Ezekiel 29:19
• 20. S Ezekiel 29:12