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Ezekiel 30

Ezekiel 30:18

A Lament for Egypt · Ezekiel 30:1–19
Read Ezekiel 30

Translations

Modern
The 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.
Traditional
At 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.
Literal
And at Tahpanhes will be held back the day, in my breaking there the yoke of Egypt, and will cease in her the pride of her strength; as for her, a cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.
Latin
Et in Taphnis nigrescet dies, cum contrivero ibi sceptra Ægypti, et defecerit in ea superbia potentiæ ejus: ipsam nubes operiet, filiæ autem ejus in captivitatem ducentur.

Original

Hebrew
English
The 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.

Notes

Ezekiel 30:18

  • Tahpanhes was a fortress town on Egypt's northeastern border.

  • darkened: Egypt’s light would turn to darkness when God judged it. This recalls the plague of darkness during the exodus (Exodus 10:21–23).

Ezekiel 30:1–19

This third message against Egypt is written as a lament (a poem of sorrow). It repeats much of the earlier message in Ezekiel 29:1–16.

God would judge Egypt and its allies. The nation would fall under his judgment.

Ezekiel 29:1–32:32

  • The seventh and final message of judgment against the nations targets Egypt, an old enemy and ally of Israel. This message is the longest and, like the one against Tyre, it addresses both Egypt and its ruler.

  • Egypt often tempted Israel and Judah to turn away from their loyalty to the Lord. Soon after leaving Egypt, Israel fell into the trap of Egypt's idolatry. Egypt led Judah to rely on chariots and horses instead of the Lord, but Egypt was unreliable when it mattered most. The Lord judged Egypt for leading his people astray (compare Luke 17:1–2).

Ezekiel 25:1–32:32

  • This section contains a series of messages of judgment against nearby nations. There are six shorter messages against Judah's immediate neighbors, arranged in a clockwise order, followed by a final message against Egypt (Ezekiel 30–32). Through experiencing God's judgment, the nations would recognize God's control over everything. The nations might be used to carry out God's judgment on his people, but they would not avoid judgment themselves.

  • One of the main purposes of these messages was to show that the negative part of God's promise to Abraham ("I will … curse those who curse you," Genesis 12:3) was still active. No one can harm God's people and avoid consequences, even when God's people are under his judgment.

Theme notes and profiles

Messages Against the Nations

Events

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus Tahpanhes: Egyptian city where Jewish refugees fled after Jerusalem's destruction

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Ezekiel, Book of Hophra Lord Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar Tahpanhes Tehaphnehes

Topics

Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Destruction of Its Cities Tahpanhes: A City in Egypt Woman: Young: Often Taken Captive Women: Taken Captive