Ezekiel 30:4

Translations

Modern

A 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.

Traditional

And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.

Literal

And a sword will come against Egypt, and there will be anguish in Cush at the falling of the slain in Egypt, and they will take away her wealth, and they will tear down her foundations.

Latin

Et veniet gladius in Ægyptum, et erit pavor in Æthiopia, cum ceciderint vulnerati in Ægypto, et ablata fuerit multitudo illius, et destructa fundamenta ejus.

Original

Hebrew

English

A 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.

Notes

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 The Day of the Lord

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Ezekiel 29:19
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army.
Ezekiel 29:8
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will bring a sword against you and cut off from you man and beast.
Ezekiel 29:12
I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolate lands, and her cities will lie desolate for forty years among the ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.
Isaiah 19:2
“So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
Isaiah 19:16–17
In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble with fear beneath the uplifted hand of the LORD of Hosts, when He brandishes it against them.
Isaiah 16:7
Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.
Revelation 18:9–10
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.
Exodus 15:14–16
The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia.
Psalm 48:6–7
Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
Ezekiel 30:9–10
On 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.
Jeremiah 50:15
Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take out your vengeance upon her; as she has done, do the same to her.
Jeremiah 50:35–37
A sword is against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, against those who live in Babylon, and against her officials and wise men.

Places

Cush: Ancient region in Africa; associated with Egypt and Babylon Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Ethiopia Ezekiel, Book of Hophra Lord Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar

Topics

Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Allies to Share Its Misfortunes Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Captivity of Its People Ethiopia: Desolation of

Ezekiel 30:4

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?