Ezekiel 30 18

Ezekiel 30:18 kjv

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.

Ezekiel 30:18 nkjv

At Tehaphnehes the day shall also be darkened, When I break the yokes of Egypt there. And her arrogant strength shall cease in her; As for her, a cloud shall cover her, And her daughters shall go into captivity.

Ezekiel 30:18 niv

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.

Ezekiel 30:18 esv

At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark, when I break there the yoke bars of Egypt, and her proud might shall come to an end in her; she shall be covered by a cloud, and her daughters shall go into captivity.

Ezekiel 30:18 nlt

When I come to break the proud strength of Egypt,
it will be a dark day for Tahpanhes, too.
A dark cloud will cover Tahpanhes,
and its daughters will be led away as captives.

Ezekiel 30 verses

Ezekiel 30 18 meaning

Ezekiel 30:18 foretells specific judgments upon Egypt, centered on the strategic city of Tahpanhes. It describes a day of profound darkness and disaster for Egypt, symbolizing the destruction of its imperial power—represented by "breaking the yokes." The verse declares that Egypt's pride, military might, and overall grandeur ("pomp of her strength") will vanish. A "cloud" of judgment will envelop the land, signifying overwhelming gloom and disgrace. Finally, its dependent towns and villages ("daughters") will be led away into captivity, indicating a total and comprehensive subjugation of the nation.

Ezekiel 30 18 Context

Ezekiel 30:18 is part of a larger prophetic section (chapters 29-32) primarily dedicated to prophecies concerning the judgment and downfall of Egypt. Within chapter 30, Ezekiel details specific judgments against various Egyptian cities, with verse 18 focusing on Tahpanhes (Tehaphnehes), a significant border city in the eastern Nile Delta. These prophecies were delivered during the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), a period when Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, was the dominant world power. Egypt, once a great empire, frequently served as an object of hope or alliance for Judah, often against God's explicit commands (e.g., Jer 42-44). The prophecies against Egypt thus serve multiple purposes: to affirm God's universal sovereignty, to show the futility of trusting in worldly powers, and to provide hope to the exiled Israelites that their oppressors, and the oppressors of the region, would also face divine judgment. Tahpanhes itself held cultural and historical significance, known for its fortifications and as a place where Jewish refugees sought refuge, ironically also foretold to be a site of Babylonian conquest.

Ezekiel 30 18 Word analysis

• At Tehaphnehes (תַּחְפַּנְחֵס - Taḥpanḥês): An Egyptian city in the eastern Nile Delta, variously transliterated as Tahpanhes or Daphnae. It was a crucial administrative and military center, often the first major city reached when approaching Egypt from the East. Its specific mention indicates that no part of Egypt, even its strongest borders, would escape God's judgment. The place is notably mentioned in Jeremiah (e.g., Jer 43:7-9) as a place of refuge for Jewish exiles, and where Nebuchadnezzar's coming was symbolically foretold.
• also the day shall be darkened: The "day" (יוֹם - yōm) signifies a specific period, a divinely appointed time for judgment. "Darkened" (קָשַׁק - qashaq, related to gloom and confusion) means more than merely a lack of light; it represents a period of extreme sorrow, calamity, national distress, confusion, and loss of hope. It's a symbolic portrayal of deep, widespread disaster.
• when I shall break there: The "I" unequivocally refers to God (Yahweh), emphasizing divine initiation and power behind these events. "Break" (שָׁבַר - shāḇar) is a powerful, violent verb implying shattering or completely destroying. This highlights the decisive and destructive nature of God's intervention.
• the yokes of Egypt (מוֹטוֹת מִצְרָֽיִם - môṭôṯ miṣrāyim): "Yokes" (מוֹטָה - mōṭâ) symbolize tools of oppressive labor or dominion. Here, it signifies Egypt's instruments of power, its military might, its ability to dominate other nations, or the burdens it imposed. Breaking them means the utter destruction of Egypt's imperial control and its capacity to enslave or dominate.
• and the pomp of her strength (וְגֵאוֹן עֻזָּהּ - wəḡē’ôn ‘uzzâ): "Pomp" (גֵּאוֹן - gē’ôn) denotes pride, majesty, arrogance, or the lofty display of power. "Strength" (עֹז - ‘ōz) refers to its might, power, resources, or military prowess. This phrase captures Egypt's self-exaltation, its pride in its vast resources, military, and long history as a superpower, which God intended to humble.
• shall cease in her: This signifies that the cessation of Egypt's grandeur and power will occur internally, within its own borders, indicating a visible and profound decline for all to witness.
• as for her, a cloud shall cover her: "Cloud" (עָנָן - ‘ānān) here is a metaphorical symbol of thick darkness, calamity, shame, and divine judgment. It signifies an overwhelming blanket of disaster, confusion, and disgrace that will totally obscure Egypt's former glory. It's a covering of doom.
• and her daughters shall go into captivity: "Daughters" (בָּנוֹת - bānôṯ) is a common prophetic idiom referring to the dependent towns, smaller cities, or surrounding villages belonging to a main city or nation. Their going into captivity means that the judgment will be comprehensive, affecting not just major centers but also all its dependencies and population, indicating a total national defeat and subjugation.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened": This phrase geographically grounds the prophecy, signaling that the unfolding disaster begins at a critical point of entry/defense and extends from there, illustrating a widespread national gloom rather than isolated incident.
• "when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt": Emphasizes divine authorship ("I shall break") and the specific nature of the destruction: the removal of Egypt's oppressive power and the instruments of its dominance, rendering it impotent.
• "and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her": This describes the dismantling of Egypt's internal and external identity as a powerful and proud nation. Her outward display of power and inner sense of might would be utterly removed from within her own land.
• "as for her, a cloud shall cover her; and her daughters shall go into captivity": These clauses depict the visible outcomes of the judgment: an overarching gloom and shame blanketing the nation, followed by the comprehensive subjugation and exile of its dependent populations, signaling a complete collapse of its national sovereignty and autonomy.

Ezekiel 30 18 Bonus section

• The timing of this prophecy, like many in Ezekiel 29-32, places it during Nebuchadnezzar's rise to power, thus identifying Babylon as God's instrument for the fulfillment of these judgments against Egypt, although this specific verse doesn't explicitly name him.
• The phrase "day shall be darkened" aligns with the wider prophetic tradition of a "Day of the Lord," not exclusively for Israel, but also as a day of divine judgment for various gentile nations, marked by overwhelming disaster and gloom.
• Tahpanhes served as a significant location where Jeremiah buried stones by the entry to Pharaoh's house, prophesying that Nebuchadnezzar would set up his throne there, thus connecting Ezekiel's prophecy directly to Jeremiah's earlier symbolic acts concerning the very same city and its fate.
• The use of "daughters" (bānôṯ) to represent subsidiary towns or communities emphasizes the systematic and total nature of the impending national defeat; it means not just the core but also the periphery of Egypt would experience the judgment.

Ezekiel 30 18 Commentary

Ezekiel 30:18 is a concise yet powerful prophecy highlighting God's absolute sovereignty over nations. The selection of Tahpanhes underscores the targeted and unavoidable nature of divine judgment, signaling that no place, however strategically important or fortified, can escape God's decree. The "darkened day" imagery evokes deep sorrow, catastrophe, and confusion, reflecting the profound humiliation awaiting Egypt. God explicitly states He will "break the yokes" of Egypt, indicating a decisive dismantling of its power, influence, and oppressive control over other regions. The "pomp of her strength" refers to Egypt's long-held pride in its military might and grandeur; this too is prophesied to cease, bringing the mighty nation low. The "cloud" is a striking metaphor for pervasive national disgrace and spiritual gloom, a complete overshadowing of its past glory. Finally, the captivity of "her daughters" signifies that the judgment will be total, affecting not just the capital but all its subordinate regions and people. This verse powerfully reminds us that even the most formidable human empires are fleeting before the immutable purposes of the Almighty, who brings down the proud and establishes His righteous rule.