Ezekiel 30:21 kjv
Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.
Ezekiel 30:21 nkjv
"Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and see, it has not been bandaged for healing, nor a splint put on to bind it, to make it strong enough to hold a sword.
Ezekiel 30:21 niv
"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.
Ezekiel 30:21 esv
"Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and behold, it has not been bound up, to heal it by binding it with a bandage, so that it may become strong to wield the sword.
Ezekiel 30:21 nlt
"Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. His arm has not been put in a cast so that it may heal. Neither has it been bound up with a splint to make it strong enough to hold a sword.
Ezekiel 30 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 29:3 | Speak and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, | Judgment on Egypt's pride |
| Isaiah 19:1 | The oracle concerning Egypt. | Prophecy against Egypt |
| Jeremiah 43:10 | and say to him, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have buried... | God uses Babylon as His instrument |
| Psalm 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remainder of wrath you will restrain. | God restrains human wrath |
| Psalm 48:4-7 | For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. They saw it; then they were amazed; they were terrified; they trembled and hastened away. Terror seized them there. Anguish took hold of them, like the anguish of a woman in labor. By the east wind you shatter the ships of Tarshish. | God's power over armies |
| Exodus 15:6 | "Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. | God's powerful right hand |
| Isaiah 10:24-26 | Therefore thus says the Lord, the LORD of hosts: ...I will break his yoke from off you, and I will burst your bonds in sunder. | God breaks oppression |
| Proverbs 16:4 | The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. | God's sovereign purpose |
| Romans 9:19-21 | You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who resists his will? ...Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? | God's sovereign authority |
| Daniel 4:17 | This sentence is by the decree of watchers, and the decision by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. | God rules over kingdoms |
| 2 Samuel 10:7-14 | David's victory over Ammonites and Syrians | God grants victory |
| 2 Chronicles 20:15 | He said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed by this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. | God fights for His people |
| 1 Samuel 14:6 | Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few." | God's power over numbers |
| Isaiah 45:5-7 | I am the LORD, and there is no other. Besides me there is no God... I form light and create darkness... | God's uniqueness and power |
| Job 9:4 | Who has hardened himself against him and prospered? | No one prospers against God |
| Psalm 33:10-11 | The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. | God frustrates human plans |
| Isaiah 14:26-27 | This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth... for the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? | God's unchangeable purpose |
| Revelation 19:11-16 | And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! And he who sat on it was called Faithful and True... from his mouth comes a sharp sword... | Christ's authority over nations |
| Revelation 16:14 | For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for battle on the great day of God Almighty. | God's sovereignty over end-times events |
| Nahum 3:8-10 | Are you better than No-amon, that was situated by the Nile... Yet she was carried into captivity... | Judgment on Egypt (Thebes) |
Ezekiel 30 verses
Ezekiel 30 21 Meaning
This verse declares the absolute power and authority of God, specifically in His role as a sovereign ruler and warrior, choosing to break the arm of Pharaoh. This action is not arbitrary but is a demonstration of divine judgment and control over the nations.
Ezekiel 30 21 Context
In Ezekiel 30, the prophet is delivering a series of oracles concerning Egypt, a nation that often acted as a deceptive ally and a source of false hope for Judah. Chapter 30 details the impending judgment of God upon Egypt for its pride, its reliance on its own strength, and its actions against God's people. Verse 21 specifically focuses on Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, describing God's direct intervention to break his power, symbolizing the downfall of Egypt's might and influence. This judgment is framed within the broader context of God asserting His sovereignty over all nations, particularly in response to their defiance. The immediate historical backdrop is the Babylonian exile of Judah, where Egypt's role as a potential but ultimately unhelpful rescuer is highlighted.
Ezekiel 30 21 Word analysis
And: A conjunction connecting phrases or clauses, indicating continuation.
I: The first-person singular pronoun, representing God Himself speaking.
will: An auxiliary verb indicating future tense, signifying a certainty of action.
strengthen: Hebrew: 'ametz (עָמֵץ). To make firm, strong, resolute. In this context, it is used passively ("have strengthened"). God has caused Pharaoh's arm to be strong, implying He empowered him for a time, perhaps for His own purposes of judgment on others, but now that empowerment is being withdrawn or counteracted.
Pharaoh: Hebrew: Parʻōh (פַּרְעֹה). The royal title for the king of Egypt.
king: Hebrew: meleḵ (מֶלֶךְ). Ruler, monarch.
of: A preposition indicating possession or relationship.
Egypt: Hebrew: Miṣrayim (מִצְרַיִם). The land of Egypt.
and: Conjunction.
he: Pronoun referring to Pharaoh.
that: Conjunction introducing a subordinate clause.
is: Verb indicating existence or state.
broken: Hebrew: šāḇar (שָׁבַר). To break, shatter, breach. The perfect tense indicates a completed action by God.
have: Auxiliary verb indicating past action with present result or possession.
I: God.
strengthened: Same Hebrew word 'ametz. Here it appears in a Hiphil (causative) form, indicating God has made something strong or firm. In context, it means God strengthened Pharaoh's arm, and now He is declaring He will break it.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And I will strengthen Pharaoh king of Egypt": This phrase, which might appear counterintuitive given the coming judgment, speaks to God's overarching sovereignty. He can empower nations and rulers for His purposes, allowing them to function and even thrive, only to bring them down when His plans dictate. It underscores that no power exists independently of God.
- "and he that is broken have I strengthened": This paradoxical statement emphasizes God's complete control over both the rise and fall of powers. He is the one who makes strong and He is the one who breaks. The implication is that the very strength Pharaoh possessed was granted by God and can be removed by Him. This is a declaration of divine prerogative and ultimate control over the political and military powers of the world.
Ezekiel 30 21 Bonus Section
The imagery of God strengthening and breaking an arm is potent. The "arm" in biblical language often symbolizes strength, power, and authority (Psalm 89:13). For God to "strengthen" Pharaoh's arm implies God allowed Egypt, and its leader, to be a significant regional power. However, by declaring "he that is broken have I strengthened," God emphasizes His active role in orchestrating both the empowering and the disabling. This verse underscores a theological principle that God uses even opposing forces or nations to accomplish His will, only to judge them for their defiance or cruelty. It’s a testament to the profound mystery of divine sovereignty interwoven with human responsibility, as seen throughout scripture, including how God used Assyria and Babylon as instruments of judgment against Israel and Judah.
Ezekiel 30 21 Commentary
Ezekiel 30:21 powerfully articulates God's absolute sovereignty over earthly rulers and nations. It reveals that God is not merely an observer but an active agent in history, granting strength and, when His purposes demand it, withdrawing or breaking that strength. The verse serves as a profound theological statement: the mightiest empires and their leaders are entirely dependent on the permission and power of the Almighty. Pharaoh, often depicted in Egyptian thought as divine or semi-divine, is here shown to be merely a tool in God's hand, his "strong arm" a testament to God's granting of power, and its breaking a demonstration of God's judgment. This truth offers assurance to God's people, reminding them that ultimate power resides with God, who is ultimately concerned with justice and His divine plan.