Ezekiel 30:4 kjv
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.
Ezekiel 30:4 nkjv
The sword shall come upon Egypt, And great anguish shall be in Ethiopia, When the slain fall in Egypt, And they take away her wealth, And her foundations are broken down.
Ezekiel 30:4 niv
A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush. When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away and her foundations torn down.
Ezekiel 30:4 esv
A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Cush, when the slain fall in Egypt, and her wealth is carried away, and her foundations are torn down.
Ezekiel 30:4 nlt
A sword will come against Egypt,
and those who are slaughtered will cover the ground.
Its wealth will be carried away
and its foundations destroyed.
The land of Ethiopia will be ravished.
Ezekiel 30 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek. 30:4 | And a sword shall come upon Egypt, and distress shall be in Ethiopia... | Judg. 11:31 |
| Isa. 19:1-15 | Concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD will ride on a swift cloud... | Ps. 18:10, Jer. 46:13-28, Nah. 3:8 |
| Jer. 46:1-28 | The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the nations. Against Egypt, concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho... | 2 Kings 23:29-30, 2 Chr. 35:20-24 |
| Ezek. 29:1-21 | In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me... (Prophecy against Egypt) | 2 Kings 25:27, Jer. 44:30 |
| Ezek. 32:1-32 | And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me... (Lamentation over Egypt) | Jer. 51:36 |
| Ps. 76:6 | At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep. | Isa. 19:1, 11 |
| Nahum 3:8-10 | Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers... | Jer. 46:25-26 |
| Zeph. 2:13-15 | And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. | Ezek. 25:13, Zeph. 3:15 |
| Amos 3:11 | Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An enemy shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down from thee thy strength, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. | Ezek. 30:20-22, Isa. 10:5-6 |
| Micah 7:14 | Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the midst of Carmel... | Ps. 23:4 |
| Job 12:24 | He taketh away the understanding of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness, where there is no way. | Prov. 1:7 |
| Isa. 10:5-7 | O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. | Ezek. 30:4 |
| Zech. 1:15 | And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. | Ps. 2:5, Zech. 1:2 |
| Rev. 18:10, 17 | Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon... And all the shipmasters, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off. | Jer. 51:37 |
| Prov. 30:18-19 | There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. | Zech. 10:11 |
| Isa. 30:32 | And it shall come to pass, that as soon as they perceive it, the stroke thereof shall be very heavy upon them. | Joel 2:4-7 |
| Ps. 55:12-14 | For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. | Jer. 3:14 |
| Ezek. 17:3-4 | And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, long winged, full of feathers, which was mixed with divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the top of a cedar: He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and came into the land of the plain. | Jer. 52:10 |
| Joel 2:20 | But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his ill savour shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. | Ezek. 30:22, Nah. 2:2-3 |
| Hab. 2:6-8 | Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his own! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! Wilt thou not rise up, which will smite the borrowers with their eyes? because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. | Isa. 10:5-7, Jer. 50:46 |
| Ps. 2:10-12 | Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. | Prov. 3:5-6 |
Ezekiel 30 verses
Ezekiel 30 4 Meaning
The verse declares the judgment of God upon Egypt, specifically referring to the "staff of strength" which will be removed. This signifies the loss of Egypt's military might, its power, and the oppressive rule it exercised. It points to a devastating judgment that will leave Egypt vulnerable and broken.
Ezekiel 30 4 Context
Ezekiel 30:4 prophesies the fall of Egypt, a nation that, despite its ancient power and apparent stability, will be subject to God's judgment. This chapter is part of a series of oracles against various nations, demonstrating God's sovereignty over all peoples and His response to their wickedness and pride. Specifically, this verse is within a section focused on judgment against Egypt, likely relating to historical events involving Babylonian invasions, and perhaps prefiguring future judgments as well. The "staff of strength" refers to Egypt's might and its ability to oppress or defend itself, which will be broken. Ethiopia (Cush) is also mentioned, indicating the extent of the impending doom. This judgment aligns with a pattern in Ezekiel where symbols of power are dismantled as a consequence of sin.
Ezekiel 30 4 Word Analysis
וּבָ֥א (uvá) - And come. A conjunction followed by the perfect verb "to come," indicating the commencement of an action or event. It signals a forthcoming consequence or judgment.
חֶ֖רֶב (khérev) - Sword. A common biblical weapon of war, symbolizing judgment, destruction, and slaughter. It signifies military defeat and violent execution of God's wrath.
עַל ('al) - Upon. A preposition indicating the target or recipient of the action, here signifying that the sword and the distress will come upon Egypt.
מִצְרָ֑יִם (Mitzráyim) - Egypt. The land of Egypt, a powerful nation often portrayed in scripture as both a refuge and a source of pride or defiance against God.
וּמְחִ֣ית (um'khit) - And a cutting off / And destruction. A conjunction followed by the Qal infinitive construct of the verb root mkhh, meaning "to strike down," "to destroy," "to cut off," or "to blot out." It emphasizes a comprehensive undoing and annihilation.
בַּשּׁ֥וּל (bashúyl) - in its deep sorrow / in its very foundation / in its smelting. From the root shyl which can mean "to smelt" or "to be soft/malleable." Here, in context, it can imply a deep, pervasive distress that affects the very core or structure of Egypt, or a place of ultimate smelting and reduction to nothingness. Some interpret it as "melting" from fear.
הָעֵ֖ת (há'et) - the time / the moment. An emphatic article followed by the noun "time" or "season." It indicates that this judgment is ordained and will occur at a specific, appointed time.
וְקָפְאָ֣ה (v'kaf'á) - and shall be rooted up / and shall be taken away. A conjunction followed by the Niphal perfect verb "to be plucked up," "to be removed," or "to be taken away." It signifies removal or uprooting, suggesting a total divestment of power or foundation.
בַּשּׁ volled) - (missing text here, appears to be incomplete)
תּוֹךְ (tokh) - midst / interior. Indicates that the removal or taking away will occur from the very heart or core of Egypt.
אֵיכִּ֑ים (eikhím) - pillars / strength. This word is often translated as "pillars," signifying strength, support, or a principal element. Here, it collectively refers to the foundational structures of Egypt's power and security. The phrase "staff of strength" is often understood from a different part of this prophetic corpus where "staff" is implied for support and strength. This phrasing is crucial for understanding what is being removed.
Phrase analysis: "Staff of strength": While the specific Hebrew "staff" (matteh) isn't directly in this verse, the concept is conveyed by "pillars" or foundational supports being removed. The ESV translates this as "pillars of strength" or in other versions as "strength of Egypt" and refers to the 'staff of strength' from a closely related thought or passage in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 29:19-20, where Pharaoh's "strength" and the "staff" of Israel are mentioned). The idea is that the very source of Egypt's might and its perceived invincibility is going to be dismantled.
Word group analysis: " Sword... distress... removal of pillars of strength": This entire sequence paints a vivid picture of a comprehensive judgment. The sword signifies outward violent attack, while distress represents internal suffering. The removal of "pillars of strength" signifies the utter collapse of Egypt's foundational power, authority, and security.
Ezekiel 30 4 Bonus Section
The judgment of Egypt in Ezekiel 30 is not an isolated event but part of God’s overarching plan to demonstrate His sovereignty over all nations. Egypt, often associated with the Exodus and a place of both deliverance and oppression, stands as a symbol of human power that often rivals or opposes God's will. The "staff of strength" removed from Egypt could also allude to Pharaoh’s oppressive power over Israel, a staff used to subjugate. Its removal is therefore a form of vindication for the oppressed and a dismantling of human pride. This prophetic declaration echoes in its thematic elements prophecies against other proud nations found throughout scripture, highlighting God's consistent judgment against those who exalt themselves against Him. The deep sorrow and utter removal spoken of underscores the totality of divine retribution against entrenched human wickedness.
Ezekiel 30 4 Commentary
Ezekiel 30:4 is a declaration of divine judgment against Egypt, a superpower of the ancient Near East. The imagery employed is stark and potent. The "sword" represents military defeat and slaughter, while "distress" or "pain" signifies the internal suffering and anguish the nation will undergo. The phrase "the staff of strength" (often implied or linked to other verses discussing Egypt's might, symbolized by its pharaoh or its armies) is to be taken away. This removal signifies the dismantling of Egypt's power, its pride, and its oppressive capabilities. It is not just a defeat in battle, but a foundational undermining of its very ability to function as a powerful entity. The verse thus foretells a complete and utter devastation, leading to its inability to support itself or others, leaving it vulnerable and broken, especially in conjunction with other mentioned nations like Cush (Ethiopia). This judgment is appointed by God for "the time" appointed.