Ezekiel 30 7

Ezekiel 30:7 kjv

And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted.

Ezekiel 30:7 nkjv

"They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries, And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste.

Ezekiel 30:7 niv

"?'They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities.

Ezekiel 30:7 esv

And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries, and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste.

Ezekiel 30:7 nlt

Egypt will be desolate,
surrounded by desolate nations,
and its cities will be in ruins,
surrounded by other ruined cities.

Ezekiel 30 verses

Ezekiel 30 7 meaning

Ezekiel 30:7 describes the absolute and far-reaching devastation awaiting Egypt, presenting it as a desolation mirroring that already experienced by other nations. The verse emphasizes that Egypt's proud land will become utterly waste, its once-flourishing cities reduced to ruinous states akin to other cities already destroyed by divine judgment. This is not an isolated judgment but signifies Egypt's absorption into a larger landscape of devastation, illustrating the comprehensiveness and the comparative nature of its fall. It underscores God's sovereignty over all nations and their fate.

Ezekiel 30 7 Context

Ezekiel 30:7 is part of a longer prophetic oracle against Egypt, spanning chapters 29-32. Delivered during Ezekiel's exile in Babylon, these prophecies generally fall between 588 and 571 BC. At this time, Egypt was a significant geopolitical power, often a false hope or unreliable ally for Judah against the rising Neo-Babylonian Empire. Judah's trust in Egypt, against God's warnings through His prophets, had often led to disaster. Chapter 30 specifically details the "day of the Lord" for Egypt, a day of wrath and judgment. The context paints Egypt as an arrogant nation relying on its own strength and idolizing the Nile, but which Yahweh, the God of Israel, will utterly humble. This verse is nestled within a description of widespread and comprehensive devastation that would befall Egypt, signifying the downfall of its power and the fulfillment of divine warnings. It is part of God's demonstration that He is the true sovereign over all nations.

Ezekiel 30 7 Word analysis

• And they shall be desolate:
  • Hebrew: וְשָׁמְמוּ (wə·šām·mū). Derived from the verb שָׁמֵם (shamem), meaning to be utterly ruined, to lay waste, to be astonished or appalled.
  • Significance: This verb denotes a profound and absolute state of desolation, implying not just physical emptiness but also a sense of dread or horror that accompanies such destruction. The judgment will leave them bewildered.
• in the midst of the countries:
  • Hebrew: בְּתוֹךְ הָאֲרָצוֹת (bə·ṯōwḵ hā·’ărā·ṣōwt). "Midst" (בְּתוֹךְ - betoch) indicates surrounded by, or enveloped within. "Countries" (אֲרָצוֹת - aratzot) refers to various lands or nations.
  • Significance: This phrase highlights that Egypt's desolation will not be unique or an isolated event but will be absorbed into a wider landscape of destruction. It suggests a shared fate with other nations already subjected to divine judgment, losing any former distinction or preeminence.
• that are desolate:
  • Hebrew: הַנְשַׁמּוֹת (hanšammot). A participle from שָׁמֵם (shamem), functioning as an adjective, meaning those that have been made desolate or are desolate.
  • Significance: Reinforces the comparative nature of Egypt's impending ruin. It implies that Egypt is joining an existing state of waste, losing its status and becoming merely another example of a desolated nation among others already brought to ruin by God's judgment.
• and her cities:
  • Hebrew: וְעָרֶיהָ (wə·‘ā·reh·hā). "Her cities" (עָרֶיהָ - areyha), plural of עִיר (ʻir), meaning city or town.
  • Significance: Cities represent centers of civilization, population, trade, and national pride. Their destruction signifies the dismantling of a nation's structure, wealth, and identity, affecting every aspect of its populace.
• shall be in the midst of the cities:
  • Hebrew: תִּהְיֶיןָ בְּתוֹךְ עָרִים (tih·yên·nāh bə·ṯōwḵ ‘ārîm). Again, "in the midst of" (בְּתוֹךְ - betoch) emphasizing surrounding.
  • Significance: Parallels the first clause, applying the same concept of shared desolation to the urban centers. Egypt's once-grand cities will not just be ruined, but they will become indistinguishable from other ruined cities, emphasizing total loss of glory.
• that are laid waste:
  • Hebrew: נְחֳרָבֹות (nə·ḥo·rā·ḇōwt). From חָרֵב (kharev) meaning dry, waste, desolate. Often used for ruined places, emphasizing physical destruction and uninhabited emptiness.
  • Significance: This word emphasizes the physical wreckage and uninhabitable state. It paints a picture of rubble and brokenness, directly confirming the thoroughness of the destruction implied by "desolate."

• "And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate": This phrase communicates a compounding effect of desolation. Egypt is not merely experiencing desolation, but it is entering into and being surrounded by the desolation of other nations. This amplifies the sense of shared fate and loss of unique identity, demonstrating that even a powerful nation like Egypt is subject to the universal consequences of divine judgment, aligning it with lesser-known or already judged entities.
• "and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste": This directly parallels the previous clause, intensifying the imagery of ruin and demonstrating its pervasive nature. It focuses specifically on the urban centers, symbols of strength and civilization, depicting their reduction to rubble and their loss of distinctiveness. This parallelism emphasizes the thoroughness of God's judgment across all levels of society and landscape.

Ezekiel 30 7 Bonus section

The concept of a land becoming "desolate" (שָׁמֵם - shamem) or "laid waste" (חָרֵב - kharev) carries significant weight in biblical prophecy, often symbolizing a reversal of creation order. Where God brought forth life and order, sin and disobedience lead to barrenness and chaos, reflecting the curse of the Fall. This reversal is a powerful polemic against any nationalistic ideology that sees a nation's prosperity as self-generated or protected by its gods. For the original audience, who had witnessed Judah's own desolation, the prophecy against Egypt served multiple purposes: to deter reliance on Egypt for salvation, to validate God's prophetic word, and to affirm His justice over all nations, not just Israel. The repeated nature of this judgment across different nations (as seen in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos) highlights a consistent divine principle: God’s holiness demands accountability from all peoples, demonstrating that no human power, no matter how mighty or ancient, can ultimately defy the Almighty.

Ezekiel 30 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 30:7 is a pronouncement of utter judgment on Egypt, illustrating the comprehensiveness of divine retribution. It forecasts a desolation so severe that Egypt will become indistinguishable from other lands already ruined by God's hand. This diminishes Egypt's former grandeur and perceived invincibility, positioning it merely as another recipient of judgment within a landscape of God's universal governance. The parallel structures regarding "countries" and "cities" underscore the totality and pervasiveness of the coming destruction, affecting both the general populace and the specific centers of power and life. The core message is God's sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations, ensuring that prideful powers like Egypt eventually succumb to His will and the consequences of their unfaithfulness, much like Judah or surrounding nations. The purpose of this devastating judgment, as indicated elsewhere in Ezekiel, is ultimately so that "they will know that I am the LORD."