Ezekiel 30:10
“Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt, by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It’s easy to see this as just God using Babylon to punish Egypt. But notice the phrasing: "I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease." This isn't just about a military victory; it’s about God depopulating and silencing a nation's sheer, overwhelming presence, and He's specifically naming Nebuchadnezzar as the instrument of this profound silencing.
Just before this, Ezekiel has been prophesying against Egypt and its pride, showing how God would humble it. Now, the Lord directly names the instrument of this judgment: Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful king of Babylon, who will depopulate Egypt and plunder its riches. This invasion and subsequent devastation are presented as a direct consequence of Egypt's arrogance and its turning to false hope, leading to its ultimate ruin.
Ever feel like powerful nations or leaders act with total freedom? This verse reminds us that even the mightiest earthly powers are instruments in God's hands.
The prophet Ezekiel delivers a powerful message directly from the Lord God. He declares that the immense wealth and vast population of Egypt will be brought to an end. But who is the agent of this destruction? It's not just a random invasion; it's specifically Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
A King as a Tool
Nebuchadnezzar was a formidable ruler, known for his military might and the expansion of his empire. However, this prophecy highlights that he, like all earthly rulers, is subject to God's ultimate authority. God uses Nebuchadnezzar and his army as a 'scourge' or a tool to carry out His judgment.
Why Babylon?
Babylon, often described as 'the terrible of the nations,' was known for its cruelty and power. God frequently uses powerful, even wicked, nations to discipline His own people or to judge other unrighteous nations. This doesn't excuse Nebuchadnezzar's actions, but it firmly places his conquests within God's sovereign plan.
Egypt was once a symbol of power and abundance. This verse reveals God's intent to dismantle that very prosperity. What does this mean for a nation's 'wealth'?
The prophecy isn't just about military defeat; it targets the core of Egypt's strength and identity: its wealth and its people.
Beyond Monetary Riches
When the text speaks of putting an 'end to the wealth of Egypt,' it encompasses more than just gold and silver. It refers to:
Understand the original words
hamon · Hebrew Noun
Material possessions, strength, or abundance. Often regarded in Scripture as a temptation to trust in human resources rather than in God, and subject to being removed or judged by Him.
Ezekiel's prophecy here is a direct pronouncement against Egypt, which had often been a source of false hope and military support for rebellious nations like Judah. The mention of Nebuchadnezzar, a very real and powerful enemy, grounds this prophecy in the political realities of the time, showing how God uses even wicked nations to execute His judgment.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II begins his reign and invades Judah, deporting some of its citizens, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem again, exiling King Jehoiachin and many more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
After a long siege, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a final major deportation of Judeans.
c. 586-574 BC
Prophecies Against Tyre
Ezekiel delivers prophecies against the wealthy Phoenician city of Tyre, which allied with Egypt against Babylon.
This passage shows Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, acting as God's instrument of judgment against Egypt, just as prophesied in Ezekiel 30:10. It highlights how foreign powers were used by God to discipline nations.
Jeremiah 46:2This verse also speaks of the defeat of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, reinforcing the historical context and fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy. It emphasizes God's sovereign hand over earthly kingdoms and their conflicts.
Ezekiel 29:18This earlier prophecy within Ezekiel's own book already foretold Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt as a reward for his long service. It shows a consistent prophetic message about Egypt's judgment through Babylon.
Isaiah 19:5-10This passage from Isaiah provides an earlier prophetic glimpse into the desolation of Egypt and the drying up of its life-giving Nile. It parallels Ezekiel's message by describing the spiritual and economic ruin that would befall Egypt.
bensonEzekiel 30:10: "Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon."
Ezekiel 30:10-12 . I will make the multitude of Egypt to cease — I will diminish the number of its inhabitants. I will make the rivers dry — The fertility of Egypt depending on the rise and overflowing of the Nile, the meaning of the metaphor is, I will destroy the plenty, prosperity, and strength of Egypt. And sell the land into the hand of the wicked — Name…
pulpitEzekiel 30:10: "Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon."
Verses 10, 11. - By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. Hitherto (on the assumption that Ezekiel 29:17-21 stands by itself, and that we are still in the prophetic message of Ezekiel 29:1-16) the predictions have been general. Now Ezekiel, following in the footsteps of Jeremiah (Ezekiel 46.), specifies the Chaldean king and his people, the terrible of the nations (as…
It’s easy to see this as just God using Babylon to punish Egypt. But notice the phrasing: "I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease." This isn't just about a military victory; it’s about God depopulating and silencing a nation's sheer, overwhelming presence, and He's specifically naming Nebuchadnezzar as the instrument of this profound silencing.
Just before this, Ezekiel has been prophesying against Egypt and its pride, showing how God would humble it. Now, the Lord directly names the instrument of this judgment: Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful king of Babylon, who will depopulate Egypt and plunder its riches. This invasion and subsequent devastation are presented as a direct consequence of Egypt's arrogance and its turning to false hope, leading to its ultimate ruin.
Just before this, Ezekiel has been prophesying against Egypt and its pride, showing how God would humble it. Now, the Lord directly names the instrument of this judgment: Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful king of Babylon, who will depopulate Egypt and plunder its riches. This invasion and subsequent devastation are presented as a direct consequence of Egypt's arrogance and its turning to false hope, leading to its ultimate ruin.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 30:10 is available in the Sola app.
Divine Judgment on Nations
This dismantling of wealth is a direct act of God's judgment. It serves as a stark reminder that national pride, economic might, and military strength are temporary and ultimately under God's control.
c. 574 BC— this verse
Babylonian Invasion of Egypt
Nebuchadnezzar II campaigns against Egypt, a formidable power that had supported Judea's rebellion. Ezekiel's prophecy in chapter 30 declares God's judgment upon Egypt through the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
568-567 BC
Later Babylonian Campaign
Nebuchadnezzar may have conducted another campaign into Egypt, further weakening its influence and confirming Ezekiel's prophecies.
"“Thus says the Lord GOD:
“I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt,
by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon." — It’s easy to see this as just God using Babylon to punish Egypt. But notice the phrasing: "I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease." This isn't just about a military victory; it’s about God…