“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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights a devastating detail: Pharaoh's broken arm isn't just going to be set; it's not even going to be bandaged. This isn't just a military defeat, but a complete incapacitation, making Egypt unable to defend itself or wield its power ever again.
“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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is telling Ezekiel that He has crippled Egypt's power, symbolized by the broken arm of Pharaoh. This isn't a temporary injury; it's a severe, unhealed wound that will leave Egypt unable to defend itself or wage war. This declaration comes as God is also detailing the impending judgment on Egypt and the rising strength of Babylon.
Why does God use an 'arm' to describe a nation's might? What does it mean when this vital limb is broken?
In ancient Near Eastern thought, the 'arm' was a potent symbol of strength, power, and military capability. When the prophet Ezekiel declares that God has 'broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt,' he's not just talking about a physical injury. He's declaring the utter demolition of Egypt's political and military influence.
This wasn't a minor setback. The commentary points to significant historical defeats, like the Battle of Carchemish, which crippled Egypt's ability to project power. God uses this vivid imagery to communicate the totality of Egypt's downfall. Their capacity to defend themselves, to wage war, or even to assert their dominance on the world stage was fundamentally destroyed by divine judgment.
Imagine a wound so severe that no bandage, no splint, can ever heal it. What does this tell us about the nature of God's judgment?
The text emphasizes that Pharaoh's broken arm will not be bound up or healed. This isn't just about a bad injury; it's about a judgment that is final and beyond human remedy. The mention of a 'roller' or 'bandage' details the surgical care that would normally follow a fracture, aiming for recovery and restored strength.
But God declares this care will be withheld. Egypt's defeat is portrayed as absolute. It implies that the underlying cause of their power—their reliance on self and their proud independence from God—is fundamentally flawed and now judged. No amount of human effort or strategic maneuvering can restore what God has sovereignly broken.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
ben 'adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title used for the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity in contrast to the divine glory he encounters; it highlights his role as a representative of the human race before God.
zeroa' · Hebrew Noun
In biblical metaphor, the arm represents strength, power, military might, and the capacity to act or dominate. Breaking the arm symbolizes the stripping away of power and the total defeat of political or military capability.
Par'oh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The sovereign ruler of Egypt. In the prophetic corpus, Pharaoh often symbolizes worldly pride, oppression of God's people, and reliance on human power rather than divine provision.
cherev · Hebrew Noun
A common instrument of divine judgment in the Old Testament, representing warfare, authority, or the execution of justice against nations or individuals.
Ezekiel uses the vivid image of a broken, unbandaged arm to declare that Egypt's power, particularly under Pharaoh Hophra, has been irrevocably shattered. The prophecy points to the Egyptians' failed attempt to aid Jerusalem and their subsequent internal collapse, signifying an incurable defeat from which they could not recover to wield power again.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II decisively defeated the Egyptian forces led by Pharaoh Necho II. This battle marked a significant shift in power, ending Egyptian dominance in the region and leading to Babylon's control over Syria and Palestine.
c. 589-587 BC— this verse
Siege of Jerusalem by Babylon
During the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, Pharaoh Hophra (Apries) of Egypt sent an army to relieve the city. While initially successful in forcing the Babylonians to temporarily withdraw, the Egyptian relief effort ultimately failed.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Following the failed Egyptian relief attempt, the Babylonians renewed their siege and ultimately conquered Jerusalem, exiling many of its inhabitants. This event devastated the Judean kingdom.
c. 570 BC
Egyptian Internal Strife and Rebellion
Pharaoh Hophra (Apries) faced significant internal challenges, including a major revolt led by Amasis II, which eventually led to Hophra's overthrow and death. This internal weakness further crippled Egypt's ability to exert influence.
This passage describes Pharaoh's defeat at Carchemish, which is a key historical event commentators link to the 'broken arm' metaphor in Ezekiel, signifying a loss of power and military strength.
Ezekiel 29:3This verse uses a similar metaphor of a broken reed for Pharaoh, illustrating Egypt's weakness and unreliability as a political or military ally.
Psalm 37:17This verse speaks of the downfall of the wicked and the breaking of their strength, echoing the theme of divine judgment leading to powerlessness seen in Ezekiel's prophecy.
Jeremiah 46:11This verse uses the imagery of medicine and healing, or the lack thereof, to describe Egypt's impending doom, directly paralleling Ezekiel's point that Egypt's 'broken arm' will not be healed.
Ezekiel 16:4The word used for 'roller' or 'bandage' in Ezekiel 30:21 is also used for the swaddling bands of an infant, highlighting how utterly helpless and undeveloped Egypt's power will become, unable to be 'bound up' into strength.
barnesEzekiel 30:21: "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."
I have broken - Especially by the defeat at Carchemish. A roller - Or, a bandage.
pulpitEzekiel 30:21: "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."
Verse 21. - I have broken the arm. The metaphor was in itself one of the most familiar (Ezekiel 17:9; Ezekiel 22:6; 1 Samuel 2:31; Jeremiah 48:25). What is characteristic in Ezekiel is the way in which he follows the figure, so to speak, into its surgical details. A man with a broken arm might be cured and f…
This verse highlights a devastating detail: Pharaoh's broken arm isn't just going to be set; it's not even going to be bandaged. This isn't just a military defeat, but a complete incapacitation, making Egypt unable to defend itself or wield its power ever again.
God is telling Ezekiel that He has crippled Egypt's power, symbolized by the broken arm of Pharaoh. This isn't a temporary injury; it's a severe, unhealed wound that will leave Egypt unable to defend itself or wage war. This declaration comes as God is also detailing the impending judgment on Egypt and the rising strength of Babylon.
God is telling Ezekiel that He has crippled Egypt's power, symbolized by the broken arm of Pharaoh. This isn't a temporary injury; it's a severe, unhealed wound that will leave Egypt unable to defend itself or wage war. This declaration comes as God is also detailing the impending judgment on Egypt and the rising strength of Babylon.
"“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." — This verse highlights a devastating detail: Pharaoh's broken arm isn't just going to be set; it's not even going to be bandaged. This isn't just a military defeat, but a complete incapacitation, maki…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026