King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 30:12 Mean?

Ezekiel 30:12 in the King James Version says “And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all t... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it. dry: Heb. drought all: Heb. the fulness thereof

Ezekiel 30:12 · KJV


Context

10

Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.

11

He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.

12

And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it. dry: Heb. drought all: Heb. the fulness thereof

13

Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.

14

And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No. Zoan: or, Tanis


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I will make the rivers dry—The Nile, Egypt's lifeblood, would be turned into יַבָּשָׁה (yabbāshāh, 'dry ground'). This echoes the Exodus plagues (Exodus 7:14-24) and demonstrates God's power over Egypt's source of life and pride.

And sell the land into the hand of the wicked—God would מָכַר (mākar, 'sell/hand over') Egypt to רָעִים (rāʿîm, 'evil/wicked ones')—the Babylonians. Though themselves wicked, Babylon served God's purposes as instruments of judgment. And I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers—בְּיַד־זָרִים (bĕyad-zārîm, 'by the hand of foreigners'). Egypt, who enslaved foreign peoples, would be devastated by foreigners. I the LORD have spoken it—The divine signature אֲנִי יְהוָה דִּבַּרְתִּי (ănî YHWH dibbartî) guarantees fulfillment.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Nile's annual flooding was central to Egyptian civilization, religion, and economy. Saying God would 'make the rivers dry' attacked Egypt's fundamental identity. While not literal permanent drought, Babylon's invasion disrupted irrigation systems, agriculture, and commerce—effectively 'drying' Egypt's prosperity. The land passed from native Egyptian control to foreign powers: Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome—never fully independent again.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God's power over the Nile teach about His authority over nations' resources?
  2. How does selling Egypt to 'the wicked' demonstrate God's use of imperfect instruments?
  3. What modern 'rivers'—sources of national strength—might God dry up in judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וְנָתַתִּ֤י1 of 16

And I will make

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

יְאֹרִים֙2 of 16

the rivers

H2975

a channel, e.g., a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the nile, as the one river of egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the tigris, as the m

חָֽרָבָ֔ה3 of 16

dry

H2724

a desert

וּמָכַרְתִּ֥י4 of 16

and sell

H4376

to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)

אֶת5 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶ֤רֶץ6 of 16

and I will make the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

בְּיַד7 of 16

by the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

רָעִ֑ים8 of 16

of the wicked

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֞י9 of 16

waste

H8074

to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)

אֶ֤רֶץ10 of 16

and I will make the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וּמְלֹאָהּ֙11 of 16

and all that is therein

H4393

fulness (literally or figuratively)

בְּיַד12 of 16

by the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

זָרִ֔ים13 of 16

of strangers

H2114

to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery

אֲנִ֥י14 of 16
H589

i

יְהוָ֖ה15 of 16

I the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

דִּבַּֽרְתִּי׃16 of 16

have spoken

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 30:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 30:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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