King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 30:13 Mean?

Ezekiel 30:13 in the King James Version says “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there sh... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Ezekiel 30:13 · KJV


Context

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

15

And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No. Sin: or, Pelusium


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph—נֹף (Nōph, Memphis), Egypt's ancient capital and religious center. גִּלּוּלִים (gillûlîm, 'idols/dung-gods') and אֱלִילִים (ĕlîlîm, 'worthless images') would cease (שִׁבַּתִּי, shabbattî, 'cause to cease').

Egypt's vast pantheon—Ra, Osiris, Isis, Ptah, Apis bull—would prove powerless before YHWH. And there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt—לֹא־יִהְיֶה עוֹד נָשִׂיא מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם (lōʾ-yihyeh ʿôd nāsîʾ mēʾereṣ miṣrayim, 'there shall not be again a prince from the land of Egypt'). Native Egyptian rulers would end. And I will put a fear in the land of Egypt—מוֹרָא (môrāʾ, 'fear/terror') from YHWH Himself. Egypt's confidence would be shattered.

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Historical & Cultural Context

After Nebuchadnezzar's invasion (568/567 BC), Egypt declined rapidly. The last native Egyptian dynasty (26th) ended in 525 BC with Persian conquest. Egypt was ruled by foreigners for 2,500 years: Persians, Greeks (Ptolemies), Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, British—until 1952. Even today, ethnic Egyptians are Arabized; ancient Egyptian culture and religion are extinct. The prophecy proved stunningly accurate.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the end of Egypt's idols and native rulers demonstrate God's comprehensive judgment?
  2. What does 2,500 years of foreign rule teach about the permanence of God's decrees?
  3. How should the fate of Egypt's gods inform our view of modern idols?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
כֹּֽה1 of 19
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֞ר2 of 19

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י3 of 19

the Lord

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִ֗ה4 of 19

GOD

H3069

god

וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֨י5 of 19

I will also destroy

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

גִלּוּלִ֜ים6 of 19

the idols

H1544

properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י7 of 19

to cease

H7673

to repose, i.e., desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific)

אֱלִילִים֙8 of 19

and I will cause their images

H457

good for nothing, by analogy vain or vanity; specifically an idol

מִנֹּ֔ף9 of 19

out of Noph

H5297

noph, the capital of upper egypt

וְנָשִׂ֥יא10 of 19

and there shall be no more a prince

H5387

properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist

בְּאֶ֥רֶץ11 of 19

in the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרָֽיִם׃12 of 19

of Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

לֹ֣א13 of 19
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יִֽהְיֶה14 of 19
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

ע֑וֹד15 of 19
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

וְנָתַתִּ֥י16 of 19

and I will put

H5414

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

יִרְאָ֖ה17 of 19

a fear

H3374

fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence

בְּאֶ֥רֶץ18 of 19

in the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרָֽיִם׃19 of 19

of Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt


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 30:13 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 30:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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