Ezekiel – Chapter 30

Old Testament26 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" — so begins Ezekiel 30. The chapter centers on Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and Lydia. Across its 26 verses, two threads run through the text: God's kingdom and kingship and courage in the face of fear. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2Son of man prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Howl ye, Woe, woe to the day:

3For the day is near, yea the day of the Lord is near: a cloudy day, it shall be the time of the nations.

4And the sword shall come upon Egypt: and there shall be dread in Ethiopia, when the wounded shall fall in Egypt, and the multitude thereof shall be taken away, and the foundations thereof shall be destroyed.

5Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the rest of the crowd, and Chub, and the children of the land of the covenant, shall fall with them by the sword.

6Thus saith the Lord God: They also that uphold Egypt shall fall, and the pride of her empire shall be brought down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord the God of hosts.

7And they shall be desolate in the midst of the lands that are desolate, and the cities thereof shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted.

8And they shall know that I am the Lord: when I shall have set a fire in Egypt, and all the helpers thereof shall be destroyed.

9In that day shall messengers go forth from my face in ships to destroy the confidence of Ethiopia, and there shall be dread among them in the day of Egypt: because it shall certainly come.

10Thus saith the Lord God: I will make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.

11He and his people with him, the strongest of nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords upon Egypt: and shall fill the land with the slain.

12And I will make the channels of the rivers dry, and will deliver the land into the hand of the wicked: and will lay waste the land and all that is therein by the hands of strangers, I the Lord have spoken it.

13Thus saith the Lord God: I will also destroy the idols, and I will make an end of the idols of Memphis: and there shall: be no more a prince of the land of Egypt and I will cause a terror in the land of Egypt.

14And I will destroy the land of Phatures, and will make a fire in Taphnis, and will execute judgments in Alexandria.

15And I will pour out my indignation upon Pelusium the strength of Egypt, and will cut off the multitude of Alexandria.

16And I will make a fire in Egypt: Pelusium shall be in pain like a woman in labour, and Alexandria shall be laid waste, and in Memphis there shall be daily distresses.

17The young men of Heliopolis, and of Bubastus shall fall by the sword, and they themselves shall go into captivity.

18And in Taphnis the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the sceptres of Egypt, and the pride of her power shall cease in her: a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall be led into captivity.

19And I will execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

20And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came, me, saying:

21Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharao king of Egypt: and behold it is not bound up, to be healed, to be tied up with clothes, and swathed with linen, that it might recover strength, and hold the sword.

22Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against Pharao king of Egypt, and I will break into pieces his strong arm, which is already broken: and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand:

23And I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and scatter them through the countries.

24And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and will put my sword in his hand: and I will break the arms of Pharao, and they shall groan bitterly being slain before his face.

25And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharao shall fall: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have given my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall have stretched it forth upon the land of Egypt.

26And I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and will scatter them through the countries, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 30

Son of man prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Howl ye, Woe, woe to the day:

Ezekiel 30:2

Thus saith the Lord God: They also that uphold Egypt shall fall, and the pride of her empire shall be brought down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord the God of hosts.

Ezekiel 30:6

Thus saith the Lord God: I will make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.

Ezekiel 30:10

Thus saith the Lord God: I will also destroy the idols, and I will make an end of the idols of Memphis: and there shall: be no more a prince of the land of Egypt and I will cause a terror in the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 30:13

Historical Context

Ezekiel belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the exiles in Babylon, moved from despair to hope of restoration. Chapter 30 of 48 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 26 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and Lydia, the principal figures named in this chapter. The chapter begins: "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" It concludes: "And I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and will scatter them through the countries, and they shall know that I am…" In terms of historical background, Ezekiel was deported to Babylon in 597 BC and prophesied among the exiles through astonishing visions: God's throne-chariot, the departure of His glory from the Temple, the valley of dry bones brought to life, and a new… The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile

When It Was Written

About 593-571 BC, in Babylon

Catholic Commentary

The prophetic discourse in this chapter speaks to a community facing the consequences of its choices before God. A pivotal line is verse 2: "Son of man prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Howl ye, Woe, woe to the day:" The passage repeatedly touches on God's kingdom and kingship.

Catholic exegesis reads Ezekiel 30 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). St. John Chrysostom and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1604).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • God's presence casts out fear; His command 'Be not afraid' echoes throughout salvation history.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.

People in This Chapter

Pharaoh4 mentionsNebuchadnezzar1 mentionLydia1 mention

Reflection for Today

Ezekiel Chapter 30 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). Here the believer is invited to ponder worship as the heart of the Christian life.

May your reading of Ezekiel Chapter 30 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how God will give His people a new heart applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ezekiel Chapter 30 about?

Ezekiel 30 contains 26 verses. It opens with "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" and closes with "And I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and will scatter them through the countries, and they shall know that I am…". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 30?

One of the most significant verses is verse 2: "Son of man prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Howl ye, Woe, woe to the day:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Ezekiel Chapter 30?

This chapter mentions Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Lydia.

Who wrote Ezekiel and when?

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile. About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

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