Ezekiel 29:12
And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
Original Language Analysis
וְנָתַתִּ֣י
And I will make
H5414
וְנָתַתִּ֣י
And I will make
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 22
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃
of the countries
H776
בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃
of the countries
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
3 of 22
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃
of the countries
H776
בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃
of the countries
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
7 of 22
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
נְשַׁמּ֗וֹת
that are desolate
H8074
נְשַׁמּ֗וֹת
that are desolate
Strong's:
H8074
Word #:
8 of 22
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
עָרִ֤ים
and her cities
H5892
עָרִ֤ים
and her cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
9 of 22
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
עָרִ֤ים
and her cities
H5892
עָרִ֤ים
and her cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
11 of 22
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
מָֽחֳרָבוֹת֙
that are laid waste
H2717
מָֽחֳרָבוֹת֙
that are laid waste
Strong's:
H2717
Word #:
12 of 22
to parch (through drought) i.e., (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill
תִּֽהְיֶ֣יןָ
H1961
תִּֽהְיֶ֣יןָ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
13 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וַהֲפִצֹתִ֤י
and I will scatter
H6327
וַהֲפִצֹתִ֤י
and I will scatter
Strong's:
H6327
Word #:
17 of 22
to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
18 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם
among the nations
H1471
בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם
among the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
20 of 22
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
Cross References
Jeremiah 46:19O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.Ezekiel 30:23And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.Ezekiel 30:7And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted.Ezekiel 30:26And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Historical Context
Egyptian prisoners of war and exiles were deported by Babylon, just as Judeans had been. The reversal is striking: Egypt, which enslaved Israel in Exodus, is itself enslaved and exiled. Egypt, which mocked Jerusalem's fall, experiences identical judgment. What goes around comes around—divine justice is precisely measured.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God apply identical justice to all peoples regardless of status?
- What does experiencing what we inflicted teach about divine justice?
- How are current oppressors heading toward experiencing their own oppression?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate compares Egypt's fate to other judged nations. And her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years reiterates the time period. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries predicts diaspora—population scattered in exile. This mirrors Israel's earlier judgment (Assyrian and Babylonian exiles). God applies the same justice to all peoples. Nations that judge Israel find themselves judged identically. The oppressor experiences what they inflicted—poetic justice.