Ezekiel 30:18
At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.
Original Language Analysis
וּבִֽתְחַפְנְחֵס֙
At Tehaphnehes
H8471
וּבִֽתְחַפְנְחֵס֙
At Tehaphnehes
Strong's:
H8471
Word #:
1 of 18
tachpanches, techaphneches or tachpenes, a place in egypt
חָשַׂ֣ךְ
shall be darkened
H2821
חָשַׂ֣ךְ
shall be darkened
Strong's:
H2821
Word #:
2 of 18
to be dark (as withholding light); transitively, to darken
הַיּ֔וֹם
also the day
H3117
הַיּ֔וֹם
also the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
3 of 18
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
שָׁם֙
H8033
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מֹט֣וֹת
there the yokes
H4133
מֹט֣וֹת
there the yokes
Strong's:
H4133
Word #:
7 of 18
a pole; by implication, an ox-bow; hence, a yoke (either literal or figurative)
וְנִשְׁבַּת
shall cease
H7673
וְנִשְׁבַּת
shall cease
Strong's:
H7673
Word #:
9 of 18
to repose, i.e., desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific)
עֻזָּ֑הּ
of her strength
H5797
עֻזָּ֑הּ
of her strength
Strong's:
H5797
Word #:
12 of 18
strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
הִ֚יא
in her
H1931
הִ֚יא
in her
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
13 of 18
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
עָנָ֣ן
as for her a cloud
H6051
עָנָ֣ן
as for her a cloud
Strong's:
H6051
Word #:
14 of 18
a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud
יְכַסֶּ֔נָּה
shall cover
H3680
יְכַסֶּ֔נָּה
shall cover
Strong's:
H3680
Word #:
15 of 18
properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
וּבְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ
her and her daughters
H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ
her and her daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
16 of 18
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
Cross References
Ezekiel 30:3For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.Isaiah 10:27And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.Jeremiah 2:16Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.Ezekiel 29:15It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
Historical Context
Tahpanhes had special significance: Jewish refugees fled there after Jeremiah warned against it (Jeremiah 43:7-9). Jeremiah prophesied Nebuchadnezzar would conquer Egypt even there (Jeremiah 43:10-13). Ezekiel's oracle, given to exiles in Babylon, confirmed Jeremiah's to refugees in Egypt. Both prophecies proved accurate: Babylon invaded Egypt, Tahpanhes fell, and Egypt's 'yoke' (imperial power) was broken forever.
Questions for Reflection
- What is significant about God breaking 'the yokes of Egypt' after Egypt enslaved Israel?
- How does judgment at Tahpanhes (where Jewish refugees fled) demonstrate inescapability?
- What does the 'darkened day' metaphor teach about the experience of divine judgment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened—תַּחְפַּנְחֵס (Taḥpanḥēs, Tahpanhes/Daphne), a city in the eastern Delta where Jewish refugees fled after Jerusalem's fall (Jeremiah 43:7-9). חָשַׂךְ הַיּוֹם (ḥāsak hayyôm, 'the day shall be dark/restrained')—imagery of judgment (Amos 5:18-20, Joel 2:31).
When I shall break there the yokes of Egypt—God will שָׁבַר (shābar, 'break/shatter') מֹטּוֹת מִצְרַיִם (mōṭôt miṣrayim, 'the yoke-bars of Egypt'). Egypt enslaved others; now her own power-yoke is broken. And the pomp of her strength shall cease in her—גְּאוֹן עֻזָּהּ (gĕʾôn ʿuzzāh, 'pride of her strength') will cease. Egypt's arrogant power, displayed in Pharaoh's boast 'The Nile is mine' (29:3), ends. As for her, a cloud shall cover her—עָנָן (ʿānān, 'cloud'), often symbolizing God's presence in judgment or glory. Here, gloom and doom. And her daughters shall go into captivity—Total population loss.