Ezekiel 29:12

I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolate lands, and her cities will lie desolate for forty years among the ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks through Ezekiel to pronounce judgment on Egypt, declaring the land's desolation and the people's dispersion. This oracle occurs within a sequence detailing Egypt's impending ruin and a future forty-year timeline.

The words — The Hebrew verb נָתַתִּי (na.tatTi) literally means "I will make," establishing divine agency over the coming desolation. The noun שְׁמָמָה (she.maMah) denotes a desolate place, paired with נְשַׁמּוֹת (ne.shaMMot) to emphasize total ruin.

The thread — This judgment motif repeats in Ezekiel 30:7 and 30:23, which echo the phrases of desolation and scattering. Jeremiah 46:19 parallels the warning of exile and the laying waste of Egyptian cities.

Why it lands — The text declares a fixed period of forty years for Egypt's desolation and dispersion before a future gathering. It requires the reader to acknowledge divine sovereignty over nations and the reliability of prophetic timelines.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְנָתַתִּ֣יve./na.ta.Tiand/ I will make אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֶרֶץ֩'e.Retz[the] land of מִצְרַ֨יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgypt שְׁמָמָ֜הshe.ma.Maha desolation בְּת֣וֹךְ׀be./Tokhin/ midst of אֲרָצ֣וֹת'a.ra.Tzotlands נְשַׁמּ֗וֹתne.sha.Motmade desolate וְעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ve./'a.Rei./haand/ cities/ its בְּת֨וֹךְbe./Tokhin/ midst of עָרִ֤ים'a.Rimcities מָֽחֳרָבוֹת֙mo.cho.ra.Votlaid waste תִּֽהְיֶ֣יןָtih.Yei.nathey will be שְׁמָמָ֔הshe.ma.Maha desolation אַרְבָּעִ֖ים'ar.ba.'Imforty שָׁנָ֑הsha.Nahyear[s]וַהֲפִצֹתִ֤יva./ha.fi.tzo.Tiand/ I will scatter אֶת־'et-<obj.>מִצְרַ֙יִם֙mitz.Ra.yimEgypt בַּגּוֹיִ֔םba./go.Yimamong the/ nations וְֽזֵרִיתִ֖יםve./ze.ri.Ti/mand/ I will disperse/ them בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ פba./'a.ra.Tzotamong the/ lands

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 46:19 Pack your bags for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt! For Memphis will be laid waste, destroyed and uninhabited.
Ezekiel 30:7 They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities.
Ezekiel 30:23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
Jeremiah 25:15 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.
Ezekiel 30:26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
Jeremiah 27:6 So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him.