Bible Strands
Ezekiel 30:24
I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — YHWH speaks through Ezekiel regarding the impending judgment on Egypt, designating the king of Babylon as the active agent of punishment. This declaration occurs within a prophetic oracle that immediately follows a promise to scatter the Egyptians and precedes a repeated warning about Pharaoh's defeat.
The words — The Hebrew verb chizak (חִזַּקְתִּי) literally means "I will make strong," paired with zro'ot (זְרֹעוֹת, "arms") to denote martial capability. The phrases nattati (נָתַתִּי, "I will put") and charbi (חַרְבִּי, "my sword") frame the foreign ruler as the direct vessel for divine execution.
The thread — The text repeats this exact transfer of power in Ezekiel 30:25, adding the clause that the nations will know YHWH is Lord. The motif of God wielding a sword against nations also appears in Zephaniah 2:12, while the imagery of weakened hands is echoed in Nehemiah 6:9.
Why it lands — The passage states that YHWH unilaterally grants or removes military strength, leaving Pharaoh to groan like a dying man. It requires readers to acknowledge that geopolitical outcomes are determined by divine decree rather than human capability.
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
King James Version
And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 30:25 I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I place My sword in the hand of Babylon’s king, and he wields it against the land of Egypt.
- Zephaniah 2:12 “You too, O Cushites, will be slain by My sword.”
- Nehemiah 6:9 For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
- Isaiah 45:1 This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:
- Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me,
- Deuteronomy 32:41 when I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me.
- Job 24:12 From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.
- Psalms 17:13 Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,
- Psalms 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear.
- Psalms 18:39 You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me.