Single lesson
Ezekiel 30: A Lament for Egypt
Ezekiel 30:1–19; Ezekiel 30:20–26
Ezekiel 30:1–19 is a lament that announces judgement on Egypt. With wailing language, repeated place names, and vivid images, the poem shows that Egypt’s strength, supporters, rulers, and idols will not endure before Yahweh. This lesson also brings together Pharaoh’s Power Broken.
Before you teach
Yahweh gives Ezekiel a message to speak as a lament. The passage stays centred on Egypt, nearby peoples, and a series of Egyptian locations. It speaks of sword, desolation, fear, captivity, and fire, and twice says these acts will lead people to know that Yahweh is Yahweh.
Explain the central teaching of Ezekiel 30: A Lament for Egypt, using two details from the reading. This lament teaches that Yahweh will bring down Egypt’s pride, allies, rulers, idols, and cities so that his identity is known. This prophecy teaches that Yahweh rules over kings and armies, bringing down Pharaoh’s strength and making himself known.
Welcome: Ezekiel 30: A Lament for Egypt
5 minIntroduce “A Lament for Egypt”, “Pharaoh’s Power Broken” and locate Ezekiel 30:1–19; Ezekiel 30:20–26. This lament teaches that Yahweh will bring down Egypt’s pride, allies, rulers, idols, and cities so that his identity is known. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Ezekiel 30:1, Ezekiel 30:10, Ezekiel 30:19
Read and explain the passage
12 minA Lament for Egypt (Ezekiel 30:1–19): The passage opens with a command to lament: “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’” The reason is that “Yahweh’s day is near”. It is described as “a day of clouds” and “a time of the nations”. This is not a general song of sadness. It is a warning that a decisive day of judgement is approaching.
Pharaoh’s Power Broken (Ezekiel 30:20–26): The prophecy begins with a precise date, showing this is a specific word that came to Ezekiel at a set time. Yahweh addresses Ezekiel as “son of man” and immediately names Pharaoh king of Egypt, making the focus of the message plain from the beginning.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “A Lament for Egypt”, “Pharaoh’s Power Broken”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Ezekiel 30:2, Ezekiel 30:3, Ezekiel 30:20, Ezekiel 30:21
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “How does the opening of the poem show that this is a lament about a coming day of judgement?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This prophecy teaches that Yahweh rules over kings and armies, bringing down Pharaoh’s strength and making himself known. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Ezekiel 30:2, Ezekiel 30:3, Ezekiel 30:5, Ezekiel 30:6, Ezekiel 30:23, Ezekiel 30:26
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Ezekiel 30: A Lament for Egypt: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “A Lament for Egypt”, “Pharaoh’s Power Broken” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Ezekiel 30:1, Ezekiel 30:14, Ezekiel 30:26
Closing: return to Pharaoh’s Power Broken
3 minRevisit Ezekiel 30:20–26. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Pharaoh’s Power Broken and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Ezekiel 30:20, Ezekiel 30:23, Ezekiel 30:26
Questions to explore
How does the opening of the poem show that this is a lament about a coming day of judgement?
Look at the command to “Wail”, the cry “Alas for the day!”, and the description of a near day of clouds and a time of the nations.
Ezekiel 30:2, Ezekiel 30:3
What does the passage say will happen not only to Egypt, but also to those connected with her?
Notice the listed peoples who fall with Egypt and the statement that those who uphold Egypt will also fall.
Ezekiel 30:5, Ezekiel 30:6
What repeated result follows the judgement on Egypt?
Notice the repeated line near the end and connect it with the scattering of the Egyptians.
Ezekiel 30:23, Ezekiel 30:26
Make, think or respond
Ezekiel 30: A Lament for Egypt: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Ezekiel 30:1–19; Ezekiel 30:20–26. Use “A Lament for Egypt”, “Pharaoh’s Power Broken” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Ezekiel 30: A Lament for Egypt connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “A Lament for Egypt”, “Pharaoh’s Power Broken” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Ezekiel 30:1–19; Ezekiel 30:20–26. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Ezekiel 30:1–19; Ezekiel 30:20–26. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Ezekiel 30
1 Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, prophesy, and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’
3 For the day is near, even Yahweh’s day is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of the nations.
4 A sword will come on Egypt, and anguish will be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt. They take away her multitude, and her foundations are broken down.
5 “ ‘ “Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the mixed people, Cub, and the children of the land that is allied with them, will fall with them by the sword.”
6 “ ‘Yahweh says: “They also who uphold Egypt will fall. The pride of her power will come down. They will fall by the sword in it from the tower of Seveneh,” says the Lord Yahweh.
7 “They will be desolate in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities will be among the cities that are wasted.
8 They will know that I am Yahweh when I have set a fire in Egypt, and all her helpers are destroyed.
9 “ ‘ “In that day messengers will go out from before me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid. There will be anguish on them, as in the day of Egypt; for, behold, it comes.”
10 “ ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease, by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.
12 I will make the rivers dry, and will sell the land into the hand of evil men. I will make the land desolate, and all that is therein, by the hand of foreigners. I, Yahweh, have spoken it.”
13 “ ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause the images to cease from Memphis. There will be no more a prince from the land of Egypt. I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.
14 I will make Pathros desolate, and will set a fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments on No.
15 I will pour my wrath on Sin, the stronghold of Egypt. I will cut off the multitude of No.
16 I will set a fire in Egypt Sin will be in great anguish. No will be broken up. Memphis will have adversaries in the daytime.
17 The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth will fall by the sword. They will go into captivity.
18 At Tehaphnehes also the day will withdraw itself, when I break the yokes of Egypt there. The pride of her power will cease in her. As for her, a cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.
19 Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.” ’ ”
20 In the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Behold, it has not been bound up, to apply medicines, to put a bandage to bind it, that it may become strong to hold the sword.
22 Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong arm, and that which was broken. I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.
23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before the king of Babylon with the groaning of a mortally wounded man.
25 I will hold up the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall down. Then they will know that I am Yahweh when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he stretches it out on the land of Egypt.
26 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’ ”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.