What does Ezekiel 30:2 mean?
"Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!" - Ezekiel 30:2

The Bible verse Ezekiel 30:2 in the King James Version reads, "Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!" This verse is part of a larger passage in which the prophet Ezekiel delivers a message from God to the people of Egypt, warning them of impending judgment and destruction.
The book of Ezekiel is set in the context of the Babylonian exile, during which the Israelites were taken captive and brought to Babylon as a result of their disobedience and idolatry. The prophet Ezekiel was among those taken captive, and he was given the task of delivering God's messages to both the exiled Israelites and the surrounding nations. In the case of the message to Egypt, Ezekiel is instructed to prophesy and declare the coming judgment that will be brought upon them by the hand of God.
In Ezekiel 30:2, the phrase "Howl ye, Woe worth the day!" is a declaration of impending doom and sorrow. "Howl ye" is an expression of mourning and lamentation, often used in the Bible to convey the deep grief and anguish of a people facing disaster. "Woe worth the day" is an expression of distress and sorrow, indicating that the coming judgment will be a day of great tragedy and suffering for the people of Egypt.
The themes present in this verse include judgment, lamentation, and the sovereignty of God. Throughout the book of Ezekiel, the recurring theme of judgment is prominent as God pronounces consequences for the wickedness and idolatry of the nations. In this particular passage, the focus is on the judgment that will befall Egypt and the devastation that will come upon them as a result of their sin.
The call to "howl" and the expression of "woe" also reflect the theme of lamentation and sorrow. The impending judgment is not a cause for celebration, but rather a time for mourning and repentance. The people are called to lament the coming destruction and recognize the severity of their situation.
Central to this verse is the sovereignty of God. The declaration, "Thus saith the Lord God," emphasizes that the message being delivered is not from Ezekiel himself, but from the divine authority of God. It underscores the fact that God is in control of all things, and His judgment will come to pass according to His will.
In terms of symbolism, the call to "howl" and the expression of "woe" serve as powerful imagery of the devastation and sorrow that will come upon the people of Egypt. The use of these emotive language highlights the seriousness of the situation and captures the emotional impact of the impending judgment.
Overall, Ezekiel 30:2 is a powerful and sobering declaration of God's judgment upon Egypt. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance. The verse is a call to lamentation and a recognition of God's sovereignty in all things. It stands as a powerful message of warning and a call to turn to God in the face of impending judgment.
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Ezekiel 30:2 - "Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!"
"Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!" - Ezekiel 30:2
Ezekiel 30:1 - "The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 30:23 - "And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries."
Ezekiel 30:14 - "And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No."
Ezekiel 30:19 - "Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 48:30 - "¶ And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures."
Ezekiel 40:30 - "And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad."
Ezekiel 30:3 - "For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen."
Ezekiel 30:7 - "And 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 30:17 - "The young men of Aven and of Pi-beseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity."
Ezekiel 30:15 - "And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No."
Ezekiel 30:26 - "And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD."
Ezekiel 36:30 - "And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen."
Ezekiel 30:10 - "Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon."
Ezekiel 30:5 - "Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword."
Ezekiel 30:20 - "¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 34:30 - "Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD."
Ezekiel 16:30 - "How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;"
"The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying," - Ezekiel 30:1
Ezekiel 30:16 - "And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily."
Ezekiel 21:30 - "Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity."
Ezekiel 30:8 - "And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be destroyed."
Ezekiel 23:30 - "I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols."
Ezekiel 30:11 - "He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain."
Ezekiel 27:30 - "And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:"
Ezekiel 22:30 - "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
Ezekiel 30:12 - "And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it."
Ezekiel 20:30 - "Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?"
"And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries." - Ezekiel 30:23