Ezekiel 29:12

Bishop's Bible

I wil make the land of Egypt to be desolate among other waste countreys, and her cities destroyed fourtie yeres among other destroyed cities: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and strawe them thorow the countreys.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
I will destroy Egypt. The cities will be in ruins for 40 years! I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations. I will make them strangers in foreign lands."

New Living Translation
I will make Egypt desolate, and it will be surrounded by other desolate nations. Its cities will be empty and desolate for forty years, surrounded by other ruined cities. I will scatter the Egyptians to distant lands.

New American Standard Bible
"So I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of deserted lands. And her cities, in the midst of cities that are laid waste, will be desolate for forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands."

New Century Version
I will make the land of Egypt the most deserted country of all. Her cities will be the most deserted of all ruined cities for forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, spreading them among the countries.

New English Translation
I will turn the land of Egypt into a desolation in the midst of desolate lands; for forty years her cities will lie desolate in the midst of ruined cities. I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them among foreign countries.

Update Bible Version
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be a desolation forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Amplified Bible
"So I will make the land of Egypt a desolation [plundered and ruined] among desolated lands; and her cities, among cities that are laid waste, will be desolate forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and [I will] disperse them through the lands."

English Standard Version
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated countries, and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries.

World English Bible
I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be a desolation forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y schal yyue the lond of Egipt forsakun, in the myddis of londis forsakun, and the citees therof in the myddis of a citee distried, and tho schulen be desolat bi fourti yeer. And Y schal scatere Egipcians in to naciouns, and Y schal wyndewe hem in to londis.

English Revised Version
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be a desolation forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

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

Contemporary English Version
It will be the most barren place on earth. Every city in Egypt will lie in ruins during those forty years, and I will scatter your people throughout the nations of the world.

American Standard Version
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be a desolation forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

Bible in Basic English
I will make the land of Egypt a waste among the countries which are made waste, and her towns will be unpeopled among the towns which have been made waste, for forty years: and I will send the Egyptians in flight among the nations and wandering through the countries.

Complete Jewish Bible
Yes, I will make the land of Egypt desolate, even when compared with other desolate countries, likewise her cities in comparison with other ruined cities; they will be desolate forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries.'

Darby Translation
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of the countries that are desolated, and her cities shall be, in the midst of the cities that are laid waste, a desolation forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.

King James Version (1611)
And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countreys that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are layed waste, shall be desolate fourtie yeeres: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and wil disperse them through the countreys.

New Life Bible
I will make the land of Egypt a waste among the lands which are laid waste. Her cities will be a waste for forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will divide the Egyptians among the nations and spread them out among the lands."

New Revised Standard
I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolated countries; and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And I wil make the land of Egypt desolate in the middes of the countries, that are desolate, and her cities shall be desolate among the cities that are desolate, for fourtie yeeres: and I wil scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and wil disperse them through the countreis.

George Lamsa Translation
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 I will disperse them through the countries.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So will I make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of lands made desolate And her cities - in the midst of cities that have been laid waste, shall become a desolation forty years,- And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations, And scatter them throughout the lands.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the lands that are desolate, and the cities thereof in the midst of the cites that are destroyed, and they shall be desolate for forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

Revised Standard Version
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated countries; and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I will cause her land to be utterly destroyed in the midst of a land that is desolate, and her cities shall be desolate forty years in the midst of cities that are desolate: and I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and will utterly scatter them into the countries.

Good News Translation
I will make Egypt the most desolate country in the world. For forty years the cities of Egypt will lie in ruins, ruins worse than those of any other city. I will make the Egyptians refugees. They will flee to every country and live among other peoples."

Christian Standard Bible®
I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolate lands, and its cities will be a desolation among ruined cities for forty years. I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.

Hebrew Names Version
I will make the land of Mitzrayim a desolation in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be a desolation forty years; and I will scatter the Mitzrim among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

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.

Lexham English Bible
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated countries, and its cities to be in the midst of ruined cities. They will be a desolation for forty years, and I will scatter Egypt among the nations, and I will disperse them among the countries."

Literal Translation
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of the lands that are desolate, and her cities shall be desolate among the wasted cities forty years. And I will disperse Egypt among the nations and disperse them among the lands.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have made the land of Egypt a desolation, In the midst of desolate lands, And its cities, in the midst of waste cities, Are a desolation forty years, And I have scattered the Egyptians among nations, And I have dispersed them through lands.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I wil make the londe of Egipte to be desolate amonge other waist countrees, and her cities to lye voyde xl. yeares, amonge other voyde cities: And I wil scatre the Egipcians amonge the Heithen and nacions.

THE MESSAGE
"‘I'll make Egypt the most desolate of all desolations. For forty years I'll make her cities the most wasted of all wasted cities. I'll scatter Egyptians to the four winds, send them off every which way into exile.

New King James Version
I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"So I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated lands. And her cities, in the midst of cities that are laid waste, will be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands."

Legacy Standard Bible
So I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated lands. And her cities, in the midst of cities that are laid waste, will be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the lands."

Contextual Overview

⁸ Therefore thus sayth the Lorde God: Behold, I wil bring a sword vpon thee, & destroy out of thee both man and beast. ⁹ Yea the lande of Egypt shalbe desolate and waste, and they shall knowe that I am the Lorde, because he sayde, The riuer is myne, I my selfe haue made it. ¹⁰ Beholde therefore I will vpon thee and vpon thy riuers, I will make the land of Egypt vtterly waste and desolate, from the towre of Seueneh vnto the borders of Ethiopia. ¹¹ No foote of man shall passe by it, nor foote of beast shall passe by it, neither shall it be inhabited fourtie yeres. ¹² I wil make the land of Egypt to be desolate among other waste countreys, and her cities destroyed fourtie yeres among other destroyed cities: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and strawe them thorow the countreys. ¹³ Againe, thus sayth the Lorde God: when the fourtie yeres are expired, I will gather the Egyptians together againe out of the nations among whom they were scattered. ¹⁴ And I will bring the captiuitie of Egypt againe, and cause them to returne into the lande of Pathros, the lande of their habitation, and they shalbe there a small kingdome. ¹⁵ Yea it shalbe the smallest among other kingdomes, neither shall it exalt it selfe any more aboue the nations: for I wil so minishe them, that they shall no more rule the nations. ¹⁶ And they shalbe no more vnto the house of Israel a trust whiche bringeth their iniquitie to remembraunce, when they shall loke after them: & they shal knowe that I am the Lorde God.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

desolate in: Ezekiel 30:7, Jeremiah 25:15-19, Jeremiah 27:6-11

and I will scatter: We learn from Berosus that Nebuchadnezzar sent several captive Egyptians to Babylon; and from Megasthenes, that he transplanted others to Pontus; and it is probable, that at the dissolution of the Babylonian empire, about forty years after, Cyrus permitted them to return to their native country. Ezekiel 30:23, Jeremiah 46:19

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 30:3 - the time Ezekiel 30:4 - and they Ezekiel 30:26 - I will Ezekiel 32:9 - when Ezekiel 32:15 - destitute of that whereof

Cross-References

Genesis 13:8
Then sayde Abram vnto Lot: let there be no strife I pray thee betweene thee and me, and betweene my heardmen and thyne, for we be brethren.

Genesis 24:28
And the damsell ranne, and told them of her mothers house these thinges.

Genesis 29:14
To whom Laban sayde: Well, thou art my bone & my fleshe. And he abode with hym the space of a moneth.

Genesis 29:16
Laban had two daughters, the elder called Lea, and the younger Rachel.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate,.... As Judea and others, made desolate by the king of Babylon:

and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years; such as Thebes, Sais, Memphis, and others; which should share the same fate as Jerusalem and other principal cities in other countries, which fell into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar:

and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries; such as were not carried captive into Babylon fled into other countries, as Arabia, Ethiopia, and other places, Berosus u makes mention of this captivity of the Egyptians under Nebuchadnezzar the son, which no other writer does.

u Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 10. c. 11. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

From the tower of Syene - Or, as in the margin, “Migdol” (“tower”) was about two miles from Suez. “Syene” was the most southern town in Egypt, on the borders of Ethiopia, in the Thebaid, on the eastern bank of the Nile. The modern Assvan lies a little to the northeast of the ancient Syene.

We have no record of the circumstances of the Chaldsaean invasion of Egypt, but it is possible that it did not take place until after the fall of Tyre. We gather of what nature it must have been by comparing the description of the results of Assyrian conquest (Isaiah 37:25 ff). Minute fulfillment of every detail of prophecy is not to be insisted upon, but only the general fact that Egypt would for a time, described as 40 years, be in a state of collapse. No great stress is to be laid on the exact number of years. The number of years passed in the wilderness became to the Hebrews a significant period of chastisement.

Nebuchadnezzars occupation of Egypt was of no long duration, and his ravages, though severe, must have been partial. Peace with Babylon was favorable to the development of home-works, but since the peace was in truth subjugation, it was hollow and in fact ruinous. Further, it is to be remembered that God fulfils His decree by a gradual rather than an immediate process. The ravages of Nebuchadnezzar were the beginning of the end, and all the desolation which followed may be looked upon as a continuous fulfillment of God’s decree. The savage fury with which Cambyses swept over Egypt amply realized all that Ezekiel foretold. Many places recovered some wealth and prosperity, but from the time of Herodotus the kingdom never again became really independent. Egyptian rulers gave place to Persian, Persian to the successors of Alexander the Great, who gave place in turn to Rome. So thoroughly was the prophecy of Ezekiel fulfilled Ezekiel 29:14-15.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 29:12. Shall be desolate forty years — The country from Migdol or Magdolan, which was on the isthmus between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, was so completely ruined, that it might well be called desert; and it is probable that this desolation continued during the whole of the reign of Amasis, which was just forty years. See Herod. lib. iii. c. 10; and see Calmet.