New American Standard Bible 1995

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Ezekiel

29

:

12

"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."

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
"So I will make to give, put, set Verb H5414 וְנָתַתִּ֣י ve·na·tat·ti
the land earth, land Noun H776 אֶרֶץ֩ e·retz
of Egypt a son of Ham, also his desc. and their country in N.W. Africa Noun H4714 מִצְרַ֨יִם mitz·ra·yim
Analysis:

Egypt is often associated with the secular world. We become enslaved to our worldly desires, such as job, money, cars. In other words the world or (Egypt) looks good and very tempting until we get so wrapped up in it that we become a slave to it.

Read more about: Egypt
a desolation devastation, waste Noun H8077 שְׁמָמָ֜ה she·ma·mah
in the midst midst Noun H8432 בְּתֹ֣וךְ be·to·vch
of desolated to be desolated or appalled Verb H8074 נְשַׁמֹּ֗ות ne·sham·mo·vt
lands. earth, land Noun H776 אֲרָצֹ֣ות a·ra·tzo·vt
And her cities, city, town Noun H5892 וְעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ ve·'a·rei·ha
in the midst midst Noun H8432 בְּתֹ֨וךְ be·to·vch
of cities city, town Noun H5892 עָרִ֤ים a·rim
that are laid waste, to be waste or desolate Verb H2717 מָֽחֳרָבֹות֙ ma·cho·ra·vo·vt
will be desolate devastation, waste Noun H8077 שְׁמָמָ֔ה she·ma·mah,
forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֖ים ar·ba·'im
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

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years; a year Noun H8141 שָׁנָ֑ה sha·nah;
and I will scatter to be dispersed or scattered Verb H6327 וַהֲפִצֹתִ֤י va·ha·fi·tzo·ti
the Egyptians a son of Ham, also his desc. and their country in N.W. Africa Noun H4714 מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ mitz·ra·yim
among the nations nation, people Noun H1471 בַּגֹּויִ֔ם bag·go·v·yim,
and disperse to scatter, fan, winnow Verb H2219 וְֽזֵרִיתִ֖ים ve·ze·ri·tim
them among the lands." earth, land Noun H776 בָּאֲרָצֹֽות׃ ba·'a·ra·tzo·vt.

Locations

Dispersion

DISPERSION, THEdis-pur'-shun, (diaspora):1. Golah and Dispersion2. Purpose of Dispersion3. Causes of Dispersion4. Extent of Dispersion5. The Eastern Dispersion6. The Egyptian Dispersion7. Testimony of Aramaic Papyri8. Jewish Temple at Syene9. Theories of the Syene Settlement10. Importance of the Discovery11. A New Chapter of Old Testament History12. Alexandr... View Details

Egypt

EGYPTe'-jipt:I. THE COUNTRY1. The Basis of the Land 2. The Nile Valley 3. Earliest Human Remains 4. Climate 5. Conditions of Life 6. The Nile 7. The Fauna 8. The Flora 9. The Prehistoric RacesII. THE HISTORY1. 1st and 2nd Ages: Prehistoric 2. 3d Age: Ist and IInd Dynasties 3. 4th Age: IIIrd through VIth Dynasties 4. 5th Age: VIIth through XIVth Dynasties 5.... View Details

Parallel Verses

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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."
King James Bible "So And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation desolate in the midst of desolated lands. And the countries that are desolate, and her cities, in cities among the midst of cities that are laid waste, will waste shall be desolate forty years; years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations nations, and will disperse them among through the lands."countries.
Hebrew Greek English "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."