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 30:16 (KJV)

Context

Ezekiel 30:16 is part of a larger prophecy in which the Lord announces judgment against Egypt. The verse declares that God will kindle a fire in Egypt, bringing great distress to its cities. This declaration follows a series of judgments pronounced in the preceding verses for Egypt’s pride, idolatry, and opposition to God’s people.

Ezekiel was an Old Testament prophet who ministered to the Israelites during the Babylonian exile in the sixth century BCE. At that time Egypt was a powerful nation that many Israelites looked to for help and protection against their enemies. The historical reality, however, showed Egypt to be an unreliable ally that could not provide the security the Israelites sought.

Meaning

The verse specifically mentions three Egyptian cities—Sin, No, and Noph—identified in many translations with Pelusium, Thebes, and Memphis respectively. Sin (Pelusium) is described as being in great pain. Pelusium was a fortified city on Egypt’s eastern border, and the language suggests it would suffer through warfare, invasion, or other calamities. No (Thebes) is said to be rent asunder, implying severe destruction or division, possibly the result of military conquest or internal conflict. Noph (Memphis) is said to have daily distresses, indicating a prolonged period of hardship and instability for the ancient capital and cultural center.

The phrase “I will set fire in Egypt” symbolizes war and consumption, as seen in Ezekiel 30:8. Sin’s “great pain” is compared to a woman in travail, indicating imminent and unavoidable destruction. No being “rent asunder” refers to its walls being breached, possibly alluding to the waters around it (cf. Nahum 3:8). Noph’s “distresses daily” points to continuous enemy pressure.

Biblical connections

The broader context (Ezekiel 30:1-19) emphasizes that this judgment comes because of Egypt’s arrogance and sin, and it serves to demonstrate that God is sovereign over all nations. The verse underscores that human power and alliances are unreliable, and that God alone is worthy of trust.

Application

For believers, this passage is a reminder of God’s holiness and justice, and a call to rely on Him rather than worldly powers. It also foreshadows the ultimate victory of God’s kingdom over all earthly opposition.