THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
On that day, envoys will arise from My presence, meaning that a decree will emerge from Me to bring destruction upon complacent Ethiopia.
Ezekiel 30:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
In that day shall messengers go forth from my face in ships to destroy the confidence of Ethiopia, and there shall be dread among them in the day of Egypt: because it shall certainly come.
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יֵצְא֨וּ מַלְאָכִ֤ים מִלְּפָנַי֙ בַּצִּ֔ים לְהַחֲרִ֖יד אֶת־כּ֣וּשׁ בֶּ֑טַח וְהָיְתָ֨ה חַלְחָלָ֤ה בָהֶם֙ בְּי֣וֹם מִצְרַ֔יִם כִּ֥י הִנֵּ֖ה בָּאָֽה׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
He referred to Ethiopia as a source of hope due to the dependence the Egyptians had on them for assistance. In Greek, the term Siyeim translates to ‘in strength’. God states that when the Egyptians endure these hardships, their allies, the Ethiopians, will be distressed. This anxiety will arise not only from the misfortunes befalling the Egyptians but also from the threats they will face themselves, which they will become aware of through the messengers I shall dispatch. In response, they will be quick to act according to the instructions given to them.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Isa 18:1Woe to the land, the winged cymbal, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
- Isa 18:2That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, and in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters. Go, ye swift angels, to a nation rent and torn in pieces: to a terrible people, after which there is no other: to a nation expecting and trodden underfoot, whose land the rivers have spoiled.
- Isa 23:5When it shall be heard in Egypt, they will be sorry when they shall hear of Tyre:
- Ezek 32:9And I shall provoke to anger the heart of many people, when I shall have brought in thy destruction among the nations upon the lands, which thou knowest not.
- Ezek 32:10And I will make many people to be amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when my sword shall begin to fly upon their faces: and they shall be astonished on a sudden, every one for his own life, in the day of their ruin.
- Isa 20:3And the Lord said: As my servant Isaiah hath walked, naked and barefoot, it shall be a sign and a wonder of three years upon Egypt, and upon Ethiopia,
- Zeph 2:15This is the glorious city that dwelt in security: that said in her heart: I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desert, a place for beasts to lie down in? every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
- Jer 49:31Arise, and go up to a nation that is at ease, and that dwelleth securely, saith the Lord: they have neither gates, nor bars: they dwell alone.