Ezekiel 29

¹ In the tenth year, in the tenth [month], in the twelfth [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

² Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:

³ Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river [is] mine own, and I have made [it] for myself.

⁴ But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.

⁵ And I will leave thee [thrown] into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.

⁶ And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I [am] the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.

⁷ When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.

⁸ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.

⁹ And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD: because he hath said, The river [is] mine, and I have made [it].

¹⁰ Behold, therefore I [am] against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste [and] desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.

¹¹ No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.

¹² 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.

¹³ Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:

¹⁴ And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return [into] the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.

¹⁵ It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.

¹⁶ And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth [their] iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD.

¹⁷ And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first [month], in the first [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

¹⁸ Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder [was] peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:

¹⁹ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.

²⁰ I have given him the land of Egypt [for] his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.

²¹ In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

Table of Contents

Overview of Ezekiel 29

Ezekiel 29 is a prophetic chapter in the Book of Ezekiel that addresses the nation of Egypt. This chapter is part of a larger section where the prophet Ezekiel delivers messages of judgment against various nations. In this chapter, God speaks through Ezekiel to pronounce judgment on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt, emphasizing the consequences of their pride and idolatry.

Key Themes

Judgment Against Egypt: The chapter outlines God’s judgment against Egypt, symbolized by Pharaoh, who is depicted as a great dragon in the Nile.
Pride and Hubris: The text highlights the pride of Pharaoh and Egypt, which leads to their downfall.
God’s Sovereignty: The chapter emphasizes God’s control over nations and His ability to bring them to ruin.
Restoration: Despite the judgment, there is a promise of eventual restoration for Egypt.

Detailed Analysis

Verses 1-6: Prophecy Against Pharaoh

The chapter begins with a date reference, marking the time of the prophecy. God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against Pharaoh, describing him as a “great dragon” lying in the midst of the Nile. This imagery symbolizes Pharaoh’s power and arrogance.

The dragon represents Egypt’s strength and its reliance on the Nile for sustenance.
God accuses Pharaoh of claiming to be the source of Egypt’s prosperity, thus exhibiting pride.
The prophecy declares that God will bring judgment upon Pharaoh, leading to Egypt’s desolation.

Verses 7-12: The Consequences of Egypt’s Pride

In these verses, God outlines the consequences of Pharaoh’s pride and the eventual destruction of Egypt.

God states that Egypt will be like a broken reed, which cannot support those who lean on it.
The land will be devastated, and the people will be scattered among the nations.
The prophecy emphasizes that Egypt will be desolate for forty years, a period of judgment and punishment.

Verses 13-16: Restoration of Egypt

After the period of judgment, God promises to restore Egypt. This section highlights the theme of hope amidst judgment.

God will gather the Egyptians back to their land after the forty years of desolation.
Egypt will be a lowly kingdom, no longer a major power, but it will regain its identity.
This restoration signifies God’s mercy and the possibility of redemption for nations that have faced judgment.

Verses 17-21: The Role of Nebuchadnezzar

The chapter concludes with a reference to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, who will be used as an instrument of God’s judgment against Egypt.

Nebuchadnezzar will wage war against Egypt, and God will give him the land as a reward for his service.
This section underscores the theme of God using foreign powers to execute His will.
God’s sovereignty is highlighted as He orchestrates events in the world according to His plan.

Conclusion

Ezekiel 29 serves as a powerful reminder of God’s judgment against pride and idolatry, particularly in the context of Egypt. The chapter balances themes of judgment with hope for restoration, emphasizing God’s ultimate authority over nations and His desire for repentance and redemption. Through vivid imagery and prophetic declarations, Ezekiel conveys a message that resonates with the broader themes of the Book of Ezekiel.

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Andrew

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