Ezekiel 29ASV
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Ezekiel29

American Standard Version · Public Domain

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

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

3speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lieth in the midst of his rivers, that hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.

4And 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, with all the fish of thy rivers which stick unto thy scales.

5And I will cast thee forth into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open field; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered; I have given thee for food to the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens.

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

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

8Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and will cut off from thee man and beast.

9And the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste; and they shall know that I am Jehovah. Because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it;

10therefore, behold, I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even unto the border of Ethiopia.

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

12And 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.

13For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the peoples whither they were scattered;

14and I will bring back the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth; and they shall be there a base kingdom.

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

16And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to remembrance, when they turn to look after them: and they shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah.

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

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

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

20I have given him the land of Egypt as his recompense for which he served, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord Jehovah.

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

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 29.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The desolation of Egypt. (1-16). Also a promise of mercy to Israel. (17-21).

vv1-16

Worldly, carnal minds pride themselves in their property, forgetting that whatever we have, we received it from God, and should use it for God. Why, then, do we boast? Self is the great idol which all the world worships, in contempt of God and his sovereignty. God can force men out of that in which they are most secure and easy. Such a one, and all that cleave to him, shall perish together. Thus end men's pride, presumption, and carnal security. The Lord is against those who do harm to his people, and still more against those who lead them into sin. Egypt shall be a kingdom again, but it shall be the basest of the kingdoms; it shall have little wealth and power. History shows the complete fulfilment of this prophecy. God, not only in justice, but in wisdom and goodness to us, breaks the creature-stays on which we lean, that they may be no more our confidence.

vv17-21

The besiegers of Tyre obtained little plunder. But when God employs ambitious or covetous men, he will recompense them according to the desires of their hearts; for every man shall have his reward. God had mercy in store for the house of Israel soon after. The history of nations best explains ancient prophecies. All events fulfil the Scriptures. Thus, in the deepest scenes of adversity, the Lord sows the seed of our future prosperity. Happy are those who desire his favour, grace, and image; they will delight in his service, and not covet any earthly recompence; and the blessings they have chosen shall be sure to them for ever.

Cross References

Ezekiel 29
v6Isaiah 36:6allusion

Direct verbal echo of Egypt as a broken staff of reed that pierces the hand leaning on it.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v2Jeremiah 44:30fulfillment

Explicit fulfillment where God promises to deliver Pharaoh Hophra (Apries) into the hands of his enemies.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Isaiah 37:29allusion

Verbal parallel of putting hooks in jaws to drag down proud, rebellious rulers.

Supported by JFB

v3Isaiah 51:9thematic

Identifies the Egyptian ruler metaphorically as the great dragon or monster of the waters.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Daniel 4:30thematic

Parallels Pharaoh's proud boast ('I made it for myself') with Nebuchadnezzar's pride.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v18Ezekiel 26:7-12thematic

Details Nebuchadnezzar's long, grueling siege against Tyre for which his army received no spoils.

Supported by JFB

v19Jeremiah 43:10-13fulfillment

Prophetic fulfillment showing Nebuchadnezzar invading Egypt, taking its spoil, and executing judgment.

Supported by JFB

v5Ezekiel 32:4-6thematic

Expands the imagery of the slain Egyptian monster left on open fields for beasts.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v14Ezekiel 30:13-17thematic

Further details on the specific geographic locations of Egypt's judgment, including Pathros.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Psalms 132:17thematic

Thematic parallel to making the horn of Israel to bud, representing messianic hope and restoration.

Supported by JFB

v21Ezekiel 24:27thematic

Parallels the promise of giving Ezekiel 'the opening of the mouth' in the midst of them.

Supported by JFB

Historical account of Israel's false trust in Egypt, which briefly raised the Babylonian siege.

Supported by JFB

v13Isaiah 19:22thematic

Parallels the eventual healing and return of mercy promised to Egypt after judgment.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v14Ezekiel 17:14thematic

Parallels the decree that Egypt would become a base kingdom kept low so as not to rise.

Supported by JFB

v20Isaiah 45:1-3thematic

Thematic parallel of God employing pagan rulers (Cyrus/Nebuchadnezzar) and rewarding them for service.

Supported by Matthew Henry