Ezekiel29

Ezekiel 29 delivers a prophecy against Pharaoh and Egypt, likening Pharaoh to a great dragon boasting of his power over the Nile. The Lord declares He will bring judgment upon Egypt, making it desolate for forty years and scattering its people, because they were an unreliable "staff of reed" to Israel. After this period, Egypt will be restored as a "base kingdom," never again to exalt itself. Furthermore, Egypt is promised as spoil to Nebuchadrezzar for his unrewarded service against Tyrus, and Israel's strength will be renewed.
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Prophecy Against Pharaoh and Egypt (Dated)

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. ​

The Desolation of Egypt

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. ​

Egypt's Limited Restoration

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. ​

Egypt Given as Wages to Babylon

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. ​

Study Notes for Ezekiel 29

Verse 1

This precise dating (January 587 BCE) places this oracle shortly before Jerusalem’s final siege and fall, addressing the geopolitical situation where Judah still looked to Egypt for military salvation.

Verse 3

Pharaoh is compared to the 'great dragon' (*tannin*), a powerful metaphor for the massive Nile crocodile, symbolizing Egypt’s destructive power and arrogance. His claim, 'My river is mine own,' reflects the ultimate hubris of claiming ownership over the source of life (the Nile), which belongs to God alone.

Verse 4

The imagery of putting 'hooks in thy jaws' demonstrates God’s absolute sovereignty over the most powerful earthly ruler, treating Pharaoh like a wild beast to be subdued and dragged out of his domain.

Verse 6

Egypt’s judgment is linked directly to its failure as an ally to Israel. The phrase 'staff of reed' became a famous biblical metaphor for unreliability, as a reed provides no true support and shatters when leaned upon.

Verse 7

This verse graphically describes the physical injury Israel suffered by relying on Egypt: when they gripped the reed (Egypt) for support, it broke, wounding them instead.

Verse 10

The geographical marker 'from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia' encompasses the entire length of Egypt, indicating a judgment that will be complete and universal across the land.

Verse 11

The severity of the judgment is emphasized by a complete cessation of life and movement, rendering the land uninhabitable for a set period.

Verse 12

The 'forty years' represents a significant biblical period of judgment or testing (cf. the wilderness wandering). This duration suggests a comprehensive purging of the nation’s power and pride.

Verse 13

Unlike prophecies against Tyre or Ammon, Egypt is promised a future restoration, though its power will be permanently diminished, highlighting God’s control over all nations.

Verse 14

Pathros refers to Upper Egypt (southern region). The return to this area suggests a diminished, less strategically significant kingdom.

Verse 15

Egypt will be reduced to the 'basest of the kingdoms.' This ensures that Egypt can never again become a dominant world power or a source of temptation for Israel to rely on human strength rather than God.

Verse 16

The ultimate purpose of this judgment is theological: to remove Israel’s false confidence and compel both nations to recognize the sovereign power of Yahweh.

Verse 17

This second oracle is dated April 571 BCE, making it the latest dated prophecy in the entire book of Ezekiel. It was given after Nebuchadnezzar had concluded his long siege of Tyre.

Verse 18

Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Tyre (c. 586–573 BCE) was notoriously long and costly. The lack of 'wages' suggests the inhabitants escaped by sea before the final capture, denying the Babylonian army the promised plunder.

Verse 19

God promises Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as compensation for his labor against Tyre. This shows God using the geopolitical ambitions of pagan kings to execute His divine plan and maintain justice.

Verse 20

The Babylonians 'wrought for me,' meaning they were unwittingly instruments of divine judgment against God’s enemies, even though they did not know the God of Israel.

Verse 21

The downfall of Egypt (an enemy of God's people) is immediately linked to the future restoration of Israel. The 'horn' symbolizes renewed strength and royal power, pointing toward the eventual reestablishment of the Davidic line (messianic hope).

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