Ezekiel 29:18

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

Son {H1121} of man {H120}, Nebuchadrezzar {H5019} king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} caused {H5647} his army {H2428} to serve {H5647} a great {H1419} service {H5656} against Tyrus {H6865}: every head {H7218} was made bald {H7139}, and every shoulder {H3802} was peeled {H4803}: yet had he no wages {H7939}, nor his army {H2428}, for Tyrus {H6865}, for the service {H5656} that he had served {H5647} against it:

Complete Jewish Bible

"Human being, N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel had his army mount a massive expedition against Tzor; [the loads of dirt they carried] made every head bald and every shoulder raw; yet neither he nor his army derived any benefit from Tzor out of this expedition against it.

Berean Standard Bible

“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre. Every head was made bald and every shoulder made raw. But he and his army received no wages from Tyre for the labor they expended on it.

American Standard Version

Son 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 29:18 details the immense and unrewarded toil of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, and his army during their protracted siege against the formidable city of Tyrus (Tyre). The verse vividly portrays the physical toll on the soldiers, whose heads were made bald and shoulders peeled from the arduous labor of siege warfare, yet they received no spoils or compensation from Tyre for their exhaustive efforts. This divine observation sets the stage for God's subsequent declaration of justice and recompense, where He promises to give Egypt to Nebuchadrezzar as wages for this unfulfilled service.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a series of prophecies delivered by Ezekiel against various foreign nations, specifically focusing on Egypt in chapters 29-32. It immediately follows a prophecy against Pharaoh Hophra and the land of Egypt, foretelling their desolation. Ezekiel 29:18 serves as a crucial explanatory bridge, providing the divine rationale for God's decision to deliver Egypt into Nebuchadrezzar's hands. The preceding prophecies against Tyre in [Ezekiel 26-28](/ezekiel/26 "Ezekiel 26-28 - Prophecies Against Tyre") describe the city's impending destruction and its immense wealth. The siege of Tyre, which lasted an arduous thirteen years (c. 586-573 BC), is implicitly referenced here as the "great service" performed by Nebuchadrezzar's army. The verse directly anticipates [Ezekiel 29:19-20](/ezekiel/29-19 "Ezekiel 29:19-20 - God's Promise of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar"), where God explicitly promises Egypt as compensation for the Babylonian king's unrewarded efforts against Tyre.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Nebuchadrezzar II, the powerful king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (reigned 605-562 BC), was God's chosen instrument for judgment against Judah and surrounding nations. Tyre was a highly fortified Phoenician city, an island metropolis renowned for its immense wealth, maritime trade, and formidable defenses. The historical siege of Tyre by Nebuchadrezzar was one of the longest and most difficult military campaigns of its era. The imagery of "every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled" vividly depicts the extreme physical hardship endured by the soldiers. "Made bald" likely refers to the constant friction of helmets, the wear of carrying heavy loads on their heads, or even the stress-induced hair loss. "Shoulder peeled" suggests severe chafing, blistering, and injury from repeatedly carrying heavy siege equipment, timber, and supplies for over a decade. This detail underscores the extraordinary human cost of the campaign, which, from a human perspective, yielded no direct reward for the Babylonians.
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 29:18 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Ezekiel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Instrumentality**, demonstrating that God uses earthly rulers, even pagan kings like [Nebuchadrezzar](/jeremiah/27-6 "Jeremiah 27:6 - Nebuchadnezzar as God's Servant"), as instruments to execute His divine judgments and purposes. This underscores God's ultimate control over all human history and kingdoms, even when they act out of their own ambitions. Secondly, the verse introduces the theme of **Unrewarded Labor and Divine Compensation**. The extreme toil and lack of "wages" from Tyre emphasize God's meticulous observation of human effort. He sees and acknowledges the immense "service" rendered, even by those who do not know Him, and promises to provide a just recompense, as explicitly stated in the subsequent verses regarding Egypt. This speaks to God's **Impeccable Justice**, revealing that He is a righteous judge who ensures that all labor, whether for good or ill, ultimately receives its due reward or consequence in His perfect timing and according to His divine plan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **service (Hebrew, _ʻăbôdâh'_):** This term, derived from the root _ʻâbad_ (to work or serve), denotes "work of any kind," including labor, ministry, or bondage. Here, it emphasizes the intense, arduous, and prolonged military effort exerted by Nebuchadrezzar's army against Tyre. It highlights the sheer magnitude of the task, akin to forced labor or a grueling assignment.
* **great (Hebrew, _gâdôwl'_):** This adjective amplifies the preceding "service," indicating its immense scale, difficulty, and significance. It conveys that the siege was not merely a military campaign but an undertaking of extraordinary proportions, demanding exceptional exertion and resources from the Babylonian forces.
* **peeled (Hebrew, _mâraṭ'_):** This vivid verb, meaning "to polish" or "to make bald," is used here metaphorically to describe severe chafing and abrasion. In the context of "every shoulder was peeled," it paints a graphic picture of the soldiers' skin being rubbed raw or stripped away by the constant friction of heavy armor, equipment, and supplies carried over their shoulders during the long siege. It powerfully conveys the physical degradation and suffering endured.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus:"** This opening clause addresses Ezekiel directly, establishing the divine origin of the message. It then identifies Nebuchadrezzar as God's chosen instrument, highlighting his role as the king of Babylon, the dominant power of the age. The phrase "caused his army to serve a great service" emphasizes the immense, prolonged, and difficult military campaign undertaken against Tyre, portraying it as a divinely ordained, albeit humanly executed, task.
* **"every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder [was] peeled:"** This highly descriptive and evocative imagery graphically illustrates the extreme physical toll of the thirteen-year siege. "Every head made bald" refers to the wear and tear on helmets, perhaps even hair loss due to constant friction or the sheer stress of the prolonged conflict. "Every shoulder peeled" vividly depicts the chafing, blistering, and injury caused by carrying heavy siege equipment, armor, and supplies. Together, these phrases convey the utter exhaustion, physical degradation, and immense suffering endured by the Babylonian soldiers.
* **"yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:"** This final clause reveals the crucial point of divine observation and justice. Despite the monumental effort and suffering, Nebuchadrezzar and his army received no spoils or material compensation from Tyre. This was likely because the Tyrians, forewarned or seeing the inevitable, had moved their vast wealth to other locations before the city's final fall. God explicitly notes this unrewarded labor, setting the stage for His subsequent promise of divine recompense in the form of Egypt.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 29:18 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, seen in the vivid description "every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder [was] peeled." While rooted in the physical realities of siege warfare, this extreme imagery serves to emphasize the *overwhelming* and *exhaustive* nature of the Babylonian army's toil, rather than a literal baldness or flaying of every soldier. This hyperbole underscores the magnitude of their uncompensated suffering. **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche** is also at play, where "head" and "shoulder" stand in for the entire person or the physical labor performed by the soldiers, making the description more immediate and impactful. The verse also utilizes **Vivid Imagery**, painting a visceral picture of the soldiers' physical degradation, which evokes empathy and highlights the severity of their "great service." Finally, the underlying concept of God observing and noting this unrewarded labor can be seen as a form of **Divine Observation** or even subtle **Anthropomorphism**, where God is portrayed as meticulously attentive to human affairs and efforts, even those of a pagan king.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 29:18 profoundly illustrates God's meticulous justice and absolute sovereignty over all nations and human endeavors. It reveals that God is not merely an observer of history but its active orchestrator, using even pagan rulers like Nebuchadrezzar as instruments for His divine purposes, whether for judgment or for the fulfillment of His promises. The unrewarded toil of the Babylonian army against Tyre highlights God's unique perspective: He sees and accounts for every effort, every sacrifice, and every uncompensated labor, even when it is performed by those who do not acknowledge Him. This divine recognition of effort, regardless of the actor's spiritual standing, underscores God's impartial justice and His commitment to ensuring that all actions ultimately receive their due, whether in this life or the next. This principle extends to His children, assuring them that no labor in His service goes unnoticed or unrewarded.

* [Ezekiel 29:19](/ezekiel/29-19 "God's Promise of Egypt as Wages")
* [Isaiah 10:5-7](/isaiah/10-5 "Assyria as God's Rod of Anger")
* [Romans 13:1](/romans/13-1 "Governing Authorities Appointed by God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 29:18 offers a profound source of encouragement and a powerful reminder of God's character for believers today. In a world where effort often goes unnoticed, sacrifice unappreciated, and labor unrewarded, this verse reassures us that God sees everything. Just as He meticulously observed Nebuchadrezzar's uncompensated toil, He sees every act of service, every hidden prayer, every quiet perseverance through hardship, and every sacrifice made in His name. This passage reinforces the truth that our ultimate reward comes not from human recognition or earthly compensation, but from the just and sovereign God who misses nothing. It calls us to persevere in our tasks, whether in our vocations, ministries, or daily lives, with the confidence that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. Furthermore, it deepens our trust in God's sovereign control over all things. Even seemingly random or unjust events, like a king's unrewarded military campaign, are woven into His larger, perfect plan. We are reminded that God's justice is perfect; if He compensates a pagan king for his earthly service, how much more will He reward the faithful service of His beloved children, both in this life and eternally?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the assurance that God sees and notes all labor, even unrewarded efforts, encourage you in your current circumstances?**
* **In what areas of your life do you feel your efforts are unnoticed or unappreciated, and how can this verse help you to reframe your perspective?**
* **How does God's use of Nebuchadrezzar as an instrument of His will deepen your understanding of divine sovereignty in a complex world?**
* **What "service" is God calling you to, knowing that He is a righteous judge who will ultimately provide due recompense?**

### FAQ
**Why did Nebuchadrezzar and his army receive "no wages" for their service against Tyre?**

Answer: The biblical text implies that despite the immense and prolonged effort of the thirteen-year siege, Nebuchadrezzar's army did not obtain the anticipated spoils or wealth from Tyre. Historical accounts suggest that the Tyrians, being a maritime people, were able to evacuate much of their valuable possessions by sea to other locations or offshore islands before the final fall of the mainland city. Therefore, when the Babylonians finally conquered Tyre, they found little of the immense riches they had toiled so long and hard to acquire. God, in His divine justice, observed this uncompensated labor and promised to provide a different "wage" for their service, as stated in [Ezekiel 29:19](/ezekiel/29-19 "God's Promised Wages for Nebuchadnezzar").

**How does God use pagan kings and nations, like Nebuchadrezzar and Babylon, to accomplish His purposes?**

Answer: This passage vividly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and rulers, regardless of whether they acknowledge Him. God uses pagan kings like Nebuchadrezzar as instruments of His divine will, often for judgment against disobedient nations, including Israel and Judah. While these rulers act out of their own ambitions and desires for conquest, they unwittingly fulfill God's overarching plan. For example, [Jeremiah 27:6](/jeremiah/27-6 "Nebuchadnezzar as God's Servant") explicitly refers to Nebuchadrezzar as God's "servant." This demonstrates that God's control extends to all human history, orchestrating events and using even ungodly powers to bring about His righteous judgments and to advance His redemptive purposes, ultimately for His glory.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 29:18, with its portrayal of unrewarded labor and God's subsequent divine compensation, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Nebuchadrezzar's "great service" was earthly and driven by conquest, Christ's "service" was one of ultimate obedience and self-sacrifice, culminating in His death on the cross. The Son of God, though divine, "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")), enduring immense suffering and unacknowledged toil for the redemption of humanity. His labor, the bearing of sin and the wrath of God, was a "service" far greater than any military campaign, yet it was met not with earthly "wages" but with rejection, mockery, and crucifixion. However, just as God noted Nebuchadrezzar's uncompensated effort and promised him Egypt as recompense, so too did God the Father observe the perfect, unblemished sacrifice of His Son. The ultimate "wages" for Christ's suffering and obedience were His glorious resurrection, ascension, and exaltation to the highest place, where "every knee should bow... and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord" ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9 "Christ's Exaltation")). Furthermore, for believers, this passage assures us that our labor in the Lord is never in vain ([1 Corinthians 15:58](/1_corinthians/15-58 "Labor in the Lord Not in Vain")). We are called to serve Christ, often in ways that are unseen, unappreciated, or seemingly unrewarded in this life, yet we are promised that our ultimate compensation, our "wages," will come from the righteous Judge who returns with His rewards ([Revelation 22:12](/revelation/22-12 "Jesus' Return with Rewards")), having seen and accounted for every act of faithfulness in Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 27:6

And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

Jeremiah 25:9

Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

Ezekiel 26:7

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.

Ezekiel 26:12

And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.

Jeremiah 48:37

For every head [shall be] bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands [shall be] cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.