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:
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:
"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.
“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.
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.
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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.
Ezekiel 29:18 describes the immense, unrewarded effort of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and his army during their protracted siege of the wealthy city of Tyrus (Tyre). This verse sets the stage for God's subsequent promise to give Egypt to Nebuchadrezzar as compensation for his arduous service.
Context
This verse is part of a series of prophecies against Egypt, delivered by the prophet Ezekiel. Specifically, it follows a prophecy against Pharaoh Hophra and the land of Egypt, foretelling their desolation. Here, God explains His reasoning for delivering Egypt into Nebuchadnezzar's hands. The Babylonian king had just completed a grueling thirteen-year siege against the island city of Tyre (detailed earlier in Ezekiel 26-28). Despite the immense cost in human toil and resources, Nebuchadnezzar's army failed to secure the vast riches they anticipated from Tyre, as the inhabitants reportedly moved their wealth to new locations before the city's final fall. God observes this uncompensated labor and announces His divine recompense.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The imagery of "every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder [was] peeled" is a powerful and vivid description of the extreme physical toll taken by the long siege. "Made bald" refers to the wear and tear on helmets, perhaps even hair loss from constant friction or stress, while "shoulder peeled" suggests chafing and injury from carrying heavy siege equipment, armor, and supplies. It paints a picture of utter exhaustion and physical degradation, emphasizing the magnitude of the "great service" performed by Nebuchadnezzar's army against Tyre.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 29:18 offers several profound insights for believers today. First, it reassures us that God sees all our labor, even when it feels unrewarded or unappreciated by human standards. Just as He noted Nebuchadnezzar's toil, He observes our efforts in His service, our perseverance through hardship, and our sacrifices. Second, it reinforces the truth of God's sovereign control over all things. Even seemingly random or unjust events, like a king's unrewarded military campaign, fit into His larger, perfect plan. Finally, it reminds us of God's perfect justice. If He compensates a pagan king for his earthly service, how much more will He reward the faithful service of His children, both in this life and eternally? We are called to persevere in our tasks, trusting that God is a righteous judge who will ultimately provide due recompense.