Ezekiel 29:20

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.

I have given {H5414} him the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714} for his labour {H6468} wherewith he served {H5647} against it, because they wrought {H6213} for me, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}.

I am giving him the land of Egypt as his wages for which he worked, because they were working for me,' says Adonai ELOHIM.

I have given him the land of Egypt as the reward for his labor, because it was done for Me, declares the Lord GOD.

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

Ezekiel 29:20 is the concluding verse of a prophetic oracle concerning Egypt, specifically addressing the divine reward given to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

Context

The book of Ezekiel contains numerous prophecies against surrounding nations, demonstrating God's sovereignty over all peoples, not just Israel. Chapter 29 initiates a series of prophecies against Egypt, a nation often seen as a symbol of worldly power and a source of false hope for ancient Israel. Prior to this verse, Ezekiel 29:18-19 describes Nebuchadnezzar's arduous, thirteen-year siege of Tyre, a major Phoenician city. Despite the immense effort, the Babylonian army gained no significant spoil from Tyre, as its inhabitants likely moved their wealth to islands or other strongholds before the city's final fall. This verse, therefore, explains God's compensatory action for Nebuchadnezzar's fruitless labor, indicating Egypt as the reward for his military campaign.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: This verse powerfully illustrates that God is the ultimate ruler over all nations and their kings. Even pagan rulers like Nebuchadnezzar are unwitting instruments in His hands to execute His judgments. God orchestrates historical events to fulfill His purposes, whether it's punishing Tyre or rewarding Babylon. This theme resonates with Daniel 2:21, which states that God removes kings and sets up kings.
  • God's Justice and Compensation: The Lord God is just and ensures that even those who unknowingly serve His purposes receive their due. Nebuchadnezzar's immense effort against Tyre, though not directly for God's glory, was a "labour wherewith he served against it" that aligned with God's divine judgment on Tyre. Therefore, God rewards him with the plunder of Egypt, a rich and fertile land. This highlights God's meticulous attention to justice and recompense for labor.
  • Egypt as a Reward: The choice of Egypt as a reward is significant. Egypt was a powerful kingdom, representing considerable wealth and strategic importance. Its defeat and plunder by Babylon would have been a substantial gain, compensating for the lack of spoils from Tyre. This prophecy also served as a warning to those in Judah who still looked to Egypt for help against Babylon.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "wrought for me" (Hebrew: עָבַד לִי, 'avad li) implies a service rendered. While Nebuchadnezzar was certainly not serving God consciously in a covenantal sense, he was performing a task that aligned with God's divine will and judgment against Tyre. This emphasizes God's ability to use any agent, even those hostile to Him, to achieve His global objectives. The title "Lord GOD" (Hebrew: אֲדֹנָי יְהִוִה, Adonai Yahweh) signifies God's absolute authority and covenant faithfulness, reinforcing the certainty of His pronouncements.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 29:20 reminds us that God is actively involved in the affairs of nations and individuals. Even when events seem chaotic or driven by human ambition, God remains sovereign, working out His ultimate plan. For believers, this offers comfort and assurance that God is in control, even in the midst of global turmoil or personal struggles. It encourages us to trust in His justice and His timing, knowing that He sees and accounts for all labor, even that which seems unrewarded in the moment. It also underscores that God can use all things, even the actions of those who do not acknowledge Him, for His purposes.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 10:6

    I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

  • Isaiah 10:7

    Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but [it is] in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

  • Isaiah 45:1

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

  • Isaiah 45:3

    And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call [thee] by thy name, [am] the God of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 10:30

    And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing [that which is] right in mine eyes, [and] hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that [was] in mine heart, thy children of the fourth [generation] shall sit on the throne of Israel.

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