Ezekiel 29:4

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.

But I will put {H5414} hooks {H2397}{H2397} in thy jaws {H3895}, and I will cause the fish {H1710} of thy rivers {H2975} to stick {H1692} unto thy scales {H7193}, and I will bring thee up {H5927} out of the midst {H8432} of thy rivers {H2975}, and all the fish {H1710} of thy rivers {H2975} shall stick {H1692} unto thy scales {H7193}.

But I will put hooks in your jaws and make your Nile fish stick to your scales. Yes, I will bring you up from your Nile, with all your Nile fish sticking to your scales,

But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to cling to your scales. I will haul you up out of your rivers, and all the fish of your streams will cling to your scales.

And 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.

Ezekiel 29:4 is part of a powerful prophecy delivered by God through the prophet Ezekiel against Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt. This verse uses vivid, almost terrifying imagery to describe God's absolute control and impending judgment over a mighty world power.

Context

The prophecy in Ezekiel chapter 29 begins with a direct condemnation of Pharaoh, described in Ezekiel 29:3 as a "great dragon" or "great monster" (Hebrew: tannin) lying in the midst of his rivers, boasting of his self-sufficiency. This imagery likely refers to a crocodile, a dominant creature of the Nile River, symbolizing Egypt's formidable power and its king's pride. Egypt, particularly under Pharaoh Hophra, was a significant political and military force in the ancient Near East, often sought as an unreliable ally by Judah, as seen in other prophetic books like Jeremiah 37:7.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The central message is that God is sovereign over all nations and rulers, even those as powerful as ancient Egypt. He declares, "I will put hooks in thy jaws," illustrating a fisherman's absolute control over a captured beast. This signifies God's undisputed power to humble the proud and bring down empires.
  • The Downfall of Pride: Pharaoh's arrogance, believing the Nile was his own creation, is met with God's decisive action. The imagery of being "brought thee up out of the midst of thy rivers" signifies being removed from the source of his perceived strength and exposed to vulnerability.
  • Consequences for Allies: "All the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales" depicts the complete downfall of Egypt's allies and subjects, who are caught up in Pharaoh's judgment. They are inextricably linked to their leader's fate, clinging to him even in his defeat, unable to escape the divine reckoning.

Linguistic Insights

The term "dragon" or "great monster" (Hebrew: tannin) used for Pharaoh in the preceding verse sets the stage for the vivid imagery of a colossal beast being captured. The "hooks in thy jaws" (Hebrew: ḥakkot) is a powerful metaphor, also found in Isaiah 37:29 concerning the King of Assyria, emphasizing God's ability to lead and control powerful rulers as if they were mere animals.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 29:4 serves as a timeless reminder that no earthly power, no matter how great or self-sufficient it appears, is beyond God's ultimate control. It teaches us to place our trust not in human strength, political alliances, or material resources, but in the Almighty God who "frustrateth the counsel of the heathen, and maketh the devices of the people of none effect" (Psalm 33:10). It calls for humility, recognizing that all authority is derived from Him, and all pride will eventually be brought low.

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.

  • Ezekiel 38:4

    And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts [of armour, even] a great company [with] bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:

  • 2 Kings 19:28

    Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

  • Isaiah 37:29

    Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

  • Amos 4:2

    The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.

  • Habakkuk 1:14

    And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, [that have] no ruler over them?

  • Habakkuk 1:15

    They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

  • Job 41:1

    ¶ Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord [which] thou lettest down?

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