Ezekiel 29:5

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.

And I will leave {H5203} thee thrown into the wilderness {H4057}, thee and all the fish {H1710} of thy rivers {H2975}: thou shalt fall {H5307} upon the open {H6440} fields {H7704}; thou shalt not be brought together {H622}, nor gathered {H6908}: I have given {H5414} thee for meat {H402} to the beasts {H2416} of the field {H776} and to the fowls {H5775} of the heaven {H8064}.

and leave you in the desert, you and all your Nile fish. You will fall in the open field and not be gathered or buried; but I will give you as food to wild animals and birds.

I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish of your streams. You will fall on the open field and will not be taken away or gathered for burial. I have given you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air.

And I will cast thee forth into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open field; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered; I have given thee for food to the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens.

Commentary on Ezekiel 29:5 (KJV)

Ezekiel 29:5 is part of a powerful prophetic oracle delivered by God through the prophet Ezekiel against Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt. This verse vividly describes the ultimate humiliation and destruction awaiting Egypt, emphasizing a complete lack of dignity in their downfall.

Context

The prophecy in Ezekiel chapter 29, given in the tenth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, targets Egypt because of its pride and its unreliable nature as an ally to Israel. Pharaoh is depicted as a "great dragon" or "monster" (Hebrew: tannin) in the midst of his rivers, boasting of his self-made power and control over the Nile, which was the lifeblood of Egypt (Ezekiel 29:3). God declares His intention to put hooks in Pharaoh's jaws and drag him and all his "fish" (representing his people, armies, and supporters) out of the rivers (Ezekiel 29:4). Verse 5 then details the grim fate that awaits them once they are removed from their perceived place of strength and security.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The verse unequivocally states, "I will leave thee... I have given thee," highlighting God's absolute control over nations and their destinies. This is a clear declaration of divine judgment against Egypt's arrogance and faithlessness.
  • Utter Humiliation and Desolation: To be "thrown into the wilderness" and "fall upon the open fields" signifies a complete removal from their fertile land and a state of utter abandonment. The emphasis on "thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered" underscores the severe dishonor of being left unburied. In ancient cultures, a proper burial was crucial for dignity and mourning; its absence was a profound curse and a sign of ultimate disgrace.
  • Consequences of Pride and Unreliability: Egypt's downfall serves as a stark warning against national pride and the dangers of relying on human alliances rather than trusting in God. Their fate of becoming "meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven" illustrates the horrific consequences of defying the Almighty.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "fish of thy rivers" refers to the vast population and military might of Egypt, which thrived due to the Nile River. The "wilderness" (Hebrew: midbar) denotes a desolate, uncultivated, and uninhabited land, contrasting sharply with the fertile Nile Delta. The description of bodies being left as "meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven" is a common biblical motif for extreme judgment and dishonor, echoing similar pronouncements in Jeremiah 8:2 and Deuteronomy 28:26, where it is listed as a curse for disobedience.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 29:5 reminds us that God is sovereign over all nations and individuals. It serves as a potent warning against pride and self-sufficiency, illustrating that all perceived human strength and glory are ultimately subject to God's will. For believers, it underscores the importance of humility and relying on God's unwavering faithfulness, rather than on the shifting sands of human alliances or worldly power. The judgment against Egypt highlights that unreliability and opposition to God's purposes will ultimately lead to ruin and dishonor, while faithfulness brings true security and blessing.

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 34:20

    I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.

  • Jeremiah 8:2

    And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.

  • Jeremiah 7:33

    And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray [them] away.

  • Ezekiel 32:4

    Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.

  • Ezekiel 32:6

    I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest, [even] to the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee.

  • Jeremiah 25:33

    And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from [one] end of the earth even unto the [other] end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

  • Psalms 110:5

    ¶ The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

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