Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1In the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
3Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’
4But 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.
5I 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.
7When Israel took hold of you with their hands, you splintered, tearing all their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke, and their backs were wrenched.
10therefore I am against you and against your rivers. I will turn the land of Egypt into a ruin, a desolate wasteland from Migdol to Syene, and as far as the border of Cush.
12I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolate lands, and her cities will lie desolate for forty years among the ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.
15Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the nations. For I will diminish Egypt so that it will never again rule over the nations.
16Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”
18“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.
19Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army.
21In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth to speak among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
In this chapter, the prophet Ezekiel pronounces God's judgment against Egypt and Pharaoh during the final years of Jerusalem's exile. Using vivid imagery—Pharaoh as a great dragon in the Nile—Ezekiel declares that Egypt will be devastated for forty years as punishment for its pride and for being an unreliable ally to Israel. Yet the prophecy concludes with hope: after this period of desolation, Egypt will be restored as a humble, lesser nation. The chapter also introduces a second oracle explaining how Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon will receive Egypt as payment for his lengthy siege of Tyre. Throughout, God's sovereignty and faithfulness to His people shine clearly.
The dating formula in verse 1 places this prophecy in 587 BC, during Jerusalem's final siege. Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against Pharaoh, making this a judgment oracle. The imagery in verse 3 is striking: Pharaoh is described as "the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers," referring to his dominion over the Nile and Egypt's wealth. His boastful declaration—"My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself"—reveals the sin at the heart of his judgment: pride and self-reliance rather than recognition of God's sovereignty.
God's response is vivid and humbling (verses 4–5). The hooks placed in Pharaoh's jaws and the fish sticking to his scales depict God's absolute control. The ruler who claimed ownership of his rivers will be dragged out, stripped bare, and abandoned to wild beasts—a symbol of utter defeat and shame. This shows that no earthly power, however great, can stand against the living God.
Verse 6 reveals the deeper reason for judgment: Egypt had been "a staff of reed" to Israel—a false support, unreliable and weak. When the exiled Israelites sought Egyptian help or alliance, Egypt proved useless, even harmful (verse 7). Rather than strengthening Israel, Egypt "broke" and caused injury, leaving God's people in worse straits. This betrayal of covenant people could not go unanswered.
The judgment is comprehensive (verses 8–12): sword, desolation, and forty years of abandonment from "the tower of Syene" to Ethiopia (Egypt's full extent). The land will become a wasteland among wastelands. The Egyptians themselves will be scattered among nations. The repetition of "waste," "desolate," and "forty years" emphasizes the severity and totality of the coming judgment. Importantly, verse 9 again names the sin: claiming the river as one's own achievement rather than God's provision.
God's judgment is not permanent (verses 13–14). After forty years, He will gather the scattered Egyptians and restore them to Pathros (Upper Egypt). However, restoration does not mean restoration to former glory. Verse 15 is clear: Egypt "shall be the basest of the kingdoms" and will no longer rule over other nations. God will diminish Egypt as a permanent reminder of His power and the futility of pride.
Most significantly for Israel (verse 16), Egypt will no longer be a temptation or false confidence for God's people. This teaches that the Lord protects His covenant people from unhelpful alliances and false hopes, even through judgment on other nations.
A second oracle (seventeen years later) explains that Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers, unpaid after the grueling siege of Tyre, will receive Egypt as their wages (verses 18–20). God Himself grants Egypt to Babylon as just compensation for service rendered to Him.
Verse 21 offers the final, glorious word: in that day, God will cause "the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth" and give Israel "the opening of the mouth"—restored strength, voice, and influence. All nations will know the LORD's faithfulness to His covenant.
Application for Today
Ezekiel 29 warns against the pride that imagines we are self-made or self-sufficient. Whether nations, leaders, or individuals, all depend wholly on God's providence. The chapter also assures believers that the Lord judges those who betray His people and ultimately secures their restoration. We can trust God's sovereignty even when surrounded by powerful kingdoms, and we need never place our confidence in earthly powers that cannot ultimately protect us.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 29
5 sectionsIn this chapter, the prophet Ezekiel pronounces God's judgment against Egypt and Pharaoh during the final years of Jerusalem's exile. Using vivid imagery—Pharaoh as a great dragon in the Nile—Ezekiel declares that Egypt will be devastated for forty years as punishment for its pride and for being an unreliable ally to Israel. Yet the prophecy concludes with hope: after this period of desolation, Egypt will be restored as a humble, lesser nation. The chapter also introduces a second oracle explaining how Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon will receive Egypt as payment for his lengthy siege of Tyre. Throughout, God's sovereignty and faithfulness to His people shine clearly.
The dating formula in verse 1 places this prophecy in 587 BC, during Jerusalem's final siege. Ezekiel is commanded to prophesy against Pharaoh, making this a judgment oracle. The imagery in verse 3 is striking: Pharaoh is described as "the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers," referring to his dominion over the Nile and Egypt's wealth. His boastful declaration—"My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself"—reveals the sin at the heart of his judgment: pride and self-reliance rather than recognition of God's sovereignty.
God's response is vivid and humbling (verses 4–5). The hooks placed in Pharaoh's jaws and the fish sticking to his scales depict God's absolute control. The ruler who claimed ownership of his rivers will be dragged out, stripped bare, and abandoned to wild beasts—a symbol of utter defeat and shame. This shows that no earthly power, however great, can stand against the living God.
Verse 6 reveals the deeper reason for judgment: Egypt had been "a staff of reed" to Israel—a false support, unreliable and weak. When the exiled Israelites sought Egyptian help or alliance, Egypt proved useless, even harmful (verse 7). Rather than strengthening Israel, Egypt "broke" and caused injury, leaving God's people in worse straits. This betrayal of covenant people could not go unanswered.
The judgment is comprehensive (verses 8–12): sword, desolation, and forty years of abandonment from "the tower of Syene" to Ethiopia (Egypt's full extent). The land will become a wasteland among wastelands. The Egyptians themselves will be scattered among nations. The repetition of "waste," "desolate," and "forty years" emphasizes the severity and totality of the coming judgment. Importantly, verse 9 again names the sin: claiming the river as one's own achievement rather than God's provision.
God's judgment is not permanent (verses 13–14). After forty years, He will gather the scattered Egyptians and restore them to Pathros (Upper Egypt). However, restoration does not mean restoration to former glory. Verse 15 is clear: Egypt "shall be the basest of the kingdoms" and will no longer rule over other nations. God will diminish Egypt as a permanent reminder of His power and the futility of pride.
Most significantly for Israel (verse 16), Egypt will no longer be a temptation or false confidence for God's people. This teaches that the Lord protects His covenant people from unhelpful alliances and false hopes, even through judgment on other nations.
A second oracle (seventeen years later) explains that Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers, unpaid after the grueling siege of Tyre, will receive Egypt as their wages (verses 18–20). God Himself grants Egypt to Babylon as just compensation for service rendered to Him.
Verse 21 offers the final, glorious word: in that day, God will cause "the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth" and give Israel "the opening of the mouth"—restored strength, voice, and influence. All nations will know the LORD's faithfulness to His covenant.
Ezekiel 29 warns against the pride that imagines we are self-made or self-sufficient. Whether nations, leaders, or individuals, all depend wholly on God's providence. The chapter also assures believers that the Lord judges those who betray His people and ultimately secures their restoration. We can trust God's sovereignty even when surrounded by powerful kingdoms, and we need never place our confidence in earthly powers that cannot ultimately protect us.