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Ezekiel 29

21 verses

TL;DR

Ezekiel proclaims God’s judgment on Egypt’s pride and its eventual desolation, followed by a promise of restoration and a warning that Israel will not benefit from Egypt’s fall.

Summary

In verses 1‑12, Ezekiel is commanded to pronounce God’s judgment upon Pharaoh and Egypt, likening the king to a great dragon that claims ownership over the river and its fish. God declares that He will bring hooks into the king’s jaws, cause the fish to stick to his scales, and ultimately leave Egypt desolate, turning its people into food for beasts of the field and birds of the sky. The text emphasizes that the Egyptians will recognize God as LORD, yet the nation’s hubris will lead to a forty‑year period of ruin, with no people—human or animal—passing through its borders. In verses 13‑16, God promises to gather the scattered Egyptians after the forty‑year desolation and return them to their homeland in Pathros, where they will become a base kingdom, humbled and no longer able to dominate Israel. Finally, verses 17‑21 shift to a declaration that Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar will be rewarded with Egypt’s land as wages for his service, and God will see Israel’s decline, underscoring that the Lord’s judgments extend to both Egypt and Israel.

Outline
  1. God’s judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt’s pride
  2. Desolation of Egypt for forty years and Israel’s awareness
  3. Restoration of Egypt to Pathros and Nebuchadnezzar’s reward
Themes
Judgment and sovereignty of GodDestruction of pride and reliance on material resourcesHope for restoration and future humility
Keywords
LORDPharaohEgyptIsraelBabylonPathrosriverdesolationrestorationcaptivityswordhooks
People
EzekielPharaoh king of EgyptNebuchadrezzar king of Babylon
Places
EgyptSyeneEthiopiaPathrosTyrusBabylon
Things
riverfishhookssworddesolationcaptivitykingdom
Key Verses
  • Ezekiel 29:3: God declares Himself as the sovereign judge against Pharaoh, setting the tone of divine authority.
  • Ezekiel 29:10: The verse vividly describes the complete desolation of Egypt, emphasizing the severity of judgment.
  • Ezekiel 29:13: It introduces the promise of restoration after forty years, showing God’s mercy after judgment.
  • Ezekiel 29:17: Nebuchadnezzar’s reward connects the fate of Egypt with Israel’s decline, illustrating divine justice across nations.
Questions
  • How does the imagery of the fish and hooks convey God’s judgment on Egypt’s pride?
  • In what ways does the promise of a ‘base kingdom’ in Pathros reflect Israel’s relationship with Egypt?
  • What does the inclusion of Nebuchadnezzar’s reward reveal about God’s sovereignty over multiple empires?
  • How can we apply the theme of desolation followed by restoration to modern contexts?
  • Why does the text emphasize that Israel will not find confidence in Egypt’s downfall?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter contains strong judgment and desolation but also a hopeful promise of restoration, leading to a mixed emotional tone.