Ezekiel Chapter 29 — The Judgment and Restoration of Egypt
God declares judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt for their pride and for failing as an ally to Israel, promising a period of exile and a humble return.
1In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.
3Speak and say, ‘The Lord GOD says:
4I will put hooks in your jaws,
5I’ll cast you out into the wilderness,
6“ ‘ “All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke and paralyzed all of their thighs.”
8“ ‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will bring a sword on you, and will cut off man and animal from you.
9The land of Egypt will be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
10therefore, behold, I am against you and against your rivers. I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even to the border of Ethiopia.
11No foot of man will pass through it, nor will any animal foot pass through it. It won’t be inhabited for forty years.
12I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities among the cities that are laid waste will be a desolation forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.”
13“ ‘For the Lord GOD says: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were scattered.
14I will reverse the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth. There they will be a lowly kingdom.
15It will be the lowest of the kingdoms. It won’t lift itself up above the nations any more. I will diminish them so that they will no longer rule over the nations.
16It will no longer be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to memory, when they turn to look after them. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.” ’ ”
17It came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
18“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was worn; yet he had no wages, nor did his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it.
19Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off her multitude, take her plunder, and take her prey. That will be the wages for his army.
20I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he served, because they worked for me,’ says the Lord GOD.
21“In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Ezekiel 29:6
“All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.”
This verse establishes the reason for Egypt's judgment, citing their unreliability as an ally to God's people.
Ezekiel 29:15
“It will be the lowest of the kingdoms. It won’t lift itself up above the nations any more. I will diminish them so that they will no longer rule over the nations.”
This marks a significant shift in the historical status of Egypt, prophesying its transition from a superpower to a minor kingdom.
Ezekiel 29:21
“In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
This concluding verse offers a glimpse of future hope and strength for Israel amidst the judgments on surrounding nations.
Chapter Summary
In the tenth year of exile, Ezekiel receives a word from the LORD directed at Pharaoh and all of Egypt. The chapter uses the imagery of a great river monster being pulled from the Nile with hooks to describe Pharaoh's coming downfall. God explains that Egypt is being judged because they were a 'staff of reed' to Israel—when the Israelites leaned on them for support, the staff broke and caused injury. The prophecy details that Egypt will become a desolate wasteland for forty years, and its people will be scattered among the nations. After this period, God promises to gather the Egyptians back to their native land of Pathros. However, they will return as a 'lowly kingdom,' never again rising to rule over other nations. A later prophecy from the twenty-seventh year is added, stating that because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon received no wages from his difficult siege of Tyre, God would give him the wealth of Egypt as payment for his service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The metaphor of a staff of reed refers to a support that looks sturdy but breaks when someone actually leans on it. God uses this to describe how Egypt failed to provide the military support Israel expected, instead causing them harm.
The text states that Egypt would be a desolation and its people would be scattered for a period of forty years before God would gather them back to their land.
Because Nebuchadnezzar's army worked hard during the siege of Tyre without receiving significant spoils, God declared that the conquest of Egypt and the taking of its wealth would serve as their payment.
Study Note
The date provided in verse 1 corresponds to January 587 BC, a time when Pharaoh Hophra was attempting to break the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem.
Related Chapters
Isaiah 36
Isaiah also uses the 'broken reed' metaphor to describe Egypt's unreliability as an ally.
Jeremiah 46
This chapter contains Jeremiah's parallel prophecy regarding the defeat of Egypt by Babylon.
Ezekiel 26
Ezekiel 26 details the siege of Tyre, which is referenced in this chapter as the reason Nebuchadnezzar is given Egypt.
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