Ezekiel 29 10

Ezekiel 29:10 kjv

Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.

Ezekiel 29:10 nkjv

Indeed, therefore, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia.

Ezekiel 29:10 niv

therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush.

Ezekiel 29:10 esv

therefore, behold, I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Cush.

Ezekiel 29:10 nlt

I am now the enemy of both you and your river. I will make the land of Egypt a totally desolate wasteland, from Migdol to Aswan, as far south as the border of Ethiopia.

Ezekiel 29 verses

Ezekiel 29 10 Meaning

The prophecy declares that Egypt, personified as a weakened and powerless crocodile, will remain in a desolate state for forty years. Following this period, it will be restored, but its dominance will be replaced by that of younger, stronger nations.

Ezekiel 29 10 Context

This prophecy is delivered to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, a period of profound distress for the people of Judah. Egypt, a long-standing rival and often unreliable ally for Israel, was under Babylonian dominion during this time. Ezekiel 29 specifically targets Pharaoh Hophra (Apries), who had attempted to intervene in Judean affairs. The prophecy serves a dual purpose: it condemns Egypt for its past oppressions and arrogance, and it reassures the exiled Israelites that their reliance on Egypt for strength or rescue will be misplaced, emphasizing that only God can deliver them. This chapter begins a series of prophecies against foreign nations.

Ezekiel 29 10 Word Analysis

• "Therefore": Introduces a consequence or logical conclusion based on preceding statements.
• "thus says": Emphasizes divine authority and direct communication from God.
• "the Lord GOD": Titles signifying supreme sovereignty and covenantal relationship.
• "Behold, I am against you": A direct, confrontational statement indicating imminent divine opposition and judgment.
• "O inhabiter of the land of Egypt": Addresses Egypt directly, highlighting its dwelling place as the target of God's action.
• "you, O creature of the Nile": A vivid personification, portraying Egypt as a mighty but ultimately controllable beast (crocodile) of its river.
  • Creature: The Hebrew word "tannin" can refer to sea monsters, dragons, or crocodiles.
  • Nile: The lifeblood and symbol of Egypt's power.
• "who have said, 'The Nile is mine, and I have made it.'": Accusation of pride, self-deification, and denial of God's creative and sustaining power over the natural world and kingdoms.
  • "mine": Possessive, implying exclusive ownership and control.
  • "I have made it": Claiming independent creation, usurping God's role.
• "Surely": Asserts certainty and affirmation of the following statement.
• "I am against you": Repetition reinforces the severity of God's opposition.
• "and against your rivers": Extends the judgment beyond the land itself to its vital water source, signifying the desolation that will affect its productivity.
• "and I will make the land of Egypt utterly wasted and desolate": The core of the pronouncement – total destruction and barrenness.
  • "utterly wasted": Describes complete ruin and emptiness.
  • "desolate": Implies abandonment and voidness.
• "from the Tower of Syene even to the border of Cush": Defines the comprehensive extent of the judgment, from Egypt's southern border to its northern limits.
  • Tower of Syene (Migdol): A border city in Upper Egypt, symbolizing the furthest reach.
  • Cush: Ancient Nubia/Ethiopia, south of Egypt. This indicates the totality of the judgment covering the land from south to north.
• "no foot of man shall pass through them": A figurative expression of complete abandonment and depopulation, where no traveler would dare traverse the land.
• "and no foot of beast shall pass through them": Reinforces the totality of desolation, affecting even wildlife.
• "for forty years": A significant period in biblical prophecy, often symbolizing a generation, testing, or a time of divine judgment before restoration.

Word-Group Analysis

• "O inhabiter of the land of Egypt, you, O creature of the Nile, who have said...": This phrase establishes Egypt's identity, its perceived source of power (the Nile), and its arrogant self-declaration, setting the stage for divine retribution against its hubris. The Nile, in ancient Egypt, was deified, and Pharaoh was considered divine. Ezekiel is directly confronting this blasphemous claim by stating God is against it and its life source.
• "I will make the land of Egypt utterly wasted and desolate, from the Tower of Syene even to the border of Cush; no foot of man shall pass through them, and no foot of beast shall pass through them, for forty years.": This powerful declaration outlines the scope and duration of God's judgment on Egypt, emphasizing complete desolation and depopulation across its entire territory for an extended, prophetic period, signifying a significant, yet temporary, divine chastisement leading to eventual restoration but diminished power.

Ezekiel 29 10 Bonus Section

The imagery of Egypt as a "creature of the Nile" (Hebrew: "tannin ya'or") powerfully evokes the crocodile, a formidable animal associated with the Nile River, embodying both danger and inherent power in the Egyptian context. The "tannin" also carries connotations of primordial chaos monsters that God subdued during creation (Psalm 74:13-14). By likening Egypt to such a creature, God portrays it as a powerful but ultimately controllable entity within His divine order, subject to His sovereign will. This prophecy directly confronts the Egyptian religious system that often deified the Nile and saw Pharaoh as divine, asserting that God is the true creator and sustainer of all, including the great river and the nation it sustains.

Ezekiel 29 10 Commentary

The prophecy against Egypt in Ezekiel 29:10 is a declaration of divine judgment aimed at curbing its pride and overconfidence. Egypt's power was intrinsically linked to the Nile, which its people revered. By declaring the land utterly desolate for forty years, God demonstrates His supreme authority over creation and all nations. This judgment, while severe, is not eternal. It signifies a period of discipline for Egypt and a reminder to Israel of their ultimate dependence on God alone, not on foreign alliances. The mention of "forty years" is a symbolic number often representing a generation or a period of trial, after which a form of restoration occurs, though not to its former hegemonic status.