Ezekiel 29:12 kjv
And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
Ezekiel 29:12 nkjv
I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries."
Ezekiel 29:12 niv
I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.
Ezekiel 29:12 esv
And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of desolated countries, and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries.
Ezekiel 29:12 nlt
I will make Egypt desolate, and it will be surrounded by other desolate nations. Its cities will be empty and desolate for forty years, surrounded by other ruined cities. I will scatter the Egyptians to distant lands.
Ezekiel 29 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 29:1 | Against Egypt, announced at the beginning of Jehoiachin's | Prophetic declaration |
| Ezekiel 29:2 | Cry out against Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his kingdom, | Oracle against Pharaoh |
| Ezekiel 29:3 | Speak and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I am against you, | God's judgment |
| Ezekiel 29:4 | I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your | Symbolic language |
| Ezekiel 29:10 | Therefore, I am against you and against your streams, and | Specific judgment |
| Ezekiel 29:11 | No foot of man or foot of beast shall pass through it, | Utter desolation |
| Ezekiel 29:13 | Moreover, thus says the Lord God: At the end of forty | Future restoration |
| Ezekiel 30:1 | The word of the LORD came to me: | Oracle continuation |
| Jeremiah 43:10 | but say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of | Prophecy to exiles |
| Jeremiah 46:1 | The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet | Oracle against Egypt |
| Isaiah 19:1 | The oracle concerning Egypt. | Prophecy against Egypt |
| Isaiah 19:5 | The waters will fail from the sea; the rivers will | Water desolation |
| Jeremiah 52:30 | in the thirty-seventh year of Jehoiachin’s exile, | Historical context |
| 2 Kings 24:10 | At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of | Historical context |
| 2 Chronicles 36:10 | And when the year was ended, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and | Historical context |
| Psalm 137:1 | By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, | Lament and exile |
| Lamentations 1:1 | How lonely sits the city that was full of people! | Lament over Jerusalem |
| Ezekiel 6:14 | I will lay Your carcass upon the carcasses of your idols, | Judgment against idols |
| Ezekiel 14:13 | “Son of man, if a land sins against me by trespassing | Covenant and sin |
| Nahum 3:1 | Woe to the bloody city! | Judgment on Nineveh |
| Revelation 11:8 | and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the | Spiritual symbolism |
| Revelation 18:2 | "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a | Judgment on nations |
Ezekiel 29 verses
Ezekiel 29 12 Meaning
For forty years I will make the land of Egypt desolate among the desolate countries, and its streams will become a desolation.
Ezekiel 29 12 Context
This verse is part of a larger prophecy against Egypt delivered by Ezekiel. The prophecy spans several chapters (29-32) and focuses on God's judgment against Egypt, personified as the powerful but proud Nile monster, Rahab. The immediate context is God's declaration of direct opposition to Pharaoh and Egypt, promising a complete devastation. This desolation is specifically tied to the Nile and its waterways, the very source of Egypt's life and prosperity. The prophecy was given during the Babylonian exile, a time when many Jewish exiles looked to Egypt for support, which was a misplaced hope as Egypt itself would fall.
Ezekiel 29 12 Word Analysis
For forty years (מִשְׁפַּט אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה - mishpat arba'im shanah): The number "forty" often signifies a period of testing, judgment, or transition in the Bible. Here it represents a prolonged period of divine judgment and desolation for Egypt.
I will make (וְנָתַתִּי - v'natati - "and I will give"): Emphasizes God's active role in bringing about this judgment. It signifies a deliberate act of His sovereign will.
the land of Egypt (אֶרֶץ־מִצְרָיִם - erets-Mitzrayim): Refers to the geographical territory and people of Egypt.
desolate (שְׁמָמָה - shemamah): Means utter ruin, emptiness, and barrenness. It indicates a state of severe devastation where life cannot flourish.
among the desolate countries (בְּתוֹךְ הָאֲרָצוֹת הַשֹּׁמֵּמוֹת - b'tokh ha'aratzot ha'shomemot): This intensifies the desolation, suggesting that even among other devastated lands, Egypt's ruin would be particularly marked and recognized for its severity.
and its streams (וְנַהֲרוֹתֶיהָ - v'naharo-teha): Specifically points to the Nile River and its many tributaries and canals, which were the lifeblood of Egypt.
shall be desolation (תִּהְיֶיןָ לִשְׁמָמָה - tihyeh-nah lishmamah): Reinforces the total ruin of the waterways, signifying the complete destruction of Egypt's agricultural and economic basis.
Group analysis of the core message: The verse paints a stark picture of divine retribution upon Egypt, marked by a protracted period of profound desolation affecting its very life source—its waters. The number forty signifies a comprehensive and exhaustive period of judgment, rendering Egypt an extreme example of God's wrath against pride and opposition.
Ezekiel 29 12 Bonus Section
The prophecy against Egypt, particularly this verse, is understood by some as a judgment fulfilled during the period of Nebuchadnezzar's campaigns and rule over Egypt, though the exact duration of "forty years" of total desolation can be interpreted in various ways, potentially referring to the cumulative impact of conquests and instability. This desolation was not a permanent state, as Ezekiel 29:13-16 speaks of a future restoration. The "forty years" is a symbolic number, underscoring the completeness and severity of God's judgment, designed to humble a proud nation. The imagery of drying streams connects to a broader biblical theme of divine judgment affecting waters (e.g., the Red Sea crossing, judgment on Assyria).
Ezekiel 29 12 Commentary
This verse pronounces a severe judgment on Egypt, signifying forty years of widespread desolation. The emphasis is on the drying up and ruin of its streams, representing the complete loss of fertility, prosperity, and security that its vital waterways provided. This period was intended to serve as a stark example of God's power and judgment, particularly in contrast to Egypt's historical boastfulness and perceived invincibility. The desolation was to be so profound that even other nations, already experiencing hardship, would recognize Egypt's exceptional state of ruin.