Ezekiel 29 13

Ezekiel 29:13 kjv

Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:

Ezekiel 29:13 nkjv

'Yet, thus says the Lord GOD: "At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered.

Ezekiel 29:13 niv

"?'Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered.

Ezekiel 29:13 esv

"For thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered,

Ezekiel 29:13 nlt

"But this is what the Sovereign LORD also says: At the end of the forty years I will bring the Egyptians home again from the nations to which they have been scattered.

Ezekiel 29 verses

Ezekiel 29 13 Meaning

For forty years I will make Egypt a desolation and a waste, and from the youngest to the oldest shall be cast among the nations into scattered lands.

Ezekiel 29 13 Context

This verse is part of Ezekiel's prophecy against Egypt. God declares a period of forty years during which Egypt will be laid waste and its people scattered among the nations. This judgment is a consequence of Egypt's pride and its past actions against Israel. Ezekiel is prophesying during the Babylonian exile, a time when the southern kingdom of Judah is also facing severe judgment. Egypt, though a neighbor and often an ally of Judah, had also historically acted against God's people, notably by siding with Jerusalem against Babylon. The forty-year period signifies a complete and prolonged devastation. This judgment serves as a demonstration of God's power and sovereignty over all nations, including Egypt, which was considered a great power.

Ezekiel 29 13 Word analysis

• For (ki): This is a conjunction, indicating cause or reason.
• forty (arba'im): The number forty is often symbolic in Scripture, representing a period of testing, judgment, or a generation.
• years (shanim): The duration of the prophesied desolation.
• I will make (eth'aseh): Emphasizes God's active role in bringing about the judgment.
• Egypt (mitsrayim): Refers to the nation and land of Egypt.
• a desolation (meshammah): Signifies a state of emptiness, ruin, and utter destruction.
• and (v'): A coordinating conjunction.
• a waste (ve'eri): Indicates a barren, unfruitful, and deserted condition.
• and from (u'mikkol): Connects the previous statement with the fate of its people.
• the youngest (mikkatanam): From their least, referring to the young and vulnerable.
• to (ve'ad): "Up to" or "until."
• the oldest (gedolehem): To their greatest, encompassing all ages.
• shall be cast out (yuttashshu): They will be violently expelled or dispersed.
• among (be): In the midst of.
• the nations (ha'ummim): Refers to Gentile peoples.
• into (el): To.
• scattered (netutzim): Dispersed, scattered abroad without a homeland or a specific place.
• lands (artson): Lands or countries, signifying displacement and exile.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "For forty years": This signifies a definite, prolonged period of divine action, emphasizing thoroughness in judgment, possibly alluding to a generation's experience.
• "I will make Egypt a desolation and a waste": This paints a vivid picture of complete ruin, indicating not just physical destruction but a state of lifelessness and emptiness for the land itself.
• "and from the youngest to the oldest shall be cast out": This underscores the comprehensive nature of the judgment, affecting every person in Egypt without exception, from the most vulnerable to the most powerful.
• "among the nations into scattered lands": This describes the consequence of the judgment: exile and dispersion. Egypt's people will lose their national identity and be scattered among foreign peoples, highlighting their loss of place and unity.

Ezekiel 29 13 Bonus section

The forty-year period can be understood in light of similar significant durations in scripture, such as the forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after their rebellion in Kadesh-Barnea (Num 14:33). This connection suggests that prolonged judgment can also serve as a form of testing and a preparation for a future restoration or repentance. Ezekiel's prophecy against Egypt is multifaceted, describing not only a period of judgment but also foretelling its eventual rehabilitation and participation in worship at the Lord's house (Ezek 43:27, Ezek 45:15), emphasizing that God’s judgment ultimately serves His redemptive purposes for humanity and the nations.

Ezekiel 29 13 Commentary

This verse delivers a severe prophetic judgment against Egypt, setting a duration of forty years for its desolation and the scattering of its people among the nations. The "forty years" implies a complete generational cycle of ruin, a prolonged period where Egypt's power and prominence are obliterated. This judgment is not arbitrary but a demonstration of God’s sovereignty over all nations, including one as mighty as Egypt. The scattering of its people from the youngest to the oldest signifies a comprehensive dispersion, stripping Egypt of its population and national integrity. This serves as a stern warning against pride and against those nations that oppress God's people. Though severe, prophetic pronouncements often hold within them a broader scope of God’s dealings, including ultimate restoration for repentant nations, as seen in other prophecies concerning Egypt.