Ezekiel 29:19 kjv
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
Ezekiel 29:19 nkjv
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Surely I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he shall take away her wealth, carry off her spoil, and remove her pillage; and that will be the wages for his army.
Ezekiel 29:19 niv
Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army.
Ezekiel 29:19 esv
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army.
Ezekiel 29:19 nlt
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He will carry off its wealth, plundering everything it has so he can pay his army.
Ezekiel 29 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 29:18 | "Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed raw, yet neither he nor his army got wages from Tyre for the service that he rendered against it." | Sets the context for Nebuchadnezzar's unrewarded service against Tyre. |
| Isa 45:1-7 | "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped... For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name... I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places..." | Illustrates God using pagan kings for His purposes and rewarding them. |
| Jer 25:9 | "but I will send for all the tribes of the north,’ declares the LORD, ‘and for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these nations roundabout. I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation." | Identifies Nebuchadnezzar as God's servant used for judgment. |
| Jer 43:10-11 | "and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send for Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hid, and he will spread his royal pavilion among them. He shall come and strike the land of Egypt, bringing those doomed to death into death, those doomed to captivity into captivity, and those doomed to the sword into the sword." | Predicts Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Egypt as God’s judgment. |
| Ezek 26:7 | "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and with chariots and with cavalry, and with companies of many peoples." | Also predicts Nebuchadnezzar’s military actions, this time against Tyre. |
| Ezek 30:24-25 | "I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword into his hand. And I will shatter Egypt by his hand, and they will fall wounded, every one of them... so shall I... and they shall know that I am the LORD." | Confirms God's role in empowering Nebuchadnezzar against Egypt. |
| Ps 17:14 | "Men from the world, whose portion is in life, whose belly you fill with your treasure; they are satisfied with children and leave their leftover treasure to their babes." | Contrasts worldly rewards with God's rewards and ultimate destiny. |
| Rom 4:2-3 | "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”" | Illustrates that divine approval is based on faith, not necessarily earthly reward in the way Nebuchadnezzar received it. |
| Heb 11:6 | "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." | Highlights God's rewarding of those who seek Him by faith. |
| Rev 18:5 | "for her sins are piled high, reaching to heaven, and God has remembered her injustices." | Shows the divine judgment on proud nations, akin to Egypt's fate. |
| Prov 16:4 | "The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." | Reinforces God's sovereignty over all, using even the wicked for His purposes. |
| Ezek 28:6-7 | "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will turn my hand against you, and flay the skin from you, and break your arms, and leave you as a bare rock in the midst of the sea." | Describes judgment against pride, parallel to Egypt's coming fate. |
| Isa 10:5-6 | "Up, Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I give him a command, to bog down all their spoil, to trample them and put them under foot." | God using an aggressor (Assyria) as a tool of judgment. |
| Amos 1:1-5 | Condemns surrounding nations for their cruelties, implying a universal standard of justice. | Shows God's judgment extends to neighboring nations, as seen with Egypt. |
| Ps 76:10 | "Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remainder of wrath you will restrain." | Captures the idea that God can even use human anger and aggression to His glory. |
| Jer 50:17 | "Israel is a scattered sheep that the lions have driven away." | Highlights Israel's vulnerability, implying God's actions are also for their protection or restoration. |
| Ezek 32:11 | "For thus says the Lord GOD: I will draw the sword of the king of Babylon against you, and I will bring down your arms." | Echoes the prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's military action against Egypt. |
| Ezek 17:12-14 | Condemns Zedekiah for breaking his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar, portraying the latter as God's appointed agent. | Shows the legitimacy of Nebuchadnezzar's authority in God's eyes. |
| Rev 17:12-14 | Depicts political powers cooperating against God and being defeated. | Parallels the eventual downfall of empires that oppose God's plan. |
| 1 Cor 3:14 | "If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward." | Relates to the concept of reward for service, though in a spiritual context. |
Ezekiel 29 verses
Ezekiel 29 19 Meaning
This verse is a divine declaration concerning Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. It states that God will grant him Egypt as his payment and reward for his service. This payment is a consequence of Egypt's actions, particularly its defiance and pride against God. It signifies divine judgment executed through human instruments. Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt is presented not as his own achievement, but as God's directed action.
Ezekiel 29 19 Context
This verse is part of a prophecy specifically addressing Egypt, pronounced by Ezekiel the prophet. Egypt, personified as the crocodile (or sea monster) Rahab, is described as proud and defiant against God. In the preceding verses, Tyre is mentioned as a city that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon heavily attacked and laid siege to, but received no spoil or wages for his immense labor. This current prophecy shifts focus to Egypt, proclaiming that God will use Nebuchadnezzar to punish Egypt. Despite Nebuchadnezzar's previous lack of reward against Tyre, he will receive Egypt as his spoil and wages for his service to God's judgment. This occurred historically with Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt, which, while a significant event, was also part of God's wider plan to discipline nations. The broader context involves God's sovereign control over world empires and His use of them to execute judgment upon His people and surrounding nations.
Ezekiel 29 19 Word Analysis
- "For": This conjunction (Hebrew: כִּי, ki) indicates a reason or explanation for what was stated in the previous verse. Nebuchadnezzar’s service was great against Tyre, but without reward; however, for this prophesied action against Egypt, he will receive a reward.
- "Nebuchadrezzar": (Hebrew: נְבֻכַדְרֶאצַּר, Nevukhadretzar) The king of Babylon, a powerful emperor known for his military campaigns and the destruction of Jerusalem. He is consistently portrayed in scripture as an instrument of God's judgment, even though he served his own ambitions.
- "king of Babylon": Identifies his powerful dominion.
- "did cause his army to serve a great service against Tyre": (Hebrew: הִמְלִיךְ צְבָאָתוֹ עֲבֹדָה גְדוֹלָה עַל-צֹר, himlich zev'osoh avodah gedolah al-Tzor) This clause is directly carried over from the previous verse. It emphasizes the tremendous effort and hardship Nebuchadnezzar's army endured in their long siege of Tyre.
- "every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed raw": This vivid imagery describes the extreme exhaustion and distress of the soldiers. Baldness could result from prolonged wearing of helmets and stress, while raw shoulders speak of carrying heavy loads and labor.
- "yet he nor his army got any wages from Tyre": Tyre, despite its fall and devastation, did not provide any compensation or spoils to Nebuchadnezzar and his army for their immense labor. This sets up the contrast with the promise for his service against Egypt.
- "for it": Refers back to Tyre, indicating the service rendered against Tyre.
- "therefore": (Hebrew: לָכֵן, lachen) Introduces the consequence and God's promise concerning Egypt, as a recompense or payment for Nebuchadnezzar's prior unrewarded labor.
- "thus saith the Lord GOD": A standard prophetic formula emphasizing the divine authority of the message.
- "I will give unto him": (Hebrew: נָתַתִּי לוֹ, natati lo) A direct promise from God.
- "the land of Egypt": The object of the grant. Egypt, often described with symbolic names like Rahab (a sea monster or dragon) in prophetic language, represents pride, strength, and pagan power.
- "for a recompense": (Hebrew: שָׂכָר, sakar) meaning wages, hire, reward. God declares that Egypt will be Nebuchadnezzar's payment.
- "for he served about it": (Hebrew: יַעַן עָבַד עָלֶיהָ, ya'an avad alayhih) referring to the service of his army. This phrase has caused some interpretive challenges because Nebuchadnezzar's army primarily served against Tyre, not directly "about" Egypt prior to this prophecy. Some scholars interpret "served about it" as referring to the purpose for which God allowed his army to serve – Nebuchadnezzar's might and the exhausting effort he expended were being preserved and directed by God for a future service regarding Egypt, which God would cause him to undertake. Others see it as referring to his overall service in executing God's will against nations in the region. The Hebrew could also be rendered "because he worked concerning it" or "for he wrought upon it," implying his efforts in the broader regional context of warfare. The Septuagint translates this portion as "for he laboured against them," referring to the Egyptians.
Word Group Analysis
- Nebuchadrezzar... army... served... great service against Tyre: This phrase is critical as it establishes the premise of Nebuchadnezzar's significant, yet unrewarded, military effort. The magnitude of "great service" (עֲבֹדָה גְדוֹלָה, avodah gedolah) highlights the vast expenditure of resources, manpower, and time invested in the siege of Tyre. The lack of wages ("got no wages") underscores his disappointment and sets the stage for divine compensation.
- "thus saith the Lord GOD; I will give unto him the land of Egypt for a recompense": This is the core promise of the verse. It frames Egypt as a divine reward or payment. This perspective is important because it doesn't attribute Nebuchadnezzar's future conquest of Egypt to his own initiative alone, but rather as God's directed action, a grant to his servant king for fulfilling a purpose, albeit unintentionally from Nebuchadnezzar's viewpoint.
Ezekiel 29 19 Bonus Section
The concept of a king being rewarded with land or plunder is ancient and reflects the understanding of warfare in that era. God's promise to Nebuchadnezzar of Egypt as "wages" highlights that even earthly kingdoms are subject to divine administration. The fact that Nebuchadnezzar served "about it" (referring to Egypt) is often understood in the context of the broader period of Egyptian vassalage and Babylonian dominance. Although the primary siege was against Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar's subsequent military activities and influence over Egypt, fulfilling this prophecy, solidified Babylon's regional power. This serves as an example of how God works through complex historical processes, often using powerful, ungodly forces as instruments of His will. It also reinforces the theme throughout Ezekiel that judgment and restoration are often intertwined, though this verse focuses purely on the judgment aspect of Nebuchadnezzar's campaign.
Ezekiel 29 19 Commentary
God’s justice extends to nations, and Nebuchadnezzar, though a pagan king, is depicted as an agent of God’s wrath against proud nations like Tyre and Egypt. This verse reveals a significant aspect of divine sovereignty: God can use even those who do not acknowledge Him to carry out His judgments. Nebuchadnezzar’s armies toiled exhaustingly against Tyre without any tangible reward from the city itself. However, God's plan included compensating Nebuchadnezzar. He would grant him Egypt as his spoils and wages, a reward for the military might and service God had employed. This was not an endorsement of Nebuchadnezzar's cruelty or ambition, but a declaration of how God orchestrates history, utilizing earthly powers to bring about His righteous purposes. Egypt, known for its power and arrogance, would be humbled, and its wealth would serve as compensation for the Babylonians' unrewarded efforts against Tyre. The "service" performed against Tyre thus paved the way for the recompense received from Egypt, demonstrating God's intricate orchestration of historical events to achieve His ultimate aims.