Ezekiel 29 19

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 verses

Ezekiel 29 19 meaning

Ezekiel 29:19 declares a divine pronouncement from the Lord God that He will hand over the wealthy land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. This act is presented as God's specific compensation to Nebuchadnezzar and his army for their arduous and ultimately unrewarded siege of Tyre. God, as the ultimate sovereign, dictates the fate of nations and directs the outcomes of earthly conflicts, ensuring that even His chosen instruments of judgment receive their due.

Ezekiel 29 19 Context

This verse is part of God's final oracle against Egypt, delivered in the twenty-seventh year of Ezekiel's exile, around 573 BC (Ezek 29:17). The preceding verses (29:1-16) describe God's judgment against Pharaoh, likening him to a great sea monster (dragon) whose pride would lead to Egypt's downfall and desolation.

The specific context of verse 19 hinges on the mention of Tyre. Nebuchadnezzar's army had successfully besieged Tyre for 13 years (historically verified, ending c. 573 BC), an incredibly taxing and costly campaign. Despite their immense effort, the spoil was largely disappointing because the wealthy island-fortress of Tyre managed to move much of its valuable goods by sea before the final collapse of the mainland city. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar and his army labored greatly "for no wages" from Tyre (Ezek 29:18). This verse then directly links God's giving of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as a compensatory act – a "wage" for his prior, difficult, and unrewarded service in fulfilling God's will against Tyre. This emphasizes God's sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations and His meticulous justice, even towards a pagan ruler who, unknowingly, served His divine purposes.

Ezekiel 29 19 Word analysis

• Therefore thus says the Lord God: This opening phrase asserts divine authority. Adonai Yahweh (אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִה֙) combines the majestic title "Lord" (implying ownership and absolute control) with the covenant name "Yahweh" (the self-existent, faithful God). This establishes the pronouncement as an undeniable, certain decree from the ultimate Sovereign.
• 'Behold: The Hebrew Hinneh (הִנְנִ֨י) is an interjection used to call attention and introduce something new, significant, and imminent. It emphasizes the certainty and divine declaration of what follows.
• I will give the land of Egypt: God directly states His agency. Mitzrayim (מִצְרַ֗יִם), Egypt, was a powerful, wealthy nation, often seen as a symbol of worldly strength and a source of false hope for Israel (Isa 30:1-7). God's "giving" it highlights His ownership and ability to dispense nations as He pleases.
• to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon: Nəḇūḵaḏəneṣṣar (נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֤ר) is identified as the human instrument of divine judgment. He is not acting on his own power alone, but as a servant fulfilling God's predetermined plan (Jer 27:6).
• and he shall carry off her wealth and seize her spoil and plunder, This series of phrases, "carry off her wealth" (nāśāʾ ḥêlāh נָשָׂא חֵילָ֔הּ), "seize her spoil" (bāzaz bizzāh וּבָזַז בִּזָּהּ֙), and "plunder" (shālal shəlālāh וְשָׁלַל שְׁלָלָ֔הּ), uses strong, overlapping terms to emphasize the totality and completeness of the conquest. It signifies a thorough appropriation of all of Egypt's immense resources and riches. The repetition underscores the comprehensive nature of the devastation.
• and it shall be the wages for his army.' The Hebrew śāḵār ləḥêlô (שָׂכָ֖ר לְחֵילֽוֹ) means "reward" or "payment for hire" for his army. This is the crucial point: God is specifically compensating Nebuchadnezzar for the long and unrewarded siege of Tyre (Ezek 29:18). It underscores God's meticulous justice and that even non-believing entities can serve His purpose and receive recompense from Him.

Ezekiel 29 19 Bonus section

• The historical fulfillment of this prophecy is a powerful testament to the reliability of biblical prophecy. Extra-biblical sources (like the Babylonian Chronicles and inscriptions) attest to Nebuchadnezzar's campaign into Egypt around 568/567 BC, though details of its scale are debated, the principle of the prophecy regarding God's hand in history is upheld.
• Egypt, for all its ancient glory and power, was destined by God to suffer prolonged desolation, after which it would recover but remain a diminished kingdom, never again rising to rule over other nations (Ezek 29:14-16). This perpetual humbling was a stark warning against pride and a demonstration of God's ultimate authority over all world empires.
• The use of Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king, as "My servant" (Jer 25:9, 43:10) illustrates that God's instruments are not limited to His covenant people. He utilizes all entities, even those unaware of His purposes, to achieve His will. This underscores the comprehensive nature of God's control, extending even to the ambitions and actions of earthly rulers.

Ezekiel 29 19 Commentary

Ezekiel 29:19 is a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty over nations and their rulers. It reveals that human events, even the grandest geopolitical struggles, unfold according to God's divine will and purpose. Nebuchadnezzar, a mighty pagan king, is portrayed not as an independent conqueror but as a direct instrument in God's hand. God specifically grants him Egypt as a divine "wage" for his unrewarded labor against Tyre, demonstrating that all effort, when serving God's ultimate plan, is acknowledged and repaid by Him.

This prophecy not only foretells a significant historical event – Babylon's invasion and plunder of Egypt, which occurred around 568/567 BC – but also communicates several key theological truths. First, it asserts God's meticulous justice: Nebuchadnezzar’s costly, hard-fought campaign against Tyre yielded little, but God ensures a suitable recompense from Egypt. Second, it highlights the folly of trusting in worldly powers like Egypt; Israel often sought Egypt's aid, which God consistently condemned. Here, Egypt itself falls victim, demonstrating its inability to protect even itself, let alone those who rely on it. Finally, it reinforces that God orchestrates history, moving nations and kings as He sees fit, for His glory and to fulfill His ultimate plan for redemption and judgment.