Ezekiel 29:2 kjv
Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:
Ezekiel 29:2 nkjv
"Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt.
Ezekiel 29:2 niv
"Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.
Ezekiel 29:2 esv
"Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt;
Ezekiel 29:2 nlt
"Son of man, turn and face Egypt and prophesy against Pharaoh the king and all the people of Egypt.
Ezekiel 29 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 29:1 | In the tenth year... the word of the LORD came to me... | Sets date & origin of prophecy |
| Ezek 30:2-3 | Son of man, prophesy and say... Woe to the day! For the day is near | General judgment on Egypt |
| Ezek 32:2 | Son of man, take up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt... | Further prophecy, lament over Egypt's fall |
| Jer 43:8-10 | ...the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes: ...Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon... | Prophecy of Babylon's conquest of Egypt |
| Jer 46:2-3 | Against the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt... | Prophecy against a specific Pharaoh |
| Isa 19:1-2 | A prophecy against Egypt: See, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud... | General oracle against Egypt |
| Isa 30:1-3 | Woe to the rebellious children, says the LORD, who carry out a plan... go down to Egypt... | Warns against trusting Egypt |
| Isa 31:1-3 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... they rely on horses... | Condemns reliance on Egypt's military |
| Exod 7:3-5 | ...I will harden Pharaoh’s heart... Egyptians will know that I am the LORD... | God's power over Pharaoh at the Exodus |
| Exod 14:4 | And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory... | God glorified through Pharaoh's downfall |
| Ps 105:27-30 | He sent Moses His servant... They performed His signs among them in the land of Ham... | God's work of judgment and deliverance |
| Deut 17:16 | He must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt... | Prohibition against relying on Egypt |
| Hos 7:11 | Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived, senseless—calling to Egypt, going to Assyria. | Israel seeking foreign alliances |
| Amos 1:1 | ...which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah... | Example of prophets judging nations |
| Zep 2:4-5 | For Gaza shall be deserted... Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast... | Example of judgments against neighbors |
| Isa 20:3-5 | As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot... in shame over Cush and Egypt... | Shame for those trusting in Egypt and Cush |
| Zec 10:11 | ...the scepter of Egypt will depart... | Prophecy of Egypt's diminished power |
| Judg 6:10 | And I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites... but you have not obeyed My voice.' | Remembering deliverance from Egypt's bondage |
| Rev 11:8 | ...the great city that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. | Egypt as a symbol of spiritual oppression |
| Mal 1:11 | For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations... | God's ultimate glory over all nations |
| Ps 87:4 | "I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge Me... Ethiopia, Tyre, Philistia – 'This one was born in Zion.'" | Hope for ultimate redemption even of former adversaries (Rahab=Egypt) |
| Acts 7:22 | And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians... | Acknowledges Egypt's high civilization |
Ezekiel 29 verses
Ezekiel 29 2 Meaning
The LORD's command to the prophet Ezekiel is a direct divine directive to pronounce an oracle of judgment against Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, and by extension, against the entire nation of Egypt. This declaration highlights God's sovereignty over all nations and His intention to hold even mighty world powers accountable for their pride, idolatry, and role in deceiving or harming His people. It signifies the coming downfall of Egypt's supposed might and stability.
Ezekiel 29 2 Context
Ezekiel 29:2 introduces the first of seven distinct oracles of judgment delivered by Ezekiel against Egypt, spanning chapters 29-32. This particular prophecy is dated to the tenth year, tenth month, and twelfth day of Judah's captivity (Ezek 29:1), placing it in January of 587 or 586 BC, just before or after the final fall of Jerusalem.
Historically, Egypt was a formidable power and often an unreliable ally for Judah against the rising dominance of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The prophets, including Isaiah and Jeremiah, frequently condemned Judah for trusting in Egypt's military might rather than solely relying on the LORD (Isa 30-31, Jer 2:36). At this time, Pharaoh Hophra (Apries) ruled Egypt, continuing its traditional role of influencing regional politics and offering deceptive aid. This prophecy against Egypt is crucial because it reassures the exiles that the LORD is not merely concerned with Judah's fate but actively reigns over all world powers. It also demonstrates divine justice against a nation that served as a "staff of reed"—a weak and untrustworthy support—to Israel and boasted of its own strength (Ezek 29:6-7). The specific target, Pharaoh, represents the embodiment of Egypt's pride and its pagan pantheon, which YHWH intended to humble.
Ezekiel 29 2 Word analysis
- Son of man (בֶן־אָדָם, ben-adam): This is Ezekiel's most frequent title (over 90 times), highlighting his human frailty in contrast to the divine majesty of the one giving the command. Yet, it also signifies his representative role as a figure through whom God's divine word is mediated to humanity.
- set your face against (שִׂים פָּנֶיךָ עַל, sim paneikha al): An idiomatic expression signifying firm resolve, confrontation, and directed opposition. It conveys an unwavering posture of divine judgment and underscores the prophet's obedience in embodying God's unyielding stance. This mirrors God's own action of setting His face against sinners or nations.
- Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה, par‘ōh): The royal title for the Egyptian king. Historically, in Ezekiel's time, this was Pharaoh Hophra (Apries). Biblically, Pharaoh embodies resistance to God (Exod 5:2) and the personification of worldly pride and power.
- king of Egypt (מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם, melekh Mitsrayim): An emphatic clarification, stressing the full extent of his earthly authority and his ultimate accountability to the true sovereign King, YHWH. It differentiates him from other rulers or entities.
- and prophesy against him (וְהִנָּבֵא עָלָיו, we-hinnabē ‘ālāyw): The direct command for a verbal declaration of divine judgment. "Against him" specifically targets Pharaoh, signifying judgment on his personal pride, his defiance of God, and his deceptive policies.
- and against all Egypt (וְעַל־כָּל־מִצְרַיִם, we-‘al-kol-Mitsrayim): Extends the judgment beyond the king to encompass the entire nation. This means the political entity, its people, its resources, and its idol worship are all subject to divine decree. Egypt's numerous gods and powerful empire are implicitly challenged by the sole sovereignty of YHWH.
Ezekiel 29 2 Bonus section
The phrase "set your face against" has deep biblical roots, often signifying a divine act of stern judgment (e.g., Lev 20:3, 5-6). It conveys an active and intentional opposition, not mere observation. In Ezekiel, this idiom is also used in judgment prophecies against Ammon (Ezek 25:2), Sidon (Ezek 28:21), and Gog (Ezek 38:2), establishing a consistent pattern of God's resolute will against nations defying Him. The ultimate judgment on Egypt as an empire that represents the world's false sense of security and a rival to YHWH's authority prepares the reader for its role as a theological symbol in later biblical texts, often representing the fallen, worldly system opposed to God's kingdom. Pharaoh, as an individual ruler, frequently served as a type of arrogant, God-defying worldly power that would ultimately be humbled before the living God, echoing the Exodus narrative where God repeatedly demonstrated His power over the gods of Egypt.
Ezekiel 29 2 Commentary
Ezekiel 29:2 delivers a pivotal divine command, directing the prophet to confront one of the most powerful and self-assured nations of the ancient world. The emphasis on "Son of man" underscores the paradox of God using a mortal to declare judgment against a mighty monarch. "Set your face against" highlights the firm and uncompromising nature of God's coming judgment. Pharaoh, as the embodiment of Egypt's political and religious hubris, represents a civilization that relied on its own strength and gods, often misleading God's people. The dual target, "him and all Egypt," signifies that divine judgment is comprehensive, touching both leadership and the populace. This prophecy served as a critical message of God's universal sovereignty to both the exiled Judahites and the broader pagan world, affirming that no nation, however great, is beyond His divine jurisdiction and justice. It provided hope for the exiles, demonstrating that their God was powerful even over the nations oppressing and influencing them.