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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 25:12 | Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because Edom dealt vengefully... | Judgment against Edom |
| Isaiah 19:1-25 | The oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud... | Prophecies against Egypt |
| Jeremiah 43:8-13 | Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes... | Jeremiah's prophecy against Egypt |
| Jeremiah 46:1-28 | The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the nations. | Jeremiah's prophecies against nations |
| Psalm 76:1-12 | In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. | God's sovereign power over nations |
| Revelation 18:1-24 | After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven... | Judgment on symbolic Babylon (similar theme) |
| Exodus 14:1-31 | Now the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the people of Israel to turn back..." | Pharaoh's opposition to Israel |
| 2 Chronicles 20:6 | and said, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in the heavens? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations... | Prayer recognizing God's dominion |
| Daniel 4:17, 25, 32 | By the sentence of the watchers the determinations and by the decree of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men... | God's sovereignty over kingdoms |
| Isaiah 10:5-19 | Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury!... | God using nations for judgment |
| Ezekiel 25:3-7 | and you shall say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you said, "Aha!" over my sanctuary... | Judgment against Ammon |
| Ezekiel 28:1-19 | The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre... | Judgment against Tyre |
| Jeremiah 52:31-34 | In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah... | God's faithfulness to His people |
| Ezekiel 29:17-20 | In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me... | Further prophecy against Egypt |
| 2 Kings 18:13-35 | In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah... | Assyrian aggression |
| Isaiah 30:7 | The help of Egypt is worthless and for nothing; therefore I have called her Rahab who does nothing. | Egypt's futility against God |
| Psalm 110:1 | The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." | Messianic conquest of enemies |
| Proverbs 29:25 | The fear of a man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is secure. | Trust in the Lord vs. man |
| Isaiah 14:12-15 | "How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Morning!... | Judgment against Babylon/Satan |
| Nahum 3:1-19 | Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder—no end to the prey! | Prophecy against Nineveh |
Ezekiel 29 verses
Ezekiel 29 2 Meaning
"Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt." This verse marks the beginning of a direct and unsparing prophetic oracle against a specific powerful ruler and his nation, signifying a divine judgment. The instruction to "set your face against" indicates a strong, unwavering gaze of condemnation and opposition.
Ezekiel 29 2 Context
This verse introduces chapter 29 of Ezekiel, a prophecy delivered during the Babylonian exile. Ezekiel is known for his pronouncements of judgment against foreign nations surrounding Israel. Egypt, a powerful ancient empire, often played a role in regional politics and was seen as a rival or tempting alliance for Israel. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, represented both the political might of his nation and often, in biblical literature, a symbol of pride and defiance against God's people and His sovereignty. This prophecy likely relates to Nebuchadnezzar's campaigns against Egypt around the time of the fall of Jerusalem, a period of great distress for the Judean exiles.
Ezekiel 29 2 Word Analysis
"Son of man" (בֶּן־אָדָם - ben-adam): This is Ezekiel's most frequent self-appellation. It emphasizes his humanity, grounding the divine message he carries. It underscores that he is a prophet, a mortal being chosen and empowered by God to deliver His word. This phrase connects him to humanity, highlighting that the message concerns human actions and divine judgment.
"set your face" (שִׂים פָּנֶיךָ - sim panecha): Literally "put your face." This idiomatic expression conveys a sense of directed purpose, intent, and firm opposition. It signifies a strong, unwavering gaze of prophetic pronouncement and divine confrontation. It’s not a passive observation but an active declaration of opposition.
"against" (אֶל־ - el): Indicates directionality and opposition. The prophet's prophetic action is directed squarely at Pharaoh and Egypt.
"Pharaoh" (פַּרְעֹה - Par‘oh): The royal title for the king of Egypt. In the biblical narrative, Pharaoh often represents oppressive power, particularly in the Exodus account. It's a symbol of Egypt's formidable political and military strength.
"king of Egypt" (מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַיִם - melech-Mitzrayim): Identifies the specific individual and nation against whom the prophecy is aimed. It connects the royal title to the broader geopolitical entity.
Ezekiel 29 2 Bonus Section
The prophecy against Egypt in Ezekiel is extensive and spans several chapters (29-32), often involving detailed descriptions of judgment and pronouncements of God's power over all nations. The specific address to Pharaoh here is symbolic of God’s sovereignty over all human rulers and empires, particularly those that seek to oppress or stand against God’s people. Egypt's pride and historical involvement with Israel make it a prominent subject of divine judgment in the prophetic literature. This opening verse is foundational to understanding the scope and intensity of the judgment that will be revealed against Egypt in the subsequent verses.
Ezekiel 29 2 Commentary
Ezekiel is commissioned with a severe and direct prophetic mission. The instruction to "set your face against" Pharaoh, king of Egypt, conveys the seriousness and unwavering nature of God's judgment against this nation and its leader. Egypt, a land historically intertwined with Israel’s past, is now to face divine reckoning. This oracle anticipates a specific period of divine action against Egypt, likely related to its military actions and its perceived opposition to God's will concerning His people. Pharaoh, representing the peak of Egyptian authority and pride, becomes the focal point for this pronouncement. The prophet is called to be a stark, unyielding voice of God’s truth against worldly power.