Ezekiel 29 21

Ezekiel 29:21 kjv

In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 29:21 nkjv

'In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.' "

Ezekiel 29:21 niv

"On that day I will make a horn grow for the Israelites, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 29:21 esv

"On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 29:21 nlt

"And the day will come when I will cause the ancient glory of Israel to revive, and then, Ezekiel, your words will be respected. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 29 verses

Ezekiel 29 21 meaning

Ezekiel 29:21 presents a future promise from God to the "house of Israel," spoken amidst prophecies of judgment against Egypt. This verse anticipates a restoration of strength and prominence for Israel, symbolized by "making a horn grow," and a renewed ability to testify or speak prophetically, represented by "opening the mouth." The ultimate purpose of these divine actions is so that "they will know that I am the LORD," affirming God's sovereignty, power, and faithfulness through His work of national restoration and vindication.

Ezekiel 29 21 Context

Ezekiel 29:21 concludes a series of prophecies against Egypt, which primarily focuses on Egypt's impending destruction at the hands of Babylon. Chapters 29-32 are dedicated to these pronouncements, revealing Egypt as an unreliable reed (Ezek 29:6-7) upon which Israel should not lean. The preceding verses (Ezek 29:17-20) are especially crucial, as they directly lead into verse 21. These verses mention Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon receiving Egypt as his "wages" for his failed campaign against Tyre. This judgment against Egypt is precisely what prompts the promise to Israel in verse 21, establishing a powerful juxtaposition. God's judgment on other nations, particularly those who historically tempted or oppressed Israel, serves as a backdrop for His redemptive and restorative work for His own people. Historically, Israel was in Babylonian exile at the time of these prophecies, having faced judgment for its apostasy. This future promise offered hope amidst despair, reminding them of God's overarching plan beyond their present suffering and the shifting geopolitical powers of the day.

Ezekiel 29 21 Word analysis

• In that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא – bayyôm hahû)

  • This phrase commonly signifies a future, often eschatological or climactic, time of divine intervention, distinct from the immediate historical context. It points to a decisive moment in God's redemptive history.

• I will make a horn grow (אַצְמִיחַ קֶרֶן – ʼatsmîaḥ qeren)

  • אַצְמִיחַ (ʼatsmîaḥ, from צָמַח – tsamaḥ): Means "I will cause to sprout, grow, or spring forth." It implies a divine initiation, a natural but supernaturally guided process of emergence and flourishing, like a plant growing from seed. This root is also used in messianic prophecies, referring to the "Branch" (צֶמַח – tsemaḥ, e.g., Jer 23:5; Zech 3:8, 6:12).
  • קֶרֶן (qeren – horn): In the Ancient Near East (ANE), the horn is a powerful symbol of strength, honor, authority, leadership, and power. Animals, especially strong ones like bulls, had horns that represented their might. Kings sometimes wore horned helmets or crowns. For Israel, it refers to restored national strength, dignity, and sovereignty. This imagery also points to a future Davidic or Messianic leader who will embody this power. This "growing" signifies a natural, yet divinely directed, emergence of a strong, regal leadership. It also serves as a polemic against reliance on the "horns" (power) of nations like Egypt, which God explicitly breaks (Ezek 30:21), contrasting it with God's provision of Israel's strength.

• for the house of Israel (לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל – ləḇêt Yiśrā’ēl)

  • Refers to the collective nation of Israel, not just individual members. It indicates a national restoration and corporate vindication, encompassing the scattered exiles and the remnant. It highlights God's covenant faithfulness to His chosen people.

• and I will open your mouth (וּפָתַחְתִּי פִיךָ – ûfātaḥtî fîḵā)

  • This echoes Ezekiel's personal experience of divine enablement for prophecy (Ezek 3:27, 24:27). For Israel, it can mean a release from the "silence" of judgment and shame (e.g., Lam 2:10, 5:16). It symbolizes a restoration of prophetic testimony, the ability to praise God, to articulate God's truth to others, or to bear witness to His works. This is an empowerment to speak authoritatively, divinely guided. In the context of the exile, Israel was often silent in despair; this promises a return of a vibrant spiritual and communicative life.

• among them (בְתוֹכָם – bəṯôḵām)

  • Literally "in their midst" or "among them." This signifies that the "open mouth" will be exercised within the community of the restored Israel, speaking words of truth, praise, or prophecy to one another or representing God collectively. It underscores an internal spiritual revival and testimony within the restored nation.

• then they will know that I am the Lord (וְיָדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה – wəyāḏəʻû kî ʼănî YHWH)

  • This is the quintessential "recognition formula" throughout Ezekiel, appearing over 70 times. It states the ultimate theological purpose of all God's actions—whether judgment or restoration. Through His powerful deeds, especially those leading to Israel's resurgence, both Israel and potentially the surrounding nations will come to recognize God's singular sovereignty, omnipotence, and covenant faithfulness.
  • יְהוָה (YHWH – the LORD): The Tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name revealed to Israel, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and His active presence in the lives of His people and the affairs of the world. This acknowledgment is not just intellectual assent but a profound recognition of His true identity and authority, leading to worship and obedience.

Ezekiel 29 21 Bonus section

This verse subtly interweaves two key aspects of Israel's national life—royal/political power (the horn) and prophetic/spiritual authority (the opened mouth). The simultaneous promise of both suggests a complete, holistic restoration under divine guidance. It anticipates a period when Israel will not only possess external strength but also internal spiritual vitality and a clear voice to articulate God's truth. The connection of "make a horn grow" to the "Branch" (Messiah) prophecies in other books (e.g., Zech 3:8, 6:12; Jer 23:5, 33:15) implies that the ultimate fulfillment of this promise points to a Messianic era, where the divine ruler brings true strength and liberation to Israel and indeed, the world. This is not merely a political resurgence but a spiritually driven one, preparing Israel to be a witness among the nations, grounded in their personal and communal experience of God's revealed identity as the LORD.

Ezekiel 29 21 Commentary

Ezekiel 29:21 stands as a powerful beacon of hope and a crucial shift in focus from Gentile judgment to Israelite restoration. Following detailed prophecies of Egypt's humbling, the verse projects a future marked by God's direct intervention for His people. The imagery of a "horn growing" profoundly communicates a divinely initiated and sustained resurgence of power, dignity, and authority for Israel, hinting at both national revival and a Messianic fulfillment. This new strength contrasts sharply with their current humbled state in exile and the weakness of their former political allies like Egypt. Simultaneously, the promise "I will open your mouth" signals a spiritual and prophetic awakening, empowering Israel to speak of God's deeds, possibly after a period of silent shame or divinely imposed prophetic quietness. The ultimate objective, "they will know that I am the LORD," highlights God's overarching purpose in all His dealings: the revelation of His unparalleled sovereignty and covenant faithfulness, vindicating His name before Israel and the nations through both judgment and redemption.