Ezekiel 29:4 kjv
But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.
Ezekiel 29:4 nkjv
But I will put hooks in your jaws, And cause the fish of your rivers to stick to your scales; I will bring you up out of the midst of your rivers, And all the fish in your rivers will stick to your scales.
Ezekiel 29:4 niv
But I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales. I will pull you out from among your streams, with all the fish sticking to your scales.
Ezekiel 29:4 esv
I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales; and I will draw you up out of the midst of your streams, with all the fish of your streams that stick to your scales.
Ezekiel 29:4 nlt
I will put hooks in your jaws
and drag you out on the land
with fish sticking to your scales.
Ezekiel 29 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 29 | I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales; and I will pull you up out of the midst of your rivers... | Ezek 29:3 (Directly related judgment) |
| Isaiah 19 | ...and the land of Egypt shall be in turmoil. | Isa 19:1 (Egypt's distress) |
| Jeremiah 43 | And Pharaoh's army and the mighty men...shall fall by the sword... | Jer 43:11 (Pharaoh's defeat) |
| Psalm 74 | You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. | Ps 74:14 (Divine power over beasts) |
| Job 41 | Can you put a rope in his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook? | Job 41:2 (Description of Leviathan) |
| Nahum 3 | Nineveh is a den of lions... | Nah 3:1 (Symbol of destructive power) |
| Revelation 13 | And I saw a beast rising out of the sea... | Rev 13:1 (Symbol of oppressive power) |
| Psalm 89 | Rahab also you have divided; you have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. | Ps 89:10 (Mythological serpent imagery) |
| Exodus 7 | Behold, I will strike Egypt with one plague upon your people, your chariots, and your horsemen. | Ex 7:28 (God's judgment on Egypt) |
| Isaiah 30 | Egypt is a help in vain and for nothing. | Isa 30:7 (Egypt's ineffectiveness) |
| Jeremiah 51 | "Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain... | Jer 51:25 (Judgment on Babylon) |
| Ezekiel 28 | You were the anointed cherub... | Ezek 28:14 (Similar judgment language) |
| Isaiah 51 | Who stirred up a hornets' nest against you, from the desert? | Isa 51:18 (Divine judgment action) |
| Amos 6 | Woe to those who are at ease in Zion... | Amos 6:1 (Judgment on complacency) |
| Matthew 12 | But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. | Matt 12:28 (God's power displayed) |
| Luke 10 | Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy... | Luke 10:19 (Christ's authority) |
| Revelation 12 | And there was war in heaven... | Rev 12:7 (Cosmic conflict) |
| Psalm 18 | The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. | Ps 18:5 (Struggles with affliction) |
| Isaiah 14 | How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Morning! | Isa 14:12 (Fall of proud ruler) |
| Ezekiel 32 | "Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt, and cast it down... | Ezek 32:1 (Lamentation for Egypt) |
Ezekiel 29 verses
Ezekiel 29 4 Meaning
This verse speaks of God's judgment upon Pharaoh, king of Egypt, describing him as a powerful but ultimately fragile creature destined for destruction. It signifies divine sovereignty and the inevitable downfall of those who oppose God's will and people.
Ezekiel 29 4 Context
Ezekiel chapter 29 is a prophecy against Egypt. God is declaring His judgment upon Pharaoh, depicted as the "great beast" or "dragon" residing in the Nile. This chapter, and indeed this section of Ezekiel, primarily addresses the political and military might of Egypt and its king, who often represented a threat to God's people. Historically, Egypt was a formidable power in the ancient Near East, and its influence sometimes drew Israel away from reliance on God. This prophecy comes during the Babylonian exile, a time when Israel was vulnerable, and external powers like Egypt were being assessed by God. The prophet Ezekiel is used by God to pronounce judgment on nations surrounding Israel, often to reassure the exiled Israelites of God's ultimate sovereignty and His protective plan for them.
Ezekiel 29 4 Word analysis
- Thus (כֹּה - ko) - So, thus, like this. Indicates the manner or way something is done.
- says (אָמַר - amar) - He said, spoke, commanded. Refers to divine pronouncement.
- LORD (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai) - Lord, Master. A title for God emphasizing His sovereignty.
- GOD (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim) - God, Gods. A plural form often used for the God of Israel, denoting His power and majesty.
- Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh) - Look, see, behold. A particle to draw attention to what follows.
- I (אֲנִי - ani) - I. The first-person singular pronoun of God, emphasizing personal involvement in the action.
- am (אָנֹכִי - anokhi) - I am. A more emphatic form of "I".
- sending (שׁלח - shalach) - To send, to put forth, to cast. Implies deliberate action and agency.
- against (עַל - al) - Upon, against, over. Indicates the target of the action.
- you (אַתָּה - atah) - You (masculine singular). Direct address to Pharaoh.
- Pharaoh (פַּרְעֹה - Par'oh) - Pharaoh. The title of the king of Egypt.
- king (מֶלֶךְ - melekh) - King.
- of ( of ) - Preposition indicating possession or origin.
- Egypt (מִצְרַיִם - Mitsrayim) - Egypt. The nation being addressed.
- the (הַ - ha) - The definite article.
- great (גָּדוֹל - gadol) - Great, large, mighty. Emphasizes size or power.
- beast (תַּנִּים - tannin) - Sea monster, dragon, serpent. Refers to a primeval, monstrous creature often associated with chaos and opposition to divine order, here representing Pharaoh/Egypt.
- that (אֲשֶׁר - asher) - Who, which, that. Relative pronoun.
- lies (שׁכב - shakháv) - To lie down, rest, have intercourse. Implies inactive power or settled position.
- in (בְּ - be) - In, at, with. Preposition of location.
- the (בֵּין - bein) - Between. Often translated as among or in the midst of.
- midst (בְּתוֹךְ - betokh) - In the midst of, within.
- of (of) - Preposition.
- your (possessive pronoun)
- rivers (יְאֹרִים - ye'orim) - Rivers, specifically the Nile. The source of Egypt's life and power.
Group analysis: "great beast that lies in the midst of its rivers" This phrase is a powerful metaphor. The "great beast" (תַּנִּים - tannin) connects Pharaoh to primordial, chaotic powers that God subdued in creation (e.g., Rahab, Leviathan). The "rivers" (יְאֹרִים - ye'orim), specifically the Nile, symbolizes Egypt's source of power, sustenance, and its perceived invincibility. By depicting Pharaoh as such a beast, God underscores his arrogance and his ultimate vulnerability under divine power.
Ezekiel 29 4 Bonus Section
The imagery of "great beast" (tannin) used for Egypt's Pharaoh is a recurring motif in biblical prophecy when referring to oppressive nations and their leaders. It evokes the ancient belief in primordial sea monsters or dragons representing chaos, which God defeated at creation, thereby establishing His order. This connects Pharaoh to powers opposed to God. Similar language is used for Babylon and other imperial powers that threatened Israel's existence and God's covenant people. The "rivers" most pointedly refer to the Nile, the source of Egypt's life and pride, but it also becomes the place of their humiliation. Scholars note this metaphor highlights God's dominion over all creation and the ultimate helplessness of earthly power against His divine decree. This powerful imagery serves as a strong statement of God's power and His coming vindication of His people.
Ezekiel 29 4 Commentary
This verse is a divine declaration of impending judgment upon the king of Egypt. The imagery of Pharaoh as a "great beast" lodged in the Nile River is significant. In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, powerful reptilian or draconic creatures were often seen as embodying chaos and opposing divine order. By calling Pharaoh a "great beast," God frames Egypt's king not as an independent ruler, but as a creature that God Himself created and has the ultimate authority over. The Nile, the lifeblood of Egypt, becomes the very place of Pharaoh's defeat. God asserts His supremacy over all earthly powers, even those that appear mighty and self-sufficient like Egypt, symbolized by its dependency on the Nile. The judgment is personal ("against you, O Pharaoh") yet representative of judgment against the entire nation.