Ezekiel Chapter 29 – Commentary and Explanation
Alright, time to dig deep into Ezekiel chapter 29. We’ve been moving through this prophetic book with its vivid visions and heavy messages, and now we’ve come to something new—God’s judgment on Egypt. Up until now, we’ve mostly heard about God’s warnings to Israel and Judah, and then recently, prophecies against their neighbors like Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Tyre. But now, the spotlight shifts even further south—to mighty Egypt.
Yep, Egypt. That ancient powerhouse. That land of the Pharaohs, the pyramids, the Nile River, and centuries of influence in the region. But no matter how strong a nation looks on the outside, if it stands in pride against God, that’s a setup for a fall. And that’s exactly what we see here.
Let’s go through this chapter verse by verse, thought by thought. There’s a lot to unpack, but also some really important spiritual takeaways for us today. Let’s go.
Verses 1–3: God’s Word Comes Against Egypt
“In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me…” (Ezekiel 29:1)
Right at the beginning, we get a timestamp. This is significant. Ezekiel is very careful to note when these visions and prophecies happen. It helps us line up events with actual historical timelines.
This specific date falls around January 587 BC—right before the fall of Jerusalem. So picture this: Jerusalem’s walls are likely still standing, but not for long. Babylon is breathing down its neck. The people are under enormous pressure. In the middle of all that, Egypt is posturing as though it can help Judah resist Babylon. Egypt—Judah’s supposed ally.
But here comes God’s word: “Set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.” (verse 2)
Uh-oh. God’s got something to say to Pharaoh. The “great dragon” (or crocodile) who says the Nile belongs to him.
Verse 3: The Crocodile in the Nile
“Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his streams…”
This is so vivid. The imagery is incredible.
God paints Pharaoh like a massive crocodile lounging in the Nile. In Egyptian culture, the crocodile was actually revered—some gods were even depicted with crocodile heads (like Sobek). So this isn’t just a random picture. This is a targeted dig.
Pharaoh thinks he owns the Nile. He says, “The Nile is mine; I made it for myself.” Talk about arrogance! Pharaoh is claiming credit for what God created. That’s like Adam walking into Eden and saying, “Nice garden I made, huh?” It's nonsense. And offensive to God.
It’s a reminder right from the start: pride goes before a fall. When leaders (or anyone, really) start taking credit for things that belong to God, you better believe judgment is coming.
Verses 4–5: The Hook in the Jaw
God says He’s going to put hooks in Pharaoh’s jaws and drag him out of the river along with all the fish stuck to him. Gross, right? But it’s powerful imagery.
The idea is this: Pharaoh’s people (and other nations that look to Egypt) are like fish clinging to this giant beast. But when Pharaoh falls, they’re all coming down too.
God says He’ll throw them into the wilderness—abandoned, unburied. No proper funeral. No honor. Just desolation.
That’s huge. For Egyptians, burial and the afterlife were everything. They built pyramids and tombs to prepare for death. So this image would have been shocking to anyone listening.
Verses 6–7: Egypt Was a Weak Staff
“Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD. Because you have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel…” (Ezekiel 29:6)
Here we go. This gets to the core of why God’s so angry.
Egypt pretended to be an ally to Israel. Judah leaned on them during tough times, thinking they’d offer support against Babylon. But instead of being a strong staff—something to rely on—Egypt was like a brittle reed.
When Judah leaned on Egypt, Egypt broke. And that “staff” went right through Judah’s shoulder. Ouch. It wasn’t just ineffective—it hurt them.
This reminds us that when we lean on people or systems instead of leaning on God, we get disappointed. Or worse, wounded. Egypt was never meant to be Judah’s savior. Only God fills that role. But Judah kept running to Egypt, hoping for rescue.
God’s showing how foolish and dangerous that was.
Verses 8–9: The Sword Will Come
God declares that the sword will come to Egypt. Its people and animals will be cut off. Total devastation.
And again, God says: “Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
You’ll hear that phrase a lot in Ezekiel. It's repeated over and over. It’s like God’s signature at the bottom of each judgment. These events aren’t random. They aren’t political accidents. They’re divinely orchestrated so people will finally recognize His power.
Verses 10–12: From North to South—Desolation
God stretches His hand out against Egypt. He says He’ll make the land desolate from Migdol to Syene, all the way to the border of Ethiopia.
Migdol is in the north. Syene (modern Aswan) is in the south. Basically, God’s saying: from top to bottom, all of Egypt will be laid waste.
And then this: Egypt will be uninhabited for 40 years.
Forty years. That’s a generation.
Sound familiar? Think about the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. Forty is a loaded number in Scripture. It’s the number of testing, of judgment, of transition.
Egypt will be scattered among the nations, dispersed like exiles.
This would’ve been shocking. Egypt was proud, ancient, and powerful. The thought of them being dispersed and forgotten? Almost unthinkable. But not impossible for God.
Verses 13–16: A Return... but Not to Glory
Now here comes something interesting.
After the 40 years, God promises to bring Egypt back. He’ll restore the people from exile and bring them back to their land—but, it says, Egypt will be a lowly kingdom. It won’t ever rise to its former glory.
God says Egypt won’t be the leader of nations anymore. They’ll never again inspire trust from Israel. Their days of political dominance are over.
That’s sobering. They’ll survive, but they won’t thrive like before.
You know, sometimes God's judgment isn’t total destruction—it’s reduction. Sometimes He humbles people or nations without wiping them out. He brings them low, so they (and others) remember who's really in charge.
Egypt’s role in history would change forever after this. And it’s not because Babylon was strong—it’s because God decreed it.
Verses 17–20: Nebuchadnezzar Gets His Reward
Now we jump ahead. The timeline fast-forwards to the 27th year—around 571 BC.
God speaks again. He says that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, worked hard attacking Tyre, but didn’t really get much from it. The siege was exhausting and costly, and Tyre’s wealth wasn’t handed over like expected.
So God says, “I’m giving him Egypt instead.”
It’s almost like divine compensation. Babylon will conquer Egypt and plunder it as payment for doing God’s will—even if Nebuchadnezzar didn’t realize he was doing it.
That right there? That’s proof of how God can use even pagan kings and empires to fulfill His purposes. Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t righteous. He wasn’t serving Yahweh. But he still became an instrument of God's justice.
That’s a humbling reminder that God can use anyone. Even those who don’t acknowledge Him.
Verse 21: A Sprouting Horn for Israel
This last verse is small but rich.
“On that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
After all this talk of judgment, here’s a little hope. A “horn” symbolizes strength, often kingship. God says He’ll raise up strength for Israel—some scholars think this may be a prophetic foreshadowing of the Messiah.
Ezekiel, who had been silent in parts of his ministry, will once again speak openly. Restoration is coming. Not just for Egypt, but more importantly, for God's own people.
What Can We Take from All This?
Alright, so we’ve gone through the whole chapter. Now let’s talk about what it means for us—because ancient prophecies aren't just dusty history. They're lessons. They're mirrors. They show us who God is, and often, who we are too.
1. Pride Leads to a Fall
Pharaoh was proud. He thought he made the Nile. He thought he was in control. And because of that pride, he was brought low. God will not share His glory. When we start puffing ourselves up—thinking we’re self-made, untouchable, or above correction—we’re heading toward trouble.
It’s easy to laugh at Pharaoh’s arrogance, but how often do we take credit for our blessings without acknowledging the One who gave them?
Let’s stay humble, y’all.
2. Don’t Lean on Egypt
For Judah, Egypt represented a false hope. A political ally who couldn’t deliver. A distraction from real trust in God.
We all have our “Egypts,” don’t we? The things or people we lean on instead of leaning on the Lord. It could be money, relationships, careers, even religion if it’s just for show. But if it’s not rooted in God, it’s just a brittle reed waiting to snap.
Where are you putting your trust?
3. God is in Control—Even Over Nations
This chapter shows God moving kings and kingdoms like pieces on a chessboard. Egypt falls. Babylon rises. But it’s not random—it’s all in His hands.
If God can direct the fate of empires, He can handle our lives too. Nothing’s too big or too chaotic for Him.
4. Judgment is Real, But So is Restoration
God doesn’t just destroy. He rebuilds. Egypt gets exiled—but then brought back, even if it's to a lesser status. And in the end, God promises strength to Israel.
He’s both just and merciful. Righteous and redemptive.
Wrapping Up
Ezekiel 29 is heavy, but man, it’s powerful. It reminds us that no nation, no leader, no system is immune to God's authority. It challenges us to stay humble, to trust in the Lord rather than human strength, and to see the bigger picture of how God works even through messy political events.
And best of all—it ends with hope.
Even when judgment comes, God never forgets His people. He’s always working toward restoration. That “sprouting horn” at the end? It points us to Jesus. The true King. The one whose strength never fades, whose kingdom never falls.
Thanks for sticking through this chapter with me. It's a bit of a wild ride, but one full of meaning. Next up is chapter 30, where Egypt's story continues, and we see even more of God’s purposes unfolding in real time.
Let’s keep digging. There’s always more to discover in God’s Word.
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