The Broken Reed and the Rod of Wrath
Personifications · 5 verses
The great empires of the ancient world are personified in prophetic literature. Egypt is 'the staff of this bruised reed... whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it'—a broken support that wounds those who trust it. Pharaoh is called 'the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers.' Assyria is personified as God's rod of anger, the staff of His indignation, sent against a hypocritical nation—yet Assyria shall be punished for the pride of its heart. Ezekiel compares Assyria to a great cedar in Lebanon, beautiful in greatness, envied by all trees of Eden, yet brought down to Sheol. These personifications reveal how God uses nations as instruments while holding them accountable for their pride.
Scripture References
“Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.”
“Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.”
“O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.”
“Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs... all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.”
“Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.”