King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 29:19 Mean?

Ezekiel 29:19 in the King James Version says “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he sha... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. take her spoil: Heb. spoil her spoil, and prey her prey

Ezekiel 29:19 · KJV


Context

17

And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

18

Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:

19

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. take her spoil: Heb. spoil her spoil, and prey her prey

20

I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD. for his: or, for his hire

21

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon—As compensation for Tyre, God promises Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar. הִנְנִי נֹתֵן לִנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר (hinnĕnî nōthēn linĕbûkadreʾṣar, 'behold, I am giving to Nebuchadnezzar') shows God's sovereign distribution of nations.

And he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey—Three verbs emphasize total plunder: נָשָׂא הֲמוֹנָהּ (nāsāʾ hămônāh, 'carry away her wealth'), שָׁלַל שְׁלָלָהּ (shālal shĕlālāh, 'plunder her plunder'), and בָּזַז בִּזָּהּ (bāzaz bizzāh, 'seize her spoil'). And it shall be the wages for his army—שָׂכָר לְחֵילוֹ (śākār lĕḥêlô, 'wages for his army'). God compensates Babylon's service against Tyre with Egyptian plunder. This demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty: He directs pagan kings, compensates their labor, and accomplishes His purposes through unwitting agents (Isaiah 10:5-7, 45:1-7).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in 568/567 BC (confirmed by Babylonian chronicles), about five years after this prophecy. While he didn't conquer all Egypt permanently, he did campaign successfully, plunder cities, and install a vassal king—exactly as prophesied. Egyptian power never fully recovered, fulfilling Ezekiel's prediction that Egypt would become 'the basest of kingdoms' (29:14-15).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's compensation of pagan Babylon demonstrate His sovereignty over all nations?
  2. What does this teach about God's justice in rewarding even unwitting service?
  3. How should we understand God using 'wages' language with pagan kings?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
לָכֵ֗ן1 of 22
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

כֹּ֤ה2 of 22
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַר֙3 of 22

Therefore thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י4 of 22

the Lord

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִ֔ה5 of 22

GOD

H3069

god

הִנְנִ֥י6 of 22
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

נֹתֵ֛ן7 of 22

Behold I will give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לִנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר8 of 22

unto Nebuchadrezzar

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ9 of 22

king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֖ל10 of 22

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

אֶת11 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶ֣רֶץ12 of 22

the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרָ֑יִם13 of 22

of Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וְנָשָׂ֨א14 of 22

and he shall take

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

הֲמֹנָ֜הּ15 of 22

her multitude

H1995

a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth

וְשָׁלַ֤ל16 of 22

and take

H7997

to drop or strip; by implication, to plunder

שְׁלָלָהּ֙17 of 22

her spoil

H7998

booty

וּבָזַ֣ז18 of 22

and take

H962

to plunder

בִּזָּ֔הּ19 of 22

her prey

H957

plunder

וְהָיְתָ֥ה20 of 22
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

שָׂכָ֖ר21 of 22

and it shall be the wages

H7939

payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit

לְחֵילֽוֹ׃22 of 22

for his army

H2428

probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 29:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 29:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Places in This Verse

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study