King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 29:5 Mean?

Ezekiel 29:5 in the King James Version says “And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fie... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven. open: Heb. face of the field

Ezekiel 29:5 · KJV


Context

3

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.

4

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.

5

And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven. open: Heb. face of the field

6

And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.

7

When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Egypt would be left desolate, cast into the wilderness like a dead crocodile, unburied and exposed to scavengers. Denial of proper burial represented the ultimate indignity in ancient Near Eastern culture. This judgment reveals that pride brings humiliation—those who exalt themselves will be abased (Luke 14:11). God's judgments fit the crime symbolically.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Egyptian religion obsessed over proper burial and afterlife preparation. Denial of burial was the worst imaginable fate. This prophecy struck at Egyptian theological confidence, revealing their religious system's futility.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's judgment sometimes involve exposing and humiliating false confidences?
  2. What false securities might God be stripping away to redirect your trust toward Him?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ1 of 21

And I will leave

H5203

properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive

הַמִּדְבָּ֗רָה2 of 21

thee thrown into the wilderness

H4057

a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

אוֹתְךָ֙3 of 21
H853

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

וְאֵת֙4 of 21
H853

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

כָּל5 of 21
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

דְּגַ֣ת6 of 21

thee and all the fish

H1710

fish

יְאֹרֶ֔יךָ7 of 21

of thy rivers

H2975

a channel, e.g., a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the nile, as the one river of egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the tigris, as the m

עַל8 of 21
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פְּנֵ֤י9 of 21

upon the open

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַשָּׂדֶה֙10 of 21

fields

H7704

a field (as flat)

תִּפּ֔וֹל11 of 21

thou shalt fall

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

לֹ֥א12 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תֵאָסֵ֖ף13 of 21

thou shalt not be brought together

H622

to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)

וְלֹ֣א14 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תִקָּבֵ֑ץ15 of 21

nor gathered

H6908

to grasp, i.e., collect

לְחַיַּ֥ת16 of 21

to the beasts

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

הָאָ֛רֶץ17 of 21

of the field

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וּלְע֥וֹף18 of 21

and to the fowls

H5775

a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively

הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם19 of 21

of the heaven

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

נְתַתִּ֥יךָ20 of 21

I have given

H5414

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

לְאָכְלָֽה׃21 of 21

thee for meat

H402

food


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 29:5 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 29:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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