King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 29:7 Mean?

Ezekiel 29:7 in the King James Version says “When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, ...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Ezekiel 29:7 · KJV

Context

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.

8

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.

9

And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it.

Read Ezekiel 29 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse elaborates the reed-staff metaphor: when Israel leaned on Egypt, it broke and tore their shoulder, making them unstable ('made all their loins to be at a stand'—paralyzed their strength). False dependencies don't just fail—they actively harm. Every reliance on creature-help rather than God compounds problems. Only God provides reliable support.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

When Pharaoh Hophra withdrew support in 588 BC, Jerusalem faced Babylon alone. Far from helping, Egypt's involvement intensified Babylon's anger and Jerusalem's suffering. Trust in Egypt brought worse consequences than facing Babylon with faith in God.

Reflection Questions

  1. How have false dependencies not merely failed but actually made your situation worse?
  2. What does it mean to make God your sole sufficiency rather than seeking backup securities?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
בְּתָפְשָׂ֨ם1 of 15

“When they took hold”

H8610

to manipulate, i.e., seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably

בְּךָ֤2 of 15
H0
בַכַּפ֙ף3 of 15

“of thee by thy hand”

H3709

the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-

תֵּר֔וֹץ4 of 15

“thou didst break”

H7533

to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively

וּבָקַעְתָּ֥5 of 15

“and rend”

H1234

to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open

לָהֶ֖ם6 of 15
H0
כָּל7 of 15
H3605

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

כָּתֵ֑ף8 of 15

“all their shoulder”

H3802

the shoulder (proper, i.e., upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anythi

וּבְהִֽשָּׁעֲנָ֤ם9 of 15

“and when they leaned”

H8172

to support one's self

עָלֶ֙יךָ֙10 of 15
H5921

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

תִּשָּׁבֵ֔ר11 of 15

“upon thee thou brakest”

H7665

to burst (literally or figuratively)

וְהַעֲמַדְתָּ֥12 of 15

“to be at a stand”

H5976

to shake

לָהֶ֖ם13 of 15
H0
כָּל14 of 15
H3605

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

מָתְנָֽיִם׃15 of 15

“and madest all their loins”

H4975

properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins

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 29:7 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 29:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 36:6Ezekiel 17:15-17Jeremiah 17:5-6Jeremiah 37:5-11Proverbs 25:19Psalms 118:8-9

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 29 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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