Ezekiel 29:18
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:
Original Language Analysis
בֶּן
Son
H1121
בֶּן
Son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 29
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֗ם
of man
H120
אָדָ֗ם
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 29
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר
Nebuchadrezzar
H5019
נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר
Nebuchadrezzar
Strong's:
H5019
Word #:
3 of 29
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
בָּ֠בֶל
of Babylon
H894
בָּ֠בֶל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
5 of 29
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
עָבַ֥ד
caused
H5647
עָבַ֥ד
caused
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
6 of 29
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וּלְחֵילוֹ֙
his army
H2428
וּלְחֵילוֹ֙
his army
Strong's:
H2428
Word #:
8 of 29
probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
גְדוֹלָה֙
a great
H1419
גְדוֹלָה֙
a great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
10 of 29
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 29
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
רֹ֣אשׁ
every head
H7218
רֹ֣אשׁ
every head
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
14 of 29
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 29
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
כָּתֵ֖ף
and every shoulder
H3802
כָּתֵ֖ף
and every shoulder
Strong's:
H3802
Word #:
17 of 29
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
מְרוּטָ֑ה
was peeled
H4803
מְרוּטָ֑ה
was peeled
Strong's:
H4803
Word #:
18 of 29
to polish; by implication, to make bald (the head), to gall (the shoulder); also, to sharpen
וְ֠שָׂכָר
yet had he no wages
H7939
וְ֠שָׂכָר
yet had he no wages
Strong's:
H7939
Word #:
19 of 29
payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
20 of 29
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הָ֨יָה
H1961
הָ֨יָה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
21 of 29
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וּלְחֵילוֹ֙
his army
H2428
וּלְחֵילוֹ֙
his army
Strong's:
H2428
Word #:
23 of 29
probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
25 of 29
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
27 of 29
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Jeremiah 27:6And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.Jeremiah 25:9Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Historical Context
Ancient siege warfare required building ramps, towers, and battering rams—backbreaking labor. Nebuchadnezzar's thirteen-year siege of Tyre (confirmed by ancient records) was the longest in his reign. When Tyre finally surrendered, the population and much wealth had been evacuated by sea to colonies. Babylon won a pyrrhic victory—technically conquered but economically unrewarding.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Nebuchadnezzar's unprofitable victory teach about God's sovereignty in using nations?
- How does the physical toll on Babylon's soldiers humanize those God uses as judgment instruments?
- Why would God compensate Nebuchadnezzar's efforts despite his pagan motives?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus—This verse is dated to 571 BC, sixteen years after the initial Tyre oracle (26:1). נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר (Nĕbûkadreʾṣar, Nebuchadnezzar) besieged island Tyre for thirteen years (585-573 BC). הֶעֱבִיד אֶת־חֵילוֹ עֲבֹדָה גְדֹלָה (heʿĕbîd ʾet-ḥêlô ăbōdāh ghĕdōlāh, 'caused his army to serve great service')—a massive, exhausting siege.
Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled—From carrying earth and stones to build siege works. רֹאשׁ קֵרֵחַ (rōʾsh qērēaḥ, 'bald head') and כָּתֵף מְרוּטָה (kāthēph mĕrûṭāh, 'peeled shoulder') depict brutal physical labor. Yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it—Island Tyre negotiated surrender, likely paying tribute but preserving much wealth by sea. Babylon's army labored but gained little plunder.