Ezekiel 29:5
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.
Original Language Analysis
וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ
And I will leave
H5203
וּנְטַשְׁתִּ֣יךָ
And I will leave
Strong's:
H5203
Word #:
1 of 21
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
הַמִּדְבָּ֗רָה
thee thrown into the wilderness
H4057
הַמִּדְבָּ֗רָה
thee thrown into the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
2 of 21
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
אוֹתְךָ֙
H853
אוֹתְךָ֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֵת֙
H853
וְאֵת֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יְאֹרֶ֔יךָ
of thy rivers
H2975
יְאֹרֶ֔יךָ
of thy rivers
Strong's:
H2975
Word #:
7 of 21
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
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֤י
upon the open
H6440
פְּנֵ֤י
upon the open
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
9 of 21
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
תִּפּ֔וֹל
thou shalt fall
H5307
תִּפּ֔וֹל
thou shalt fall
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
11 of 21
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תֵאָסֵ֖ף
thou shalt not be brought together
H622
תֵאָסֵ֖ף
thou shalt not be brought together
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
13 of 21
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
14 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
לְחַיַּ֥ת
to the beasts
H2416
לְחַיַּ֥ת
to the beasts
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
16 of 21
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
וּלְע֥וֹף
and to the fowls
H5775
וּלְע֥וֹף
and to the fowls
Strong's:
H5775
Word #:
18 of 21
a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
of the heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם
of the heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
19 of 21
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
Cross References
Jeremiah 8:2And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.Jeremiah 34:20I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.Jeremiah 7:33And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.Jeremiah 25:33And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's judgment sometimes involve exposing and humiliating false confidences?
- What false securities might God be stripping away to redirect your trust toward Him?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & 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.