Bible Strands
Ezekiel 29:16
Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks through Ezekiel to the house of Israel, pronouncing judgment immediately after declaring Egypt’s permanent reduction to the lowliest of kingdoms. This declaration occurs in the prophetic sequence between the decree of Egypt’s humiliation and the dated oracle of the following year.
The words — לְמִבְטָח (le./miv.Tach) denotes a place of confidence or trust, and מַזְכִּיר (maz.Kir) means bringing to remembrance. The syntax frames Egypt’s future status as a perpetual reminder rather than a reliable refuge.
The thread — The collapse of foreign alliances echoes in Isaiah 20:5, where Cush and Egypt become objects of shame, and in Ezekiel 29:6, where Egypt is labeled a staff of reeds. Hosea 8:13 connects broken political and religious covenants with divine rejection.
Why it lands — The text states that reliance on Egypt will only expose Israel’s iniquity and force recognition of Yahweh’s sovereignty. It requires readers to abandon political or military confidence in fallen powers and submit to divine authority alone.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord God.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 20:5 Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed.
- Ezekiel 29:6 Then all the people of Egypt will know that I am the LORD. For you were only a staff of reeds to the house of Israel.
- Hosea 8:13 Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me, and though they eat the meat, the LORD does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins: They will return to Egypt.
- Psalms 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD.
- Isaiah 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.
- Isaiah 64:9 Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people!
- Jeremiah 2:36 How impulsive you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
- Jeremiah 14:10 This is what the LORD says about this people: “Truly they love to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity and punish them for their sins.”
- Lamentations 4:17 All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.
- Ezekiel 21:23 It will seem like a false omen to the eyes of those who have sworn allegiance to him, but it will draw attention to their guilt and take them captive.