Bible Strands
Ezekiel 29:3
Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord GOD commands the prophet Ezekiel to address Pharaoh king of Egypt during a specific prophetic commission to set his face against the ruler and the nation. This declaration follows immediately after God's instruction to prophesy against Egypt and precedes the imagery of divine capture.
The words — The verb דַּבֵּ֨ר (da.Ber) issues a direct command to "speak," while the phrase הִנְ/נִ֤י עָלֶ֙י/ךָ֙ (hi./Ni 'a.Lei./kha) literally translates "here I am upon you," establishing immediate divine opposition.
The thread — The confrontation with a self-deified river ruler parallels the judgment on Leviathan in Isaiah 27:1 and the promised delivery of Pharaoh Hophra in Jeremiah 44:30. The river monster motif directly introduces the physical capture described in Ezekiel 29:4.
Why it lands — The text states that political powers claiming autonomous control over creation stand under direct divine opposition. It requires the reader to acknowledge that human sovereignty is subordinate to God's judgment and authority.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.
- Ezekiel 32:2 “Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning up the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’
- Jeremiah 44:30 This is what the LORD says: Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who seek his life, just as I delivered Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who was seeking his life.”
- Deuteronomy 8:17 You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.”
- Ezekiel 29:9 The land of Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it,’
- Psalms 74:13 You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;
- Psalms 76:7 You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?
- Isaiah 10:13 For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.
- Ezekiel 28:2 “Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god.
- Ezekiel 28:22 And you are to declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Sidon, and I will be glorified within you. They will know that I am the LORD when I execute judgments against her and demonstrate My holiness through her.