Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the nations. For I will diminish Egypt so that it will never again rule over the nations.
Parallel translations
- WEB It shall be the base of the kingdoms; neither shall it any more lift itself up above the nations: and I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
- KJV It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
- NKJV It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms; it shall never again exalt itself above the nations, for I will diminish them so that they will not rule over the nations anymore.
- NASB It will be the lowest of the kingdoms, and it will not raise itself above the nations again. And I will make them small so that they will not rule over the nations.
- NLT It will be the lowliest of all the nations, never again great enough to rise above its neighbors.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms, never again ruling over the nations. God permanently humbles the once-dominant empire.
Overview
The Lord decrees that Egypt will remain small and dependent, no longer exalting itself above others. God diminishes its power so it cannot resume its proud dominion. The verse demonstrates that God's humbling of the proud can have lasting historical consequences, vindicating his rule over the nations.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Zech 10:11They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
- Ezek 30:13This is what the Lord GOD says: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. There will no longer be a prince in Egypt, and I will instill fear in that land.
- Ezek 31:2“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Who can be compared to your greatness?
- Ezek 17:14so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant.
- Ezek 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.’
- Nah 3:8–9Are you better than Thebes, stationed by the Nile with water around her, whose rampart was the sea, whose wall was the water?
- Ezek 17:6It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and yielded branches and sent out shoots.
- Dan 11:42–43He will extend his power over many countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape.
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 29:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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