Yes, I have given him the land of Egypt as a reward for his work, says the Sovereign Lord, because he was working for me when he destroyed Tyre.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have given him the land of Egypt as his recompense for which he served, because they worked for me, says the Lord Yahweh.
- KJV I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.
- BSB I have given him the land of Egypt as the reward for his labor, because it was done for Me, declares the Lord GOD.
- NKJV I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor, because they worked for Me,’ says the Lord God.
- NASB I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor which he performed, because they acted for Me,” declares the Lord God.
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
God gives Egypt to Babylon as wages because the army worked, in a sense, for him. Even Nebuchadnezzar's campaigns served the Lord's larger plan.
Overview
The Lord explains that Babylon's conquest of Egypt is just recompense, framing Nebuchadnezzar as one who labored "for me." This striking statement affirms God's sovereignty over the actions of nations, employing even pagan rulers as instruments of his will. It assures the exiles that history is not chaos but is directed by God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Isa 10:6–7I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me will I give him a command to take the plunder and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
- Jer 25:9behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,” says Yahweh, “and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations around. I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
- Isa 45:1–3Yahweh says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
- 2 Kgs 10:30Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to Ahab’s house according to all that was in my heart, your descendants shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”
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How Ezekiel 29:20 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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