Single lesson
Ezekiel 29: A Prophecy against Pharaoh
Ezekiel 29:1–7; Ezekiel 29:8–16; Ezekiel 29:17–21
Ezekiel 29:1–7 is a prophecy spoken against Pharaoh and Egypt. It uses strong picture language to show Yahweh opposing pride and exposing Egypt as an unreliable support for Israel. This lesson also brings together The Desolation of Egypt, Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar.
Before you teach
The passage opens with a dated word from Yahweh to Ezekiel. He is told to face Pharaoh king of Egypt and speak against him and all Egypt. The message focuses on Pharaoh’s proud claim over his river and on Egypt’s failure as a help to the house of Israel.
Explain the central teaching of Ezekiel 29: A Prophecy against Pharaoh, using two details from the reading. This prophecy teaches that Yahweh stands against proud self-claiming rulers and exposes false supports that cannot hold his people up. This passage teaches that the Lord Yahweh judges proud claims to power and can both humble a nation and set limits on its future place. This passage teaches that Yahweh rules over nations, repays service as he chooses, and still speaks hope to the house of Israel.
Welcome: Ezekiel 29: A Prophecy against Pharaoh
5 minIntroduce “A Prophecy against Pharaoh”, “The Desolation of Egypt”, “Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar” and locate Ezekiel 29:1–7; Ezekiel 29:8–16; Ezekiel 29:17–21. This prophecy teaches that Yahweh stands against proud self-claiming rulers and exposes false supports that cannot hold his people up. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Ezekiel 29:1, Ezekiel 29:4, Ezekiel 29:7
Read and explain the passage
12 minA Prophecy against Pharaoh (Ezekiel 29:1–7): The passage begins carefully, with a specific date and a clear command. Yahweh’s word comes to Ezekiel, and he must set his face against Pharaoh king of Egypt. The prophecy is not only about one ruler, because it also speaks against all Egypt.
The Desolation of Egypt (Ezekiel 29:8–16): The message begins with the Lord Yahweh bringing a sword on Egypt and cutting off both people and animals. The result will be desolation and waste. The phrase "Then they will know that I am Yahweh" shows that this judgement is meant to reveal the Lord’s authority.
Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 29:17–21): The passage begins carefully, with a date and a clear statement that Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel. That matters because this is presented as a prophetic message, not a general reflection. The focus is on what Yahweh says about real nations and rulers at this point in the book.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “A Prophecy against Pharaoh”, “The Desolation of Egypt”, “Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Ezekiel 29:1, Ezekiel 29:2, Ezekiel 29:8, Ezekiel 29:9, Ezekiel 29:17
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What does Pharaoh claim about the river, and why does that matter in this prophecy?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage teaches that Yahweh rules over nations, repays service as he chooses, and still speaks hope to the house of Israel. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Ezekiel 29:3, Ezekiel 29:4, Ezekiel 29:10, Ezekiel 29:11, Ezekiel 29:12, Ezekiel 29:21
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Ezekiel 29: A Prophecy against Pharaoh: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “A Prophecy against Pharaoh”, “The Desolation of Egypt”, “Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Ezekiel 29:1, Ezekiel 29:11, Ezekiel 29:21
Closing: return to Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar
3 minRevisit Ezekiel 29:17–21. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Ezekiel 29:17, Ezekiel 29:19, Ezekiel 29:21
Questions to explore
What does Pharaoh claim about the river, and why does that matter in this prophecy?
Look closely at Pharaoh’s own words and notice how Yahweh answers that claim with judgment.
Ezekiel 29:3, Ezekiel 29:4
How does the passage describe the extent and length of Egypt’s desolation?
Gather the details about the land’s boundaries, the absence of people and animals, and the repeated mention of forty years.
Ezekiel 29:10, Ezekiel 29:11, Ezekiel 29:12
How does the ending turn from Babylon and Egypt toward Israel?
Notice the promise of a horn for the house of Israel and the opening of Ezekiel’s mouth, then ask what result this will have.
Ezekiel 29:21
Make, think or respond
Ezekiel 29: A Prophecy against Pharaoh: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Ezekiel 29:1–7; Ezekiel 29:8–16; Ezekiel 29:17–21. Use “A Prophecy against Pharaoh”, “The Desolation of Egypt”, “Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Ezekiel 29: A Prophecy against Pharaoh connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “A Prophecy against Pharaoh”, “The Desolation of Egypt”, “Egypt the Reward of Nebuchadnezzar” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Ezekiel 29:1–7; Ezekiel 29:8–16; Ezekiel 29:17–21. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Ezekiel 29:1–7; Ezekiel 29:8–16; Ezekiel 29:17–21. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Ezekiel 29
1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.
3 Speak and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the middle of his rivers, that has said, ‘My river is my own, and I have made it for myself.’
4 I will put hooks in your jaws, and I will make the fish of your rivers stick to your scales. I will bring you up out of the middle of your rivers, with all the fish of your rivers which stick to your scales.
5 I’ll cast you out into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers. You’ll fall on the open field. You won’t be brought together or gathered. I have given you for food to the animals of the earth and to the birds of the sky.
6 “ ‘ “All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am Yahweh, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7 When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke and paralyzed all of their thighs.”
8 “ ‘Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I will bring a sword on you, and will cut off man and animal from you.
9 The land of Egypt will be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am Yahweh. “ ‘ “Because he has said, ‘The river is mine, and I have made it,’
10 therefore, behold, I am against you and against your rivers. I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even to the border of Ethiopia.
11 No foot of man will pass through it, nor will any animal foot pass through it. It won’t be inhabited for forty years.
12 I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities among the cities that are laid waste will be a desolation forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.”
13 “ ‘For the Lord Yahweh says: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were scattered.
14 I will reverse the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth. There they will be a lowly kingdom.
15 It will be the lowest of the kingdoms. It won’t lift itself up above the nations any more. I will diminish them so that they will no longer rule over the nations.
16 It will no longer be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to memory, when they turn to look after them. Then they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.” ’ ”
17 It came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was worn; yet he had no wages, nor did his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it.
19 Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off her multitude, take her plunder, and take her prey. That will be the wages for his army.
20 I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he served, because they worked for me,’ says the Lord Yahweh.
21 “In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.