Ezekiel 29:2
New International Version
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

New Living Translation
“Son of man, turn and face Egypt and prophesy against Pharaoh the king and all the people of Egypt.

English Standard Version
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt;

Berean Standard Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Berean Literal Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

King James Bible
Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:

New King James Version
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt.

New American Standard Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

NASB 1995
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

NASB 1977
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Amplified Bible
“Son of man, set your face toward Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Berean Annotated Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh (great house) king of Egypt (land of bondage) and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Christian Standard Bible
“Son of man, face Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all of Egypt.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Son of man, turn your face toward Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all of Egypt.

American Standard Version
Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt;

Contemporary English Version
Ezekiel, son of man, condemn the king of Egypt. Tell him and his people

English Revised Version
Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Son of man, turn to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Good News Translation
"Mortal man," he said, "denounce the king of Egypt. Tell him how he and all the land of Egypt will be punished.

International Standard Version
"Son of Man, turn your attention to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and the entire nation of Egypt.

NET Bible
"Son of man, turn toward Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

New Heart English Bible
"Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Webster's Bible Translation
Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

World English Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy concerning him, and concerning Egypt—all of it.

Berean Literal Bible
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

Young's Literal Translation
'Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy concerning him, and concerning Egypt -- all of it.

Smith's Literal Translation
Son of man set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Son of man, set thy face against Pharao king of Egypt: and thou shalt prophesy of him, and of all Egypt:

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and you shall prophesy about him and about all of Egypt.

New American Bible
Son of man, turn your face toward Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

New Revised Standard Version
Mortal, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh King of Egypt, and prophesy upon him and upon all Egypt
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Son of man, set thy face against Pharao king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against the whole of Egypt:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment Against Pharaoh
1In the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3Speak 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.’…

Cross References
Son of man,

Ezekiel 2:1
“Son of man,” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

Ezekiel 3:1
“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.”

Daniel 8:17
As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”
set your face against

Ezekiel 25:2
“Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.

Ezekiel 35:2
“Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it,

Ezekiel 28:21
“Son of man, set your face against Sidon and prophesy against her.
Pharaoh king of Egypt

Jeremiah 46:2
concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah:

Jeremiah 25:19
Pharaoh king of Egypt, his officials, his leaders, and all his people;

1 Kings 3:1
Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.
and prophesy against him

Ezekiel 38:2
“Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him

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 46:13
This is the word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
and against all Egypt.

Jeremiah 46:25
The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I am about to punish Amon god of Thebes, along with Pharaoh, Egypt with her gods and kings, and those who trust in Pharaoh.

Ezekiel 30:4
A sword will come against Egypt, and there will be anguish in Cush when the slain fall in Egypt, its wealth is taken away, and its foundations are torn down.

Ezekiel 30:10
This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
Isaiah 19:1-4
This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them. / “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. / Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists. …


Treasury of Scripture

Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:

set

Ezekiel 6:2
Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

Ezekiel 20:46
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

Ezekiel 21:2
Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

Pharaoh.

Jeremiah 44:30
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

against all

Ezekiel 30:1-32:32
The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, …

Isaiah 18:1-19:17
Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: …

Isaiah 20:1-6
In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it; …

Jump to Previous
Egypt Face Pharaoh Prophesy Prophet Turned Whole
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Egypt Face Pharaoh Prophesy Prophet Turned Whole
Ezekiel 29
1. The judgment of Pharaoh for his treachery to Israel
8. The desolation of Egypt
13. The restoration thereof after forty years
17. Egypt the reward of Nebuchadnezzar
21. Israel shall be restored












Son of man
This title is frequently used for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a prophet. It underscores the distinction between God and man, highlighting the divine authority behind Ezekiel's messages. The term is also used in the New Testament, notably by Jesus, to refer to Himself, indicating His role as the representative of humanity.

set your face against
This phrase indicates a determined opposition and a resolute stance. It signifies God's judgment and the seriousness of the prophetic message. The imagery of setting one's face suggests unwavering focus and intent, often used in prophetic literature to denote divine displeasure.

Pharaoh king of Egypt
Pharaoh represents the political and spiritual leadership of Egypt, a nation historically opposed to Israel. Egypt was a powerful empire known for its wealth and military might. The specific Pharaoh is likely Hophra (Apries), who reigned during Ezekiel's time. Egypt's reliance on its own strength and idolatry made it a target of God's judgment.

and prophesy against him
This command to prophesy against Pharaoh indicates a direct message from God, revealing His sovereignty over nations. Prophecy serves as both a warning and a declaration of divine will. It underscores the accountability of rulers and nations to God's standards.

and against all Egypt
The inclusion of "all Egypt" broadens the scope of the prophecy to encompass the entire nation, not just its leader. This reflects the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, affecting every aspect of Egyptian society. Egypt's historical role as a refuge and adversary to Israel is significant, and this prophecy aligns with other biblical judgments against Egypt, such as those found in Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet of God, called to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile.

2. Pharaoh
The title for the king of Egypt, representing the political and spiritual leadership of the nation.

3. Egypt
A powerful and influential nation in the ancient Near East, often seen as a symbol of worldly power and opposition to God's people.

4. Prophecy
A divine message delivered by a prophet, often concerning future events or divine judgment.

5. Judgment
The act of God bringing justice and correction, often through prophetic declarations against nations or individuals.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Nations
God is in control of all nations and their leaders, and He can raise them up or bring them down according to His purposes.

The Danger of Pride and Self-Reliance
Pharaoh and Egypt symbolize human pride and reliance on worldly power, which ultimately leads to downfall when opposed to God's will.

The Role of Prophets
Prophets are called to speak God's truth, even when it is difficult or unpopular, reminding us of the importance of faithfulness to God's message.

Judgment as a Call to Repentance
God's judgments are not merely punitive but serve as calls to repentance and opportunities for nations and individuals to turn back to Him.

Historical Context and Modern Application
Understanding the historical context of biblical prophecies helps us apply their lessons to contemporary situations, recognizing the timeless nature of God's principles.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 29:2?

2. How does Ezekiel 29:2 demonstrate God's sovereignty over nations and leaders?

3. What is the significance of prophesying against Pharaoh in Ezekiel 29:2?

4. How can we discern God's warnings in our lives, like in Ezekiel 29:2?

5. In what ways does Ezekiel 29:2 connect to God's judgment in other Scriptures?

6. How should believers respond to God's messages of judgment, as seen in Ezekiel 29:2?

7. What is the significance of Ezekiel 29:2 in the context of biblical prophecy against Egypt?

8. How does Ezekiel 29:2 reflect God's judgment and sovereignty over nations?

9. Why does God instruct Ezekiel to prophesy against Pharaoh in Ezekiel 29:2?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 29?

11. Why does Isaiah 19's prophecy differ from other prophetic passages about Egypt (e.g., Ezekiel 29) if they both claim divine judgment?

12. In light of previous judgments on other nations, why does Ezekiel 29's specific timeline for Egypt seem inconsistent with events recorded elsewhere in the Bible?

13. In Ezekiel 29:1-3, how can we reconcile the depiction of Pharaoh as a 'monster in the seas' with historical or archaeological evidence?

14. How can Ezekiel 19:2-9 be harmonized with the historical records of Judah's exiles, given the imagery of lion cubs taken captive?
What Does Ezekiel 29:2 Mean
Son of man

“Son of man” (Ezekiel 29:2) is God’s favored way of addressing Ezekiel, reminding him—and us—of his humanity in contrast to the Lord’s sovereign majesty. • God repeatedly uses this title for Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:1; 3:1, 17), emphasizing the prophet’s role as a faithful but humble messenger. • The phrase underscores that the message comes from God, not from human imagination (cf. Ezekiel 33:7). • By calling attention to Ezekiel’s earthly frailty, the Lord highlights His own glory and reliability, inviting readers to trust the prophetic word just as surely as Israel was called to trust it.


set your face

To “set your face” is to stand with fixed resolve (Ezekiel 13:17; 20:46). • The wording pictures steadfast obedience, like the determined posture Jesus would later model when He “set His face” toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)—a reminder that God’s servants never shrink from difficult assignments. • Ezekiel’s stance also conveys God’s unflinching purpose: His warnings are never idle (Isaiah 50:7). • The prophet’s focused gaze becomes a visible sermon, signaling that divine judgment is already in motion.


against Pharaoh king of Egypt

God directs Ezekiel’s attention to “Pharaoh king of Egypt,” highlighting an actual historical ruler whom He will confront. • Egypt’s might seemed unassailable, yet the Lord treats Pharaoh as any other mortal leader subject to His throne (Exodus 5:2; Jeremiah 46:25). • Pharaoh represents prideful self-reliance; earlier, Egypt boasted of the Nile as its own creation (Ezekiel 29:3). • This confrontation recalls earlier clashes with Egypt in Exodus, proving God’s consistency in opposing oppression and idolatry (Exodus 12:12; Isaiah 19:1).


and prophesy against him and against all Egypt

The scope broadens: the word is “against him and against all Egypt.” • Judgment extends from the throne room to every corner of the land (Ezekiel 30:1–4). • God’s aim is corrective as well as punitive: “Then they will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 29:6). • The prophecy warns Judah not to rely on Egypt for help (Isaiah 30:1–3); alliances without God are shaky reeds that pierce the hand (Ezekiel 29:7). • Yet the Lord’s justice remains tempered with future mercy, promising eventual restoration for Egypt after forty years (Ezekiel 29:13–14), demonstrating both His severity and kindness (Romans 11:22).


summary

Ezekiel 29:2 shows God commissioning His servant to deliver a specific, resolute word of judgment. The verse reminds us that:

• God speaks through chosen messengers, even when the message is hard.

• His purposes are unwavering; human power cannot withstand Him.

• Nations and individuals who exalt themselves above God will face certain reckoning, yet divine discipline always holds out the goal of acknowledging the Lord.

In every era, He alone is the dependable refuge; all other sources of security eventually fail.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of man,
אָדָ֕ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

set
שִׂ֣ים (śîm)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

your face
פָּנֶ֔יךָ (pā·ne·ḵā)
Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Pharaoh
פַּרְעֹ֖ה (par·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings

king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Egypt
מִצְרָ֑יִם (miṣ·rā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

and prophesy
וְהִנָּבֵ֣א (wə·hin·nā·ḇê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration

against him
עָלָ֔יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and against
וְעַל־ (wə·‘al-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

all
כֻּלָּֽהּ׃ (kul·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

of Egypt.
מִצְרַ֖יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 29:2 Son of man set your face against (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 29:1
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