Ezekiel 29:20

20 and to the work for which he served to me against it; and I gave the land of Egypt to him, for that that he travailed to me, saith the Lord God. (and for the work in which he served me against it; and so I gave the land of Egypt to him, because he laboured for me, saith the Lord God.)

Ezekiel 29:20 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 29:20

I have given him the land of Egypt for labour wherewith he
served against it,
That is, against Tyre; meaning not Nebuchadnezzar merely or only, but his army also, who did the main of the service and labour, and had the plunder of the country for it; though the kingdom itself was given to their king, and annexed to his monarchy: because they wrought for me, saith the Lord God;
not intentionally, but eventually; they did not design to do any service for God; they only sought to serve themselves with the riches and wealth of those they subdued; and yet while they besieged Tyre, and when they took it, and while they were ravaging, plundering, and subduing Egypt, they were doing the Lord's will and work, and executing his righteous judgments on these enemies of his for their sins; wherefore he rewarded them sufficiently: none ever are employed by him but he gives them their wages; even though they are wicked and ungodly men, verily they have their reward.

Ezekiel 29:20 In-Context

18 Thou, son of man, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made his host to serve by great service against Tyre; each head was made bald, and each shoulder was made bare of hair, and meed was not yielded of Tyre to him, neither to his host (and no reward, or money, was given from Tyre to him, nor to his army), for the service by which he served to me against it.
19 Therefore the Lord God saith these things, Lo! I shall give Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the land of Egypt, and he shall take the multitude thereof; and he shall take in prey the clothes thereof, and he shall ravish the spoils thereof, and meed shall be to his host, (And so the Lord God saith these things, Lo! I shall give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and he shall take its multitude; and he shall take its clothes as prey, and he shall rob its spoils, and it shall be a reward for his army,)
20 and to the work for which he served to me against it; and I gave the land of Egypt to him, for that that he travailed to me, saith the Lord God. (and for the work in which he served me against it; and so I gave the land of Egypt to him, because he laboured for me, saith the Lord God.)
21 In that day (On that day), an horn of the house of Israel shall come forth, and I shall give to thee an open mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know, that I am the Lord.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.