Ezekiel 29:18

Arabic SAB (الكتاب الشريف)

”يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، نَبُوخَذْنَصْرُ مَلِكُ بَابِلَ دَفَعَ جَيْشَهُ فِي مَعْرَكَةٍ شَدِيدَةٍ ضِدَّ صُورَ، حَتَّى أَصَابَ الصَّلَعُ رُؤُوسَ جُنُودِهِ وَتَسَلَّخَتْ أَكْتَافُهُمْ. وَلَكِنْ لَا هُوَ وَلَا جَيْشُهُ حَصَلَ عَلَى أُجْرَةٍ مِنْ صُورَ، مِنْ هَذِهِ الْمَعْرَكَةِ الَّتِي قَادَهَا.

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel, telling him that Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, had attacked the city of Tyre with his army. The soldiers worked very hard, even to the point of exhaustion, but they did not receive any reward for their efforts against Tyre.

Explained for Children

Imagine you are working really hard on a big project at school, like coloring a huge picture. You spend a lot of time on it, even getting tired, but when you finish, your teacher doesn't give you a sticker or any praise. That's kind of what happened here with the Babylonian soldiers. They worked really hard but didn't get any reward.

Historical Background

Ezekiel, a prophet, wrote this verse around 593-571 BC while in exile in Babylon. The message was directed to the Jewish exiles who were discouraged and needed to understand the consequences of their actions and the sovereignty of God. The cultural setting involved the Babylonian Empire's dominance over the ancient Near East.

Living It Out Today

In modern life, we sometimes put in a lot of effort for a project or work but do not receive the recognition or reward we expected. This verse reminds us that our efforts should not be solely motivated by seeking rewards but rather by fulfilling our duties and trusting in God's plan.

Topics

• judgment
• sovereignty
• faithfulness
• reward
• perseverance
• God's plan

Related Verses

• Ezekiel 26:7-12
• Ezekiel 29:17
• Jeremiah 27:6
• Daniel 2:37-38
• Matthew 6:19-21

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is speaking in Ezekiel 29:18?

God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the Jewish exiles.

What does 'every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled' mean?

This phrase describes the extreme exhaustion and effort the soldiers put into the battle, akin to working so hard that their hair falls out and their shoulders become sore.

Why didn't the Babylonian army receive any reward for their efforts?

The verse implies that despite the great effort, Tyre's wealth and resources were not as abundant as expected, leading to a lack of reward for the soldiers.

How does this verse relate to our understanding of God's sovereignty?

It shows that God ultimately controls the outcomes of human efforts, emphasizing that even in situations where human efforts seem wasted, God's plan and judgment remain sovereign.