Ezekiel 29:3-4
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Pharaoh's arrogant boast, "My Nile is my own; I made it for myself," reveals a deeper blasphemy than mere political pride. He's not just claiming ownership of the river, but effectively declaring himself the creator and sustainer of Egypt's lifeblood, forgetting the God who actually commands all things. This self-deification, like the monstrous crocodile he's compared to, shows his ultimate vulnerability to divine judgment.
speak, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his streams, that says, ‘My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.’ I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales; and I will draw you up out of the midst of your streams, with all the fish of your streams that stick to your scales.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Ezekiel is commissioned to deliver a message of judgment against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. God declares His direct opposition to Pharaoh, likening him to a great crocodile lurking in the Nile, the very source of Egypt's life and power. This imagery highlights Pharaoh's arrogant claim that the river, and by extension his kingdom and all its prosperity, is solely his own creation and possession.
Why would God compare Pharaoh, the mighty king of Egypt, to a fearsome reptile?
The prophet Ezekiel uses powerful imagery here, calling Pharaoh 'the great dragon that lies in the midst of his streams.' While 'dragon' might sound mythical, scholars understand this refers to the crocodile – a real, terrifying creature abundant in the Nile River.
A Symbol of Power and Pride
The crocodile was deeply connected to Egypt. It was feared, and in some places, even worshipped. This makes it a potent symbol for Pharaoh himself. He, like the crocodile, was seen as a powerful, dominating force within his domain – the Nile and all of Egypt.
The King Embodies the Nation
It's important to see that Pharaoh isn't just an individual here; he represents the entire nation of Egypt. When God says 'I am against you, Pharaoh,' He's speaking against the pride and arrogance of the Egyptian state, with its king at the center.
What’s so wrong with saying 'My river is my own'?
Pharaoh's declaration, 'My Nile is my own; I made it for myself,' is the heart of his rebellion against God.
Claiming Divine Authority
The Nile River was the lifeblood of Egypt. It provided water, fertility, and wealth. For Pharaoh to claim ownership and even creation of the Nile was to usurp God's role as the ultimate Creator and Sustainer of life.
Ask a follow-up
Arrogance and Forgetfulness
This wasn't just a casual statement; it was a profound boast of self-sufficiency and independence from God. It echoes the pride of kings like Nebuchadnezzar, who forgot that all power and provision come from the Almighty. Pharaoh believed his power was absolute, a self-made reality, not a gift from the God he was defying.
Understand the original words
Adonay Yahweh · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A Hebrew title for God (Adonai Yahweh) that emphasizes His absolute authority, sovereignty, and rule over all creation as Master and Lord.
tannin · Hebrew Noun
A mythological or symbolic creature often representing chaos, demonic power, or an oppressive, tyrannical empire. In biblical imagery, it portrays the hostile, sea-dwelling powers that God ultimately masters and judges.
Ezekiel's powerful imagery of Pharaoh as a 'great dragon' is deeply rooted in the Egyptian reverence for the Nile and its powerful, often dangerous, creatures like the crocodile. Pharaoh Hophra's boast, 'My river is mine own; I made it for myself,' echoes Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance and highlights the self-deification common among ancient rulers, making him a prime target for God's judgment.
c. 664-610 BC
Psamtik I Reunifies Egypt
Psamtik I, founder of the 26th Dynasty, expels Assyrian forces and reunifies Egypt after a period of division. This dynasty, centered in Sais, will foster a resurgence of Egyptian power and culture.
c. 610-595 BC
Pharaoh Necho II Rules
Necho II continues his father's policies, engaging in foreign ventures like attempting a canal between the Nile and the Red Sea and campaigning in the Levant, bringing him into conflict with Babylon.
c. 589-570 BC— this verse
Pharaoh Hophra (Apries) Reigns
Hophra, grandson of Necho II, ascends the throne. He is known for his pride and ambitious foreign policy, including attempts to aid Judah against Babylon, which ultimately fail.
589 BC
Nebuchadnezzar Invades Judah
The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II launches a major invasion of Judah, besieging Jerusalem. Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt leads a relief force, but it is defeated.
570 BC
Hophra Deposed and Killed
Following military defeats and internal dissent, Hophra is overthrown by his own general, Amasis. The prophet Ezekiel delivers his oracles against Hophra during this turbulent period.
550s BC
Persian Empire Rises
Cyrus the Great rapidly expands the Persian Empire, eventually conquering Babylon in 539 BC. This rising power will soon cast its shadow over Egypt.
This Psalm vividly describes God's power over the sea monster, a parallel to His ultimate authority over Pharaoh, who is also depicted as a powerful, dragon-like creature.
Isaiah 27:1Isaiah prophesies about God's judgment on 'Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent,' which is a powerful symbol of Egypt's might, directly echoing Ezekiel's imagery of Pharaoh as a great dragon.
Isaiah 51:9This passage calls on the 'arm of the Lord' to 'strike through Rahab,' a poetic name for Egypt, also often depicted as a sea monster, further connecting the theme of God's power against this proud nation.
Daniel 4:30King Nebuchadnezzar's arrogant boast, 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power to be a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?', mirrors Pharaoh's self-reliant claim, 'My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.'
Exodus 7:12In the story of the plagues, Aaron's staff turns into a serpent, confronting the magical serpents of the Egyptian magicians, showing God's power over the symbols and pride of Egypt even from the beginning of their relationship.
clarkeEzekiel 29:3: "Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself."
The great dragon - התנים hattannim should here be translated crocodile, as that is a real animal, and numerous in the Nile; whereas the dragon is wholly fabulous. The original signifies any large animal. The midst of his rivers - This refers to the several branches…
barnesEzekiel 29:3: "Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself."
The king is addressed as the embodiment of the state. Dragon - Here the crocodile, the great monster of the Nile, which was regarded very differently in different parts of Egypt. By some it was worshipped and embalmed after death, and cities were named after it (e.…
Pharaoh's arrogant boast, "My Nile is my own; I made it for myself," reveals a deeper blasphemy than mere political pride. He's not just claiming ownership of the river, but effectively declaring himself the creator and sustainer of Egypt's lifeblood, forgetting the God who actually commands all things. This self-deification, like the monstrous crocodile he's compared to, shows his ultimate vulnerability to divine judgment.
The prophet Ezekiel is commissioned to deliver a message of judgment against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. God declares His direct opposition to Pharaoh, likening him to a great crocodile lurking in the Nile, the very source of Egypt's life and power. This imagery highlights Pharaoh's arrogant claim that the river, and by extension his kingdom and all its prosperity, is solely his own creation and possession.
The prophet Ezekiel is commissioned to deliver a message of judgment against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. God declares His direct opposition to Pharaoh, likening him to a great crocodile lurking in the Nile, the very source of Egypt's life and power. This imagery highlights Pharaoh's arrogant claim that the river, and by extension his kingdom and all its prosperity, is solely his own creation and possession.
"speak, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD:
“Behold, I am against you,
Pharaoh king of Egypt,
the great dragon that lies
in the midst of his streams,
that says, ‘My Nile is my own;
I made it for myself.’ I…" — Pharaoh's arrogant boast, "My Nile is my own; I made it for myself," reveals a deeper blasphemy than mere political pride. He's not just claiming ownership of the river, but effectively declaring him…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026