The Dragon of Egypt

Ezekiel 29

The Lord sets his judgment against Pharaoh, likening him to a great dragon in his own rivers who claims to have made them, and declares that Egypt will be made desolate and scattered among the nations for forty years before being restored as a lowly kingdom. He also announces that Egypt will be given to Nebuchadnezzar as the reward for his long siege of Tyre.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonIN the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, a word of the Lord came to me, saying,

BrentonIn the twelfth year, in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

GreekἘν τῷ ἔτει τῷ δωδεκάτῳ, ἐν τῷ δεκάτῳ μηνὶ, μιᾷ τοῦ μηνὸς, ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVIn the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSIn the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonSon of man, set thy face against Pharao king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt;

BrentonSon of man, set thy face against Pharao king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against the whole of Egypt:

Greekυἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, στήρισον τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἐπὶ Φαραὼ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου, καὶ προφήτευσον ἐπʼ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπʼ Αἴγυπτον ὅλην,

KJVSon of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:

JPS’Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt;

Thomsonand say, Thus saith the Lord: Behold I am against Pharao—that great dragon which walloweth in the midst of his rivers, and saith, These rivers are mine and I made them.

Brentonand say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against Pharao, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his rivers, that says, The rivers are mine, and I made them.

Greekκαὶ εἰπόν, Τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐπὶ Φαραὼ, τὸν δράκοντα τὸν μέγαν τὸν ἐγκαθήμενον ἐν μέσῳ ποταμῶν αὐτοῦ, τὸν λέγοντα, ἐμοί εἰσιν οἱ ποταμοὶ, καὶ ἐγὼ ἐποίησα αὐτούς.

KJVSpeak, 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.

JPSspeak, 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, That hath said: My river is mine own, And I have made it for myself.

ThomsonAnd I will put grapples in thy jaws, and cause the fishes of thy river to stick close to thy fins;

BrentonAnd I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy river to stick to thy sides, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy river:

GreekΚαὶ ἐγὼ δώσω παγίδας εἰς τὰς σιαγόνας σου, καὶ προσκολλήσω τοὺς ἰχθῦας τοῦ ποταμοῦ σου πρὸς τὰς πτέρυγάς σου, καὶ ἀνάξω σε ἐκ μέσου τοῦ ποταμοῦ σου,

KJVBut I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.

JPSAnd I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales; and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.

Thomsonand I will drag thee out of the river, and give thee and all the fishes of thy river a sudden cast. On the face of the plain thou shalt fall and shalt not be gathered nor composed. To the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air I have given thee for food.

Brentonand I will quickly cast down thee and all the fish of thy river: thou shalt fall on the face of the plain, and shalt by no means be gathered, and shalt not be brought together: I have given thee for food to the wild beasts of the earth and to the fowls of the sky.

Greekκαὶ καταβαλῶ σε ἐν τάχει καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἰχθύας τοῦ ποταμοῦ σου· ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τοῦ πεδίου πέσῇ, καὶ οὐ μὴ συναχθῇς, καὶ οὐ μὴ περισταλῇς, τοῖς θηρίοις τῆς γῆς καὶ τοῖς πετεινοῖς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ δέδωκά σε εἰς κατάβρωμα·

KJVAnd I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.

JPSAnd I will cast thee into the wilderness, Thee and all the fish of thy rivers; Thou shalt fall upon the open field; Thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered; To the beasts of the earth and to the fowls of the heaven Have I given thee for food.

ThomsonAnd all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord. Because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel;

BrentonAnd all the dwellers in Egypt shall know that I am the Lord, because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ γνώσονται πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες Αἴγυπτον, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος· ἀνθʼ ὧν ἐγενήθης ῥάβδος καλαμίνη τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ,

KJVAnd all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.

JPSAnd all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know That I am the LORD, Because they have been a staff of reed To the house of Israel.

Thomsonwhen they took hold of thee with their hand thou didst break: even when every hand was clapping against them, and when they leaned on thee thou didst break and disjoint all their loin;

BrentonWhen they took hold of thee with their hand, thou didst break: and when every hand was clapped against them, and when they leaned on thee, thou wast utterly broken, and didst crush the loins of them all.

Greekὅτε ἐπελάβετό σου τῇ χειρὶ αὐτῶν, ἐθλάσθης· καὶ ὅτε ἐπεκρότησεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς πᾶσα χεὶρ, καὶ ὅτε ἐπανεπαύσαντο ἐπὶ σέ, συνετρίβης, καὶ συνέκλασας αὐτῶν πᾶσαν ὀσφύν.

KJVWhen they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.

JPSWhen they take hold of thee with the hand, thou dost break, And rend all their shoulders; And when they lean upon thee, thou breakest, And makest all their loins to be at a stand.

Thomsontherefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring a sword against thee and destroy out of thee man and beast.

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and will cut off from thee man and beast;

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐπάγω ἐπὶ σὲ ῥομφαίαν, καὶ ἀπολῶ ἀπὸ σοῦ ἀνθρώπους καὶ κτήνη,

KJVTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.

JPSTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and will cut off from thee man and beast.

ThomsonAnd the land of Egypt shall be a destruction and a desolation; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Brentonand the land of Egypt shall be ruined and desert; and they shall know that I am the Lord; because thou sayest, The rivers are mine, and I made them.

Greekκαὶ ἔσται ἡ γῆ Αἰγύπτου ἀπώλεια καὶ ἔρημος· καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος· ἀντὶ τοῦ λέγειν σε, οἱ ποταμοὶ ἐμοί εἰσι, καὶ ἐγὼ ἐποίησα αὐτοὺς,

KJVAnd the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it.

JPSAnd the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste, and they shall know that I am the LORD; because he hath said: The river is mine, and I have made it.

ThomsonBecause thou saidst, These rivers are mine; I made them; therefore behold I am against thee and against all thy rivers; and I will deliver up the land of Egypt to desolation and sword and destruction. From Magdolus and Syene even to the borders of Ethiopia,

BrentonTherefore, behold, I am against thee, and against all thy rivers, and I will give up the land of Egypt to desolation, and the sword, and destruction, from Magdol and Syene even to the borders of the Ethiopians.

GreekΔιατοῦτο ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐπὶ σὲ, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς ποταμούς σου, καὶ δώσω γῆν Αἰγύπτου εἰς ἔρημον καὶ ῥομφαίαν καὶ ἀπώλειαν ἀπὸ Μαγδωλοῦ καὶ Συήνης καὶ ἕως ὁρίων Αἰθιόπων.

KJVBehold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.

JPSTherefore, behold, I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.

Thomsonno foot of man shall pass across it, nor shall a foot of beast traverse it; and for forty years it shall not be inhabited.

BrentonNo foot of man shall pass through it, and no foot of beast shall pass through it, and it shall not be inhabited for forty years.

GreekΟὐ μὴ διέλθῃ ἐν αὐτῇ ποὺς ἀνθρώπου, καὶ ποὺς κτήνους οὐ μὴ διέλθῃ αὐτὴν, καὶ οὐ κατοικηθήσεται τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη.

KJVNo foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.

JPSNo foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.

ThomsonI will indeed make its land a desolation in the midst of a desolated land, and its cities, in the midst of desolated cities, forty years. And I will scatter Egypt among the nations, and disperse them through the countries.

BrentonAnd I will cause her land to be utterly destroyed in the midst of a land that is desolate, and her cities shall be desolate forty years in the midst of cities that are desolate: and I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and will utterly scatter them into the countries.

GreekΚαὶ δώσω τὴν γῆν αὐτῆς ἀπώλειαν ἐν μέσῳ γῆς ἠρημωμένης, καὶ αἱ πόλεις αὐτῆς ἐν μέσῳ πόλεων ἠρημωμένων ἔσονται τεσσεράκοντα ἔτη· καὶ διασπερῶ Αἴγυπτον ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ λικμήσω αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰς χώρας.

KJVAnd I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

JPSAnd I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.

ThomsonThus saith the Lord, After forty years, I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered;

BrentonThus saith the Lord; After forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations among whom they have been scattered;

GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος, μετὰ τεσσεράκοντα ἔτη συνάξω Αἰγυπτίους ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν οὗ διεσκορπίσθησαν ἐκεῖ,

KJVYet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:

JPSFor thus saith the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the peoples whither they were scattered;

Thomsonand I will bring back the Egyptian captives, and settle them in the land of Pathora—in the land from which they were taken.

Brentonand I will turn the captivity of the Egyptians, and will cause them to dwell in the land of Phathore, in the land whence they were taken;

Greekκαὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν τῶν Αἰγυπτίων, καὶ κατοικίσω αὐτοὺς ἐν γῇ Φαθωρῆς, ἐν τῇ γῇ ὅθεν ἐλήμφθησαν, καὶ ἔσται ἀρχὴ ταπεινὴ

KJVAnd I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.

JPSand I will turn the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their origin; and they shall be there a lowly kingdom.

ThomsonAnd it shall be the basest of all governments; it shall no more be exalted against the nations. For I will make them few and of little account, that they may not be great among the nations.

Brentonand it shall be a base kingdom beyond all other kingdoms; it shall not any more be exalted over the nations; and I will make them few in number, that they may not be great among the nations.

Greekπαρὰ πάσας τὰς ἀρχάς· οὐ μὴ ὑψωθῇ ἔτι ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη· καὶ ὀλιγοστοὺς αὐτοὺς ποιήσω, τοῦ μὴ εἶναι αὐτοὺς πλείονας ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι.

KJVIt shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.

JPSIt shall be the lowliest of the kingdoms, neither shall it any more lift itself up above the nations; and I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.

ThomsonAnd they shall no more be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity into remembrance by their going after them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

BrentonAnd they shall no more be to the house of Israel a confidence bringing iniquity to remembrance, when they follow after them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκέτι ἔσονται τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ εἰς ἐλπίδα ἀναμιμνήσκουσαν ἀνομίαν, ἐν τῷ ἀκολουθῆσαι αὐτοὺς ὀπίσω ἀυτῶν, καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος.

KJVAnd it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

JPSAnd it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to remembrance, when they turn after them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.’

ThomsonAgain it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year on the first day of the first month, that a word of the Lord came to me, saying,

BrentonAnd it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, on the first day of the first month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἑβδόμῳ καὶ εἰκοστῷ ἔτει, μιᾷ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου, ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVAnd it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSAnd it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonSon of man, Nabuchodonosar king of Babylon hath caused his army to undergo hard service at Tyre. Every head is bald and every shoulder peeled; and he and his army employed against Tyre, have received no wages; though they have undergone hard service against it.

BrentonSon of man, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre; every head was bald, and every shoulder peeled; yet there was no reward to him or to his army serving against Tyre, nor for the service wherewith they served against it.

GreekΥἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος κατεδουλώσατο τὴν δύναμιν αὐτοῦ δουλείᾳ μεγάλῃ ἐπὶ Τύρου, πᾶσα κεφαλὴ φαλακρὰ, καὶ πᾶς ὦμος μαδῶν· καὶ μισθὸς οὐκ ἐγενήθη αὐτῷ καὶ τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ Τύρον, καὶ τῆς δουλείας ἧς ἐδούλευσαν ἐπʼ αὐτήν.

KJVSon of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:

JPS’Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled; yet had he no wages, nor his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it;

ThomsonThus saith the Lord, Behold I will give to Nabuchodonosar king of Babylon the land of Egypt. And he shall make a prey of its prey, and a spoil of its spoil. And it shall be wages for his army. For his service which he hath performed against Tyre,

BrentonThus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will give to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon the land of Egypt, and he shall take the plunder thereof, and seize the spoils thereof; and it shall be a reward for his army.

GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος Κύριος, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ δίδωμι τῷ Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλεῖ Βαβυλῶνος γῆν Αἰγύπτου, καὶ προνομεύσει τὴν προνομὴν αὐτῆς, καὶ σκυλεύσει τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῆς· καὶ ἔσται μισθὸς τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ,

KJVTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.

JPSTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off her abundance, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.

ThomsonI have given him the land of Egypt.

BrentonIn return for his service wherewith he served against Tyre, I have given him the land of Egypt; thus saith the Lord God:

Greekἀντὶ τῆς λειτουργίας αὐτοῦ ἧς ἐδούλευσεν ἐπὶ Τύρον, δέδωκα αὐτῷ γῆν Αἰγύπτου· τάδε λέγει Κύριος Κύριος.

KJVI have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.

JPSI have given him the land of Egypt as his hire for which he served, because they wrought for Me, saith the Lord GOD.

ThomsonThus saith the Lord God: In that day there shall spring up a horn for the whole house of Israel, and I will give thee an open mouth in the midst of them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

BrentonIn that day shall a horn spring forth for all the house of Israel, and I will give thee an open mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἀνατελεῖ κέρας παντὶ τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ σοὶ δώσω στόμα ἀνεῳγμένον ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν, καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος.

KJVIn that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

JPSIn that day will I cause a horn to shoot up unto the house of Israel, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.’