Ezekiel 29

“In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include month, tenth, LORD. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:” Naming Egypt and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But 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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beasts, fall, field. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD , because they have been a staff of reed to the house…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon…” The line’s distinctive content terms include brakest, break, didst. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD : because he hath said, The…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and…” Naming Egypt and Ethiopia keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Yet thus saith the Lord GOD ; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made…” Naming Tyrus and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“In 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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.