These precise words mark a critical juncture in God’s ongoing revelation to His people.
“In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (v.1) introduces a clear time-stamp, marking the moment Ezekiel receives a divine communication. Historically, this “tenth year” can be understood as the tenth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, placing the date around 587 BC. Ezekiel, taken captive to Babylon years earlier, stands as a prophet called to minister to God’s people during a time of looming conflict and national uncertainty. Here, the verse underscores how God chooses specific moments to reveal His word, reminding readers that the Creator’s messages often arrive with precise timing to address urgent or impending matters.
By referencing “the tenth month…on the twelfth of the month” (v.1), Scripture accurately situates the prophecy within a larger historical context of Jerusalem’s fall and the ongoing tension with surrounding empires. The mention of Babylon does not explicitly occur in this verse, but Ezekiel’s ministry took place primarily in the region of Babylonia, where many Israelites were exiled. This area, lying east of Israel in the modern-day country of Iraq, served as the prophet’s physical location, which shaped how these oracles were interpreted by the exiled community. Ezekiel’s presence among the captives gave him a unique vantage point—from afar—to pronounce judgments and blessings upon nations.
This verse sets the stage for the subsequent prophecy against Egypt. Although Pharaoh and the land of Egypt are not named in the text until the following verses, “the word of the LORD” (v.1) is about to be declared regarding one of Israel’s powerful neighbors. Ezekiel’s words not only address a prominent kingdom that had influenced the ancient Near East but also reveal God’s overarching sovereignty, a theme carried into the New Testament where Jesus is presented as the ultimate expression of divine authority (John 17:2). Here in Ezekiel 29:1, the prophet prepares to speak God’s truth, foreshadowing significant change in the political and spiritual landscape of the time.
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Ezekiel 29:1 meaning
“In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (v.1) introduces a clear time-stamp, marking the moment Ezekiel receives a divine communication. Historically, this “tenth year” can be understood as the tenth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, placing the date around 587 BC. Ezekiel, taken captive to Babylon years earlier, stands as a prophet called to minister to God’s people during a time of looming conflict and national uncertainty. Here, the verse underscores how God chooses specific moments to reveal His word, reminding readers that the Creator’s messages often arrive with precise timing to address urgent or impending matters.
By referencing “the tenth month…on the twelfth of the month” (v.1), Scripture accurately situates the prophecy within a larger historical context of Jerusalem’s fall and the ongoing tension with surrounding empires. The mention of Babylon does not explicitly occur in this verse, but Ezekiel’s ministry took place primarily in the region of Babylonia, where many Israelites were exiled. This area, lying east of Israel in the modern-day country of Iraq, served as the prophet’s physical location, which shaped how these oracles were interpreted by the exiled community. Ezekiel’s presence among the captives gave him a unique vantage point—from afar—to pronounce judgments and blessings upon nations.
This verse sets the stage for the subsequent prophecy against Egypt. Although Pharaoh and the land of Egypt are not named in the text until the following verses, “the word of the LORD” (v.1) is about to be declared regarding one of Israel’s powerful neighbors. Ezekiel’s words not only address a prominent kingdom that had influenced the ancient Near East but also reveal God’s overarching sovereignty, a theme carried into the New Testament where Jesus is presented as the ultimate expression of divine authority (John 17:2). Here in Ezekiel 29:1, the prophet prepares to speak God’s truth, foreshadowing significant change in the political and spiritual landscape of the time.