Contradictions and Paradoxes in Ezekiel 29:3

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Ezekiel 29:3 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Ezekiel 29:3. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Ezekiel, God is telling the king of Egypt that He is not happy with him. The king thinks he owns the river and made it all by himself, but God wants him to know that's not true.

Ezekiel 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.

Contradiction with Isaiah 27:1

Ezekiel 29:3 describes Pharaoh as a dragon, while Isaiah 27:1 depicts a dragon as something God punishes, highlighting differing views on God's treatment of symbolic dragons.

Isaiah 27:1: In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea. [piercing: or, crossing like a bar]

Contradiction with Ezekiel 28:2

Ezekiel 29:3 portrays Pharaoh as a mighty dragon claiming the river, whereas Ezekiel 28:2 presents a ruler claiming godlike status, suggesting self-deification in another context.

Ezekiel 28:2: Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart [is] lifted up, and thou hast said, I [am] a God, I sit [in] the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou [art] a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: [midst: Heb. heart]

Contradiction with Jeremiah 51:34

In Ezekiel 29:3, the dragon is a symbol of power and control over the river, but Jeremiah 51:34 depicts Nebuchadnezzar as a devourer, with the metaphor of a monster showing destructive force rather than rule or ownership.

Jeremiah 51:34: Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.

Contradiction with Psalm 74:13

While Ezekiel 29:3 uses the imagery of a dragon to describe Pharaoh's power, Psalm 74:13 narrates God as the conqueror of dragons, presenting a different outcome for creatures symbolized as dragons.

Psalm 74:13: Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. [divide: Heb. break] [dragons: or, whales]

Contradiction with Job 7:12

Ezekiel 29:3 utilizes the imagery of a dragon for powerful rulers, whereas Job 7:12 questions if Job is a sea serpent needing to be controlled, introducing a debate over divine restraint versus Pharaoh's self-asserted dominion.

Job 7:12: [Am] I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

Paradox #1

The verse in Ezekiel 29:3 involves a prophecy against Pharaoh, king of Egypt, likening him to a great sea monster. Some might see a contradiction or inconsistency in the depiction of God’s judgment against nations, questioning the loving nature of God when He commands or foretells destruction. However, this type of imagery and language is often seen in the context of showing God's power over human pride and false deities. Understanding this requires looking at how judgment fits into the broader spiritual narrative of teaching humility and the consequences of arrogance.

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