Ezekiel 28:11-19

11 The word of the LORD came to me:
12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.[a]Your settings and mountings[b] were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.
14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.
17 Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.
18 By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.
19 All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’ ”

Ezekiel 28:11-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 28

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of the prince of Tyre; a lamentation for the king of Tyre; a denunciation of judgments on Zidon, and a promise of peace and safety to Israel. The order given the prophet to prophesy of the ruin of the prince of Tyre, Eze 28:1,2, the cause of his ruin, his pride on account of his wisdom and riches, which rose to such a pitch, as to make himself God, Eze 28:2-6, the manner in which his destruction shall be accomplished, Eze 28:7-10, the lamentation for the king of Tyre begins Eze 28:11,12, setting forth his former grandeur and dignity, Eze 28:13-15, his fall, and the cause of it, injustice and violence in merchandise, pride because of beauty and wisdom, and profanation of sanctuaries, Eze 28:16-19, next follow the judgments on Zidon, Eze 28:20-23, and the chapter is concluded with a promise of the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and of great tranquillity and safety in it, Eze 28:24-26.

Cross References 18

  • 1. S Ezekiel 19:1
  • 2. Ezekiel 27:2-4
  • 3. S Genesis 2:8
  • 4. Ezekiel 31:8-9
  • 5. Revelation 17:4
  • 6. S Ezekiel 27:16
  • 7. Isaiah 14:11; Revelation 21:20
  • 8. Exodus 30:26; Exodus 40:9
  • 9. Exodus 25:17-20
  • 10. S Genesis 6:11; Habakkuk 2:17
  • 11. S Genesis 3:24
  • 12. Isaiah 10:12; Ezekiel 16:49; Ezekiel 31:10
  • 13. S Ezekiel 19:12
  • 14. Obadiah 1:18
  • 15. Malachi 4:3
  • 16. Zechariah 9:2-4
  • 17. S Leviticus 26:32
  • 18. S Jeremiah 51:64; S Ezekiel 26:21; Ezekiel 27:36

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.
  • [b]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
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