Ezekiel 28:1-10

1 The word of the LORD came to me:

2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you consider yourself as wise as a god--

3 you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you;

4 by your wisdom and your understanding you have gotten wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;

5 by your great wisdom in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth--

6 therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you consider yourself as wise as a god,

7 therefore, behold, I will bring strangers upon you, the most terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.

8 They shall thrust you down into the Pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas.

9 Will you still say, 'I am a god,' in the presence of those who slay you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who wound you?

10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD."

Ezekiel 28:1-10 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.