Ezekiel 28:1-10

A Prophecy against the Ruler of Tyre

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god.

3 Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!

4 By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries.

5 By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it.

6 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you regard your heart as the heart of a god,

7 behold, I will bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and will defile your splendor.

8 They will bring you down to the Pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas.

9 Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who slay you? You will be only a man, not a god, in the hands of those who wound you.

10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. For I have spoken, declares 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.