Ezekiel 28:11-15

A Lament for Tyre's King

11 The word of the Lord came to me:

12 "Son of man, lament^[a] for the king of Tyre and say to him: This is what the Lord God says: You were the seal^[b] of perfection,^[c] full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.^[d]

13 You were in Eden,^[e] the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone covered you: carnelian, topaz, and diamond,^[f] beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire,^[g] turquoise^[h] and emerald.^[i] Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold;^[j] they were prepared on the day you were created.

14 You were an anointed guardian cherub,^[k] for^[l] I had appointed you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones.

15 From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you.

Ezekiel 28:11-15 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Ezk 27:2
• [b] Or sealer
• [c] Hb obscure
• [d] Ezk 27:3
• [e] Ezk 31:9,16,18; 36:35; Gn 2:8
• [f] Hb obscure
• [g] Or lapis lazuli
• [h] Or malachite, or garnet
• [i] Or beryl
• [j] Ex 28:17-20; 39:10-13; Rv 21:19-20
• [k] Ezk 10:2-19; Gn 3:24; Ex 25:18-22
• [l] Or With an anointed guardian cherub