Ezekiel 28:12-18

12 1"Son of man, 2raise a lamentation over 3the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection,[a] 4full of wisdom and 5perfect in beauty.
13 You were in 6Eden, the garden of God; 7every precious stone was your covering, 8sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire,[b]9emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings.[c] 10On the day that you were created they were prepared.
14 You were an anointed 11guardian cherub. I placed you;[d] you were on 12the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
15 You were blameless in your ways 13from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.
16 In the abundance of 14your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from 15the mountain of God, and I destroyed you,[e]16O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 17Your heart was proud because of 18your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.
18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so 19I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth 20in the sight of all who saw you.

Ezekiel 28:12-18 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 20

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
  • [b]. Or lapis lazuli
  • [c]. The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
  • [d]. The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
  • [e]. Or banished you
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.