Ezekiel 28
Prophecy Against the Prince of Tyre
1The LORD’s word came again to me, saying,
2“Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the middle of the seas;’ yet you are man, and no god, though you set your heart as the heart of a god—
3behold, you are wiser than Daniel. There is no secret that is hidden from you.
4By your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasuries.
5By your great wisdom and by your trading you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches—”
6“‘therefore the Lord GOD says: “Because you have set your heart as the heart of God,
7therefore, behold, I will bring strangers on you, the terrible of the nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom. They will defile your brightness.
8They will bring you down to the pit. You will die the death of those who are slain in the heart of the seas.
9Will you yet say before him who kills you, ‘I am God’? But you are man, and not God, in the hand of him who wounds you.
10You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken it,” says the Lord GOD.’”
Lamentation Over the King of Tyre
11Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
12“Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and tell him, ‘The Lord GOD says: “You were the seal of full measure, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl. Gold work of tambourines and of pipes was in you. They were prepared in the day that you were created.
14You were the anointed cherub who covers. Then I set you up on the holy mountain of God. You have walked up and down in the middle of the stones of fire.
15You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.
16By the abundance of your commerce, your insides were filled with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore I have cast you as profane out of God’s mountain. I have destroyed you, covering cherub, from the middle of the stones of fire.
17Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. You have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I have cast you to the ground. I have laid you before kings, that they may see you.
18By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your commerce, you have profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought out a fire from the middle of you. It has devoured you. I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all those who see you.
19All those who know you among the peoples will be astonished at you. You have become a terror, and you will exist no more.”’”
Prophecy Against Sidon and Promise to Israel
20The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
21“Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against it,
22and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Sidon. I will be glorified among you. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have executed judgments in her, and am sanctified in her.
23For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets. The wounded will fall within her, with the sword on her on every side. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
24“‘“There will no longer be a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor a hurting thorn of any that are around them that scorned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”
25“‘The Lord GOD says: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am shown as holy among them in the sight of the nations, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to my servant Jacob.
26They will dwell in it securely. Yes, they will build houses, plant vineyards, and will dwell securely when I have executed judgments on all those around them who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.”’”
Ezekiel delivers three distinct prophecies in this chapter, beginning with God's judgment against the prince of Tyre for his prideful claim to divinity despite being merely human. The second oracle presents a poetic lamentation over the king of Tyre, using imagery that recalls Eden and the fall of a cherub guardian, symbolizing the corruption of perfection through pride and violence. The chapter concludes with a brief prophecy against Sidon and a promise that Israel will be restored to safety among the nations.
Context
This chapter continues Ezekiel's oracles against foreign nations that began in chapter 25, focusing specifically on Phoenician city-states before transitioning to Egypt in chapter 29.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-10Judgment on Tyre's PrinceGod condemns the prince of Tyre for claiming divinity and promises his destruction by foreign armies.
- 11-19Lament for Tyre's KingA poetic dirge describes the king's fall from perfection in Eden, using cherub imagery to portray ultimate corruption.
- 20-26Sidon's Fate and Israel's HopeGod pronounces judgment on Sidon while promising Israel's future restoration and security in their land.
Prophecy Against the Prince of Tyre
28:1–28:10God pronounces judgment against the prince of Tyre for his arrogant claim to divinity and self-exaltation. Despite his wisdom and wealth, he will be destroyed by foreign nations as punishment for his pride.
person_contrast
Daniel appears alongside Noah and Job as exemplars of righteousness in verse 3, marking the only biblical instance where these three figures are grouped together as paragons of wisdom and virtue.
Lamentation Over the King of Tyre
28:11–28:19A lamentation over the king of Tyre, portrayed as a perfect being in Eden who fell through pride and corruption. The passage uses imagery of a cherub cast out from God's holy mountain due to violence and sin.
theme_rarity
Ezekiel uniquely merges Edenic creation imagery with the fall narrative, making this the only biblical passage where "pride" and "creation" themes converge in describing divine judgment.
Prophecy Against Sidon and Promise to Israel
28:20–28:26God pronounces judgment against Sidon while promising restoration to Israel. After executing judgment on their enemies, God will gather the scattered Israelites back to their land where they will dwell securely.
person_contrast
Jacob appears here uniquely as "my servant Jacob" in a sovereignty context, contrasting his typical covenant identity with this rare portrayal emphasizing divine ownership and protection.
Ezekiel 28:2
Ezekiel 31:10lexical“Therefore thus said the Lord GOD: ‘Because he is exalted in stature, and he has set his top among the thick branches, a…
Ezekiel 27:3lexicaland tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord GOD…
Ezekiel 26:3lexicaltherefore the Lord GOD says, ‘Behold, I am against you, Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the…
Ezekiel 26:15lexical“The Lord GOD says to Tyre: ‘Won’t the islands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when the slaught…
Ezekiel 26:7lexical“For the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, wit…
Ezekiel 28:4
2 Chronicles 25:24lexicalHe took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in God’s house with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of…
2 Chronicles 5:1lexicalThus all the work that Solomon did for the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his fathe…
2 Chronicles 16:2lexicalThen Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the LORD’s house and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben H…
2 Kings 14:14lexicalHe took all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in the LORD’s house and in the treasures of the king…
1 Kings 7:51lexicalThus all the work that King Solomon did in the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his…
Ezekiel 28:5
2 Chronicles 16:8lexicalWeren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and exceedingly many horsemen? Yet, because you relied o…
2 Chronicles 9:1lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a…
Ezekiel 28:10
Ezekiel 32:32lexical“For I have put his terror in the land of the living. He will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain…
Ezekiel 31:18lexical“‘To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you will be brought down with the tre…
Ezekiel 18:32lexicalFor I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!
Ezekiel 18:23lexicalHave I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord GOD, “and not rather that he should return from his way,…
Ezekiel 33:11lexicalTell them, ‘“As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn fro…
Ezekiel 28:12
Ezekiel 27:3lexicaland tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord GOD…
Ezekiel 16:14lexicalYour renown went out among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you,”…
Ezekiel 32:16lexical“‘“This is the lamentation with which they will lament. The daughters of the nations will lament with this. They will la…
Ezekiel 26:3lexicaltherefore the Lord GOD says, ‘Behold, I am against you, Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the…
Ezekiel 26:7lexical“For the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, wit…
Ezekiel 28:13
Exodus 39:10lexicalThey set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row;
Exodus 28:17lexicalYou shall set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of ruby, topaz, and beryl shall be the first row;
Exodus 28:20lexicaland the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be enclosed in gold in their settings.
Exodus 39:13lexicaland the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings.
1 Chronicles 29:2lexicalNow I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things…
Ezekiel 28:16
Ezekiel 26:12lexicalThey will make a plunder of your riches and make a prey of your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy…
Ezekiel 10:2lexicalHe spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, “Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both…
Ezekiel 28:18
Psalms 74:7lexicalThey have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.
Ezekiel 23:39lexicalFor when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and…
Ezekiel 28:22
Ezekiel 36:23lexicalI will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the n…
Ezekiel 5:8lexicaltherefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I, even I, am against you; and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of…
Ezekiel 29:3lexicalSpeak and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the…
Ezekiel 22:19lexicalTherefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the middle of…
Ezekiel 14:21lexicalFor the Lord GOD says: “How much more when I send my four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword, the famine, the evil…
Ezekiel 28:23
Ezekiel 5:12lexicalA third part of you will die with the pestilence, and they will be consumed with famine within you. A third part will fa…
Ezekiel 32:25lexicalThey have made Elam a bed among the slain with all her multitude. Her graves are around her, all of them uncircumcised,…
Ezekiel 32:22lexical“Asshur is there with all her company. Her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,
Ezekiel 32:24lexical“There is Elam and all her multitude around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who have gone down uncirc…
Ezekiel 32:23lexicalwhose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit, and her company is around her grave, all of them slain, fallen b…
Ezekiel 28:25
Ezekiel 11:17lexical“Therefore say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where you…
Ezekiel 29:13lexical“‘For the Lord GOD says: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were scatter…
Ezekiel 37:21lexicalSay to them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone…
Amos 9:8lexicalBehold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the surface of the earth, exc…
Ezekiel 20:41lexicalI will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which…
Ezekiel 28:26
Zephaniah 1:13lexicalTheir wealth will become a plunder, and their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses, but won’t inhabit them.…
Joshua 24:13lexicalI gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you didn’t build, and you live in them. You eat of vine…
Amos 9:14lexicalI will bring my people Israel back from captivity, and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they w…
Deuteronomy 28:30lexicalYou will betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her. You will build a house, and you won’t dwell in it. You will…
Ecclesiastes 2:4lexicalI made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
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Historical Context
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