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Ezekiel 26

Read Ezekiel 26 (WEB)+

1In the eleventh year, in the first of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is broken! She who was the gateway of the peoples has been returned to me. I will be replenished, now that she is laid waste;’ 3therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold, I am against you, Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up. 4They will destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers. I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her a bare rock. 5She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the middle of the sea; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord Yahweh. ‘She will become plunder for the nations. 6Her daughters who are in the field will be slain with the sword. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’ 7“For thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Behold, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, with horses, with chariots, with horsemen, and an army with many people. 8He will kill your daughters in the field with the sword. He will make forts against you, cast up a mound against you, and raise up the buckler against you. 9He will set his battering engines against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers. 10By reason of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen, of the wagons, and of the chariots, when he enters into your gates, as men enter into a city which is broken open. 11He will tread down all your streets with the hoofs of his horses. He will kill your people with the sword. The pillars of your strength will go down to the ground. 12They will make a plunder of your riches, and make a prey of your merchandise. They will break down your walls, and destroy your pleasant houses. They will lay your stones, your timber, and your dust in the middle of the waters. 13I will cause the noise of your songs to cease. The sound of your harps won’t be heard any more. 14I will make you a bare rock. You will be a place for the spreading of nets. You will be built no more; for I Yahweh have spoken it,’ says the Lord Yahweh. 15“Thus says the Lord Yahweh to Tyre: ‘Won’t the islands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when the slaughter is made within you? 16Then all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling. They will sit on the ground, and will tremble every moment, and be astonished at you. 17They will take up a lamentation over you, and tell you, “How you are destroyed, who were inhabited by seafaring men, the renowned city, who was strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, who caused their terror to be on all who lived there!” 18Now the islands will tremble in the day of your fall. Yes, the islands that are in the sea will be dismayed at your departure.’ 19“For thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘When I make you a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I bring up the deep on you, and the great waters cover you; 20then I will bring you down with those who descend into the pit, to the people of old time, and will make you dwell in the lower parts of the earth, in the places that are desolate of old, with those who go down to the pit, that you be not inhabited; and I will set glory in the land of the living. 21I will make you a terror, and you will no more have any being. Though you are sought for, yet you will never be found again,’ says the Lord Yahweh.”

World English Bible (public domain)

"And they shall make a spoil of your riches and a prey of your merchandise. They shall break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they shall cast into the midst of the waters."

Ezekiel 26:12

Summary

Ezekiel 26 pronounces judgment against the city of Tyre for its pride and rejoicing over the fall of Jerusalem. God, through the prophet Ezekiel, declares that Tyre will face destruction by many nations, akin to the sea rising with its waves. This prophecy foretells the arrival of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who will lead a siege against Tyre. The city, once a gleaming monarchy and commercial hub, will be reduced to rubble and become a place for fishermen to spread their nets. The judgment emphasizes that there will be no rebuilding of Tyre, and its glory will be lost. This passage illustrates the righteous judgment of God against pride and self-exultation.

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Chapter outline

How Ezekiel 26 unfolds

  1. Ezekiel 26:1–2 The Oracle Against Tyre

    Yahweh's message to Ezekiel begins, addressing Tyre's arrogance regarding Jerusalem's fall. Tyre rejoices over Jerusalem's destruction, believing it will benefit from this.

  2. Ezekiel 26:3–6 Divine Judgment Declared

    God declares His opposition to Tyre and promises its destruction by many nations. The prophecy outlines how Tyre will become a desolate place.

  3. Ezekiel 26:7–12 Nebuchadnezzar's Siege Predicted

    The prophecy specifies Nebuchadnezzar's role as the instrument of judgment against Tyre. He will besiege the city, causing death and plundering its riches.

  4. Ezekiel 26:13–14 Loss of Joy and Beauty

    God announces the cessation of Tyre's music and joy, emphasizing its total ruin. Tyre will become a bare rock, unfit for habitation.

  5. Ezekiel 26:15–18 Reactions to Tyre’s Fall

    The prophecy describes how the islands and princes of the sea will lament Tyre's destruction. Their astonishment reflects Tyre's former power and influence.

  6. Ezekiel 26:19–21 Final Desolation

    God foretells Tyre's complete desolation and its descent into the pit among the dead. The city will be uninhabited and remembered no more.

Key verses

  • Ezekiel 26:12This verse encapsulates the totality of Tyre's destruction and the loss of its former glory.

Main themes in Ezekiel 26

Divine Judgment

Divine judgment is central in Ezekiel 26, particularly in verses 3-4, where God pronounces His judgment against Tyre. The chapter describes how Tyre's pride and arrogance provoke God's decision to bring destruction upon the city, highlighting the inevitability of divine retribution. This development underscores the seriousness of opposing God's will, illustrating that nations that boast against Him will face severe consequences for their actions.

Pride and Humility

Pride is a significant theme in Ezekiel 26, notably in verse 2, where Tyre arrogantly celebrates Jerusalem's downfall. The chapter further develops this theme by showing how Tyre's inflated self-image leads to its own destruction, serving as a cautionary tale for others. This reinforces the biblical truth that pride often precedes a fall, while humility is aligned with God's purposes and leads to favor.

Destruction of the Wicked

The destruction of the wicked is vividly portrayed in Ezekiel 26, especially in verses 7-12, which detail the catastrophic fate awaiting Tyre. The chapter outlines the comprehensive ruin that will befall the city, illustrating God's firm stance against wickedness. This depiction acts as a stark reminder of the fate that awaits those who oppose God's intentions and highlights the certainty of divine justice.

Sovereignty of God

The sovereignty of God is affirmed in Ezekiel 26, particularly in verses 19-21 where He declares Tyre's complete desolation. The chapter develops this theme by showing that God controls the rise and fall of nations through His decrees. This reveals that God's authority is absolute, ensuring that His plans will not be thwarted.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Ezekiel 26

Study questions

Questions for studying Ezekiel 26

  1. What significance does Tyre's pride have in the prophecy?
  2. How does the imagery of the sea relate to Tyre's destruction?
  3. What role does Nebuchadnezzar play in the judgment of Tyre?
  4. How do the reactions of the islands reflect Tyre’s former power?
  5. In what ways does this chapter emphasize the sovereignty of God over nations?
  6. What does the fate of Tyre reveal about the consequences of arrogance?

Ezekiel 26: frequently asked questions

What is Ezekiel 26 about?+
Ezekiel 26 pronounces judgment against the city of Tyre for its pride and rejoicing over the fall of Jerusalem. God, through the prophet Ezekiel, declares that Tyre will face destruction by many nations, akin to the sea rising with its waves. This prophecy foretells the arrival of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who will lead a siege against Tyre. The city, once a gleaming monarchy and commercial hub, will be reduced to rubble and become a place for fishermen to spread their nets. The judgment emphasizes that there will be no rebuilding of Tyre, and its glory will be lost. This passage illustrates the righteous judgment of God against pride and self-exultation.
What is the key verse in Ezekiel 26?+
Ezekiel 26:12: "They will make a plunder of your riches, and make a prey of your merchandise. They will break down your walls, and destroy your pleasant houses. They will lay your stones, your timber, and your dust in the middle of the waters."
What are the main themes of Ezekiel 26?+
The main themes of Ezekiel 26 are Divine Judgment, Pride and Humility, Destruction of the Wicked, Sovereignty of God.

Related chapters

Chapters that connect with Ezekiel 26

Study Notes