ScriptureDepth's study of Ezekiel 26
“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.”
Ezekiel 26:12
Yahweh declares to Tyre that nations will plunder her riches and destroy her pleasant houses, establishing her downfall and desolation as a consequence of her pride.
What Ezekiel 26 is about
Yahweh speaks an oracle against Tyre, which has boasted over Jerusalem's ruin (vv. 1-2). The Lord declares that He will bring many nations against Tyre, leading to its downfall (v. 3). Tyre's walls and towers will be destroyed. The city will be made a bare rock, a place for spreading nets (vv. 4-5). Many will die by the sword, and they will know that Yahweh is the Lord (v. 6).
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, will attack Tyre with a great army (vv. 7-8). He will besiege the city, destroying its defenses and killing its people (vv. 9-11). Tyre will lose its wealth and beauty, with no more joyful songs or music (vv. 12-14). The islands will tremble at Tyre's fall, and rulers will mourn its destruction (vv. 15-18). The city will become desolate, like cities long forgotten, never to be found again (vv. 19-21).
Yahweh promises that Tyre will become a terror and will never be inhabited again.
Ezekiel 26 at a glance
- Ezekiel 26:1–2The Oracle Against Tyre
- Ezekiel 26:3–6Divine Judgment Declared
- Ezekiel 26:7–12Nebuchadnezzar's Siege Predicted
- Ezekiel 26:13–14Loss of Joy and Beauty
- Ezekiel 26:15–18Reactions to Tyre’s Fall
- Ezekiel 26:19–21Final Desolation
Key verse: Ezekiel 26:12
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Ezekiel 26 (WEB)
The Oracle Against Tyre Ezekiel 26:1–2
1Verse 1. In the eleventh year, in the first of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 2Verse 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;’
Divine Judgment Declared Ezekiel 26:3–6
3Verse 3. therefore 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. 4Verse 4. They 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. 5Verse 5. She 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. 6Verse 6. Her daughters who are in the field will be slain with the sword. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’
Nebuchadnezzar's Siege Predicted Ezekiel 26:7–12
7Verse 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. 8Verse 8. He 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. 9Verse 9. He will set his battering engines against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers. 10Verse 10. By 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.
11Verse 11. He 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. 12Verse 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.
Loss of Joy and Beauty Ezekiel 26:13–14
13Verse 13. I will cause the noise of your songs to cease. The sound of your harps won’t be heard any more. 14Verse 14. I 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.
Reactions to Tyre’s Fall Ezekiel 26:15–18
15Verse 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? 16Verse 16. Then 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. 17Verse 17. They 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!”
18Verse 18. Now the islands will tremble in the day of your fall. Yes, the islands that are in the sea will be dismayed at your departure.’
Final Desolation Ezekiel 26:19–21
19Verse 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; 20Verse 20. then 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. 21Verse 21. I 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)
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Main themes in Ezekiel 26
Divine Judgment
In this chapter, God's judgment against Tyre is pronounced clearly through the oracle. In v. 3, He declares, 'Behold, I am against you, Tyre,' signaling the impending destruction. The judgment is executed through a foreign power, specifically Nebuchadnezzar, as predicted in vv. 7-12 where the city will face severe military action and loss.
Pride and Humility
Tyre's pride is evident in her taunting of Jerusalem, as seen in v. 2 where she claims, 'Aha! She is broken!' This pride leads to her downfall, as God states in v. 14 that Tyre will become 'a bare rock,' stripped of her former glory. The chapter starkly contrasts the arrogance of Tyre with the reality of her desolation.
Destruction of the Wicked
Ezekiel 26 vividly portrays the destruction awaiting Tyre for her wickedness and arrogance. In v. 19, the Lord announces, 'When I make you a desolate city,' indicating a fate reserved for those who oppose Him. The chapter culminates in v. 21 with a declaration that Tyre will 'never be found again,' highlighting the complete and utter annihilation of the wicked.
Sovereignty of God
The chapter consistently affirms God's sovereignty over nations and cities. In v. 7, God proclaims that He will bring Nebuchadnezzar against Tyre, illustrating His control over historical events. The finality of His decree is echoed in v. 20, where He states that Tyre will be made to dwell among the 'lower parts of the earth,' confirming His ultimate authority in executing judgment.
Chapter outline
How Ezekiel 26 unfolds
Ezekiel 26:1–2 The Oracle Against Tyre
Yahweh's word comes to Ezekiel regarding Tyre's mockery of Jerusalem's destruction. Tyre claims Jerusalem's fall benefits her, prompting divine judgment against Tyre for her arrogance (vv. 1-2).
Ezekiel 26:3–6 Divine Judgment Declared
Yahweh declares His opposition to Tyre, announcing that many nations will attack her. The destruction will be total, leaving Tyre as 'a bare rock' and a place for fishing nets (vv. 3-6).
Ezekiel 26:7–12 Nebuchadnezzar's Siege Predicted
Nebuchadnezzar is identified as the instrument of judgment against Tyre. The siege will involve brutal warfare, including the killing of Tyre's people and the destruction of its fortifications (vv. 7-12).
Ezekiel 26:13–14 Loss of Joy and Beauty
Yahweh declares the end of Tyre's music, saying, 'I will cause the noise of your songs to cease' (verse 13). The city will be transformed into a desolate place, a 'bare rock' for nets (verse 14).
Ezekiel 26:15–18 Reactions to Tyre’s Fall
The reaction to Tyre's fall includes lamentations from the princes of the sea, who will express shock and fear at the city's destruction. They recall Tyre's past strength and influence over the maritime world (vv. 15-18).
Ezekiel 26:19–21 Final Desolation
Yahweh foretells Tyre's ultimate desolation, comparing it to cities that have never been inhabited. The city will be forgotten and uninhabitable, marking a complete and permanent end (vv. 19-21).
Key verses
Ezekiel 26:12Yahweh declares to Tyre that nations will plunder her riches and destroy her pleasant houses, establishing her downfall and desolation as a consequence of her pride.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Ezekiel 26
- observeIn v2, what does Tyre say about Jerusalem that prompts God's judgment?
- observeWhat fate does God declare will come upon Tyre in v5?
- interpretIn vv. 7-8, why does God specify Nebuchadnezzar's methods against Tyre?
- interpretIn v21, what does the phrase 'you will no more have any being' imply about Tyre's future?
- applyWhen have you celebrated a setback for someone else, as Tyre did with Jerusalem?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Ezekiel 26
- Ezekiel 27Ezekiel 26:15 and Ezekiel 27:35Both express astonishment: Ezekiel 26:15 speaks of the islands shaking at Tyre's fall, while Ezekiel 27:35 notes the inhabitants' fear.
- Isaiah 23Ezekiel 26:2 and Isaiah 23:1Both announce destruction: Ezekiel 26:2 mentions Tyre's pride over Jerusalem's fall, while Isaiah 23:1 describes Tyre laid waste.
- Ezekiel 32Ezekiel 26:20 and Ezekiel 32:23Both describe the grave: Ezekiel 26:20 mentions the pit, while Ezekiel 32:23 speaks of graves in the pit.
- Revelation 18Ezekiel 26:13 and Revelation 18:22Both cease music: Ezekiel 26:13 says songs will cease, while Revelation 18:22 states no music will be heard anymore.
- Ezekiel 28Ezekiel 26:21 and Ezekiel 28:19Both emphasize terror: Ezekiel 26:21 states Tyre will be a terror, while Ezekiel 28:19 echoes this by noting astonishment.
- Ezekiel 25Ezekiel 26:5 and Ezekiel 25:7Both declare plunder: Ezekiel 26:5 states Tyre will become plunder for nations, while Ezekiel 25:7 announces similar judgment.
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