Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Ezekiel 26
Ezekiel 26:3therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.
God declares He is against Tyre and will bring many nations against her like the unstoppable waves of the sea.Ezekiel 26:14And I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God.
The city is told it will become a bare rock and a place for spreading fishing nets, never to be rebuilt.Ezekiel 26:21I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more. Though you be sought for, you will never be found again, declares the Lord God.”
God promises a dreadful end where the city will be sought but never found again, showing the finality of His word.
Historical & Cultural Context
A City That Gloated Over Tragedy
The chapter begins in the eleventh year of exile, shortly after the fall of Jerusalem. Tyre, a wealthy and powerful maritime city, is caught gloating over Jerusalem's destruction, believing that the removal of their trade rival will make them even richer. Because they saw a business opportunity in their neighbor's tragedy, God sends Ezekiel to deliver a message of coming ruin.
The Unstoppable Waves of Justice
God describes the coming judgment as a series of waves, bringing nation after nation to tear down Tyre's defenses. The prophecy specifically names Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as the primary force that will break through their gates and plunder their riches. This destruction is so complete that the once-great city is reduced to a bare rock where fishermen spread their nets to dry.
The Destruction of a Maritime Empire
In Ezekiel 26:1-21, the prophet receives a word from God regarding the island city of Tyre. The scene shifts from the ruins of Jerusalem to the bustling, arrogant docks of Tyre, where the people are celebrating their neighbor's downfall. God responds by detailing a step-by-step dismantling of their city, their wealth, and their future.
The Reason for Ruin (Ezekiel 26:1-6)
1 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:
2 "Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, 'Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,'"
3 therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.
4 They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock.
5 She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God.
6 And her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Commentary:
Tyre gloated over Jerusalem's fall, so God promised to strip the city bare like a rock.
The Babylonian Siege (Ezekiel 26:7-14)
7 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers.
8 He will kill with the sword your daughters on the mainland.
9 He will direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers.
10 His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen and wagons and chariots, when he enters your gates as men enter a city that has been breached.
11 His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen and wagons and chariots, when he enters your gates as men enter a city that has been breached.
12 They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters.
13 And I will stop the music of your songs, and the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more.
14 And I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God.
Commentary:
Nebuchadnezzar will lead a massive army to destroy Tyre's walls, homes, and music.
The World Watches in Fear (Ezekiel 26:15-18)
15 "Thus says the Lord God to Tyre: Will not the coastlands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when slaughter is made in your midst?"
16 Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground and tremble every moment and be appalled at you.
17 And they will raise a lamentation over you and say to you: “‘How you have perished, you who were inhabited from the seas, O city renowned, who was mighty on the sea; she and her inhabitants imposed their terror on all her inhabitants!
18 Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall, and the coastlands that are on the sea are dismayed at your passing.'
Commentary:
Other world leaders will tremble and mourn when they see the mighty city of Tyre fall.
A Final Disappearance (Ezekiel 26:19-21)
19 "For thus says the Lord God: When I make you a city laid waste, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you, and the great waters cover you,"
20 then I will make you go down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you to dwell in the world below, among ruins from of old, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited; but I will set beauty in the land of the living.
21 I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more. Though you be sought for, you will never be found again, declares the Lord God.”
Commentary:
Tyre will sink into the depths and be forgotten, never to be found or rebuilt again.
The Spiritual Lessons of Tyre's Downfall
The Sin of Opportunism
Tyre's biggest failure was trying to profit from the suffering of others. God shows that He takes it personally when we look at someone else's tragedy as a way to get ahead.
The Illusion of Security
Tyre felt safe because of its island location and massive wealth, but this chapter proves that human strength is nothing compared to God's power. True security is found in God's favor, not in our own resources or defenses.
God as the Lord of History
By naming specific kings and describing the exact nature of the city's end, God demonstrates that He is the one who directs the rise and fall of every nation. Nothing happens outside of His knowledge or authority.
Applying Ezekiel's Message to Our Lives
Ezekiel 26:2 warns us against having an 'Aha!' attitude toward the failures of others. Instead of looking for ways to benefit from their loss, you should seek to have a heart of compassion, remembering that God values every person's dignity.
Just as Tyre trusted its strong walls and merchandise in verse 12, you might be tempted to trust your bank account or career status. This passage reminds you that these things can disappear quickly, and only a relationship with God provides a foundation that cannot be shaken.
In verse 6, God says the people will know He is the Lord through His acts of justice. For you, this means living with the awareness that God is the ultimate judge of right and wrong, and your choices should reflect His standards of fairness and love.
God Judges Pride and Defends the Hurting
Ezekiel delivers a stern warning that God sees the heart behind our actions, especially how we treat those in crisis. When Tyre tried to profit from Jerusalem's downfall, God stepped in to show that He is the ultimate protector of His people. The message is that no amount of wealth or power can shield a person from the consequences of pride. God's justice ensures that those who mock the broken will eventually face the reality of His sovereign power.
What This Means for Us Today
This chapter is a call to check our motives and ensure we aren't building our lives on the misfortunes of others. It invites us to trade our pride for a humble reliance on the only One who truly lasts. By choosing empathy over opportunism, we align ourselves with God's heart.
- Is there anyone whose struggle I have secretly felt good about?
- What 'walls' am I building in my life that I think make me untouchable?
- How can I use my resources to help others instead of helping myself?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter lists judgments against other neighboring nations who also mistreated Israel.
A detailed funeral song for Tyre that describes its former glory and its tragic end.
Connections Across Scripture
An earlier prophecy that also predicts the downfall of Tyre and its famous merchants.
A New Testament vision of the fall of a future prideful commercial power that mirrors the imagery used for Tyre.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God is so offended by Tyre's attitude toward Jerusalem's destruction?
- The imagery of 'spreading nets' suggests a total change in a city's purpose. How does pride often lead to a loss of our true purpose?
- How can we balance being successful and productive without becoming arrogant like the people of Tyre?