Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Ezekiel 28
Ezekiel 28:2"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god - "
This verse exposes the root of the Prince of Tyre's sin: he mistook his earthly success for divine status, forgetting he was a man.Ezekiel 28:14-15You were an anointed guardian cherub. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.
These verses use highly symbolic language to describe a fall from a state of perfection and grace into sin and corruption.Ezekiel 28:26And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”
This concluding promise shows that after God deals with the pride of the nations, He will establish a secure and fruitful life for His people.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Arrogance of the Prince of Tyre
The chapter begins with a direct word from God to the Prince of Tyre, a ruler who had become incredibly wealthy through sea trade. Because of his success, he began to believe he was a god sitting on a divine throne in the middle of the seas. God uses Ezekiel to remind this ruler that despite his great wisdom and riches, he is still a human being who will face a very human death at the hands of ruthless foreigners.
A Lament for a Fallen King
The focus then shifts to a poetic lament over the King of Tyre, using imagery that many scholars believe points to the fall of a high spiritual being or the original fall in Eden. This figure was once perfect, adorned with every precious stone and appointed as a guardian, but pride in his own beauty led to his downfall. God describes casting this figure out from His presence and turning his splendor into ashes as a warning to all who see him.
Judgment on Sidon and Hope for Israel
Finally, the prophecy turns toward Sidon, a neighboring city of Tyre, and then toward the future of Israel. God promises to manifest His holiness by judging the nations that treated Israel with contempt. This judgment is not punishment alone. It clears the way so God's people can finally live in their land without fear, building houses and planting vineyards in total security.
The Fall of Pride and the Rise of Peace
In Ezekiel 28:1-26, the prophet speaks from exile in Babylon, addressing the coastal powers of Phoenicia. The scene moves from the literal pride of a merchant prince to the cosmic tragedy of a fallen guardian, ending with a vision of a peaceful homeland for the scattered people of Israel.
The Prince Who Thought He Was a God (Ezekiel 28:1-10)
1 The word of the Lord came to me:
2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god - "
3 you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you;
4 by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;
5 by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth -
6 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you make your heart like the heart of a god,
7 Therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.
8 They shall thrust you down into the pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas.
9 Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you?
10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the Lord God.”
Commentary:
God humbles the Prince of Tyre for claiming to be divine because of his wealth and wisdom.
Related Verse Analysis
The Tragedy of Corrupted Beauty (Ezekiel 28:11-19)
11 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me:
12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.
14 You were an anointed guardian cherub.
15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.
16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you.
19 All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”
Commentary:
A poetic lament describes a perfect being who was cast out of God's presence due to pride and sin.
The Manifestation of God's Holiness (Ezekiel 28:20-23)
20 The word of the Lord came to me:
21 "Son of man, set your face against Sidon, and prophesy against her,"
22 And say, Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I am against you, O Sidon, and I will manifest my glory in your midst. And they shall know that I am the Lord when I execute judgments in her and manifest my holiness in her;
23 For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets; and the slain shall fall in her midst, by the sword that is against her on every side. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Commentary:
God prophesies judgment against Sidon so that everyone will recognize His power and holiness.
A Future of Security and Rest (Ezekiel 28:24-26)
24 "And for the house of Israel there shall be no more a brier to prick or a thorn to hurt them among all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord God."
25 "Thus says the Lord God: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest my holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob."
26 And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”
Commentary:
God promises to gather Israel and let them live in safety and peace in their own land.
Spiritual Lessons from the Coast of Tyre
The Danger of Self-Deification
The Prince of Tyre's claim to be a god is a warning that humans often try to take God's place when they feel powerful or successful. The passage shows that true wisdom recognizes our dependence on the Creator rather than our own achievements.
The Corruption of God's Gifts
The lament over the King of Tyre reveals that even the best gifts - beauty, wisdom, and position - can be ruined by pride. When we focus on the gift rather than the Giver, we risk losing the very things we treasure.
God as the Protector of the Humble
While the proud are brought low, the oppressed people of Israel are promised a home. This theme highlights God's commitment to bringing justice to those who have been treated with contempt and providing them with a place of rest.
Applying Ezekiel 28 to Your Daily Walk
Ezekiel 28:5 warns that it is easy for the heart to become proud in wealth. You can apply this by intentionally giving thanks to God for your successes and remembering that your skills and opportunities are gifts from Him, not results of your own effort.
The King of Tyre corrupted his wisdom for the sake of his splendor in verse 17. You should reflect on whether you use your intelligence or talents to serve others, or if your aim is to appear superior to those around you.
According to Ezekiel 28:26, true security comes from God's presence and His promise to care for His people. Instead of trusting in your bank account or your status, you can find peace by trusting in God's ability to protect and provide for you even when things around you are changing.
God Confronts the Heart of Pride
Ezekiel 28 reveals that God is not indifferent to the arrogance of human leaders or the corruption of His creation. In the fall of Tyre and Sidon, we see that no amount of earthly splendor can shield a person from the consequences of turning away from God. The message is clear: while pride leads to ashes and ruin, God's ultimate desire is to gather His people into a place of holiness and safety. He is the sovereign Judge who humbles the high and lifts up the lowly.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith requires us to trade our pride for God's peace. Ezekiel 28 invites us to look at our own 'thrones' and 'treasures' and realize they are nothing compared to the security found in God's presence. We are called to live with humility, knowing that our true home and safety are found in Him alone.
- What 'treasures' in your life are you tempted to trust more than God?
- How can you practice humility in your areas of greatest strength this week?
- In what area of your life do you need to trust God's promise of restoration and security?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Provides a detailed description of Tyre's vast commercial wealth and the mourning over its eventual sinking.
Shifts the focus of judgment toward Egypt, another great power that relied on its own strength instead of God.
Connections Across Scripture
Contains a similar taunt against the King of Babylon that many also link to the fall of a prideful spiritual being.
A concise summary of the central lesson of this chapter: pride goes before destruction.
Describes the fall of 'Babylon the Great,' echoing the themes of trade, wealth, and judgment found in the prophecy against Tyre.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the Prince of Tyre's wisdom and wealth led him to believe he was a god rather than making him more grateful to God?
- The 'King of Tyre' is described as being in Eden. How does this imagery help us understand the gravity of his fall and the nature of sin?
- God promises that Israel will 'dwell securely' after He executes judgment. What does 'dwelling securely' look like for a believer in today's world?