Ezekiel 28

Ezekiel 28 delivers a prophetic message against the prince and king of Tyre, symbolizing human pride and the pursuit of godlike status. The chapter opens with a rebuke to the ruler of Tyre, a wealthy and prosperous city known for its pride and arrogance. The prince of Tyre is condemned for exalting himself as a god, and the chapter then shifts to a poetic lament against the king of Tyre, often interpreted as a reflection of Satan’s fall from grace. Ezekiel concludes with judgment on Sidon and a message of hope for Israel’s restoration.

Ezekiel 28:1-2 (NKJV)
1 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying,
2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Because your heart is lifted up,
And you say, ‘I am a god,
I sit in the seat of gods,
In the midst of the seas,’
Yet you are a man, and not a god,
Though you set your heart as the heart of a god

Ezekiel begins by delivering a message from God to the prince of Tyre, rebuking his arrogance and self-deification. The prince has lifted his heart, claiming godlike power and authority, likening himself to a divine being. God reminds him that despite his aspirations, he remains a mere man, incapable of achieving divinity. This message serves as a stern reminder of the consequences of pride and self-exaltation.

Ezekiel 28:3-5 (NKJV)
3 (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel!
There is no secret that can be hidden from you!
4 With your wisdom and your understanding
You have gained riches for yourself,
And gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;
5 By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches,
And your heart is lifted up because of your riches),

The prince of Tyre’s pride stems from his wealth and perceived wisdom. He considers himself wiser than Daniel, a symbol of knowledge and discernment, and his wisdom in trade has brought him considerable wealth. However, his prosperity has led to arrogance, elevating his heart in pride. This passage critiques how material success can lead individuals to mistakenly view themselves as untouchable or above reproach.

Ezekiel 28:6-10 (NKJV)
6 “Therefore thus says the Lord God:
‘Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god,
7 Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you,
The most terrible of the nations;
And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom,
And defile your splendor.
8 They shall throw you down into the Pit,
And you shall die the death of the slain
In the midst of the seas.
9 “Will you still say before him who slays you,
‘I am a god’?
But you shall be a man, and not a god,
In the hand of him who slays you.
10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised
By the hand of aliens;
For I have spoken,” says the Lord God.’”

In response to the prince’s arrogance, God declares that foreign invaders will humble him, stripping him of his pride and exposing his mortality. Despite his previous declarations of divinity, the prince will be powerless against those who conquer him. This prophecy serves as a warning that no matter how high one’s pride reaches, God can bring anyone down to face mortality and judgment.

Ezekiel 28:11-15 (NKJV)
11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“You were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.

This passage describes a figure that, while initially addressing the king of Tyre, unmistakably refers to Satan. The passage speaks of an “anointed cherub” who was “in Eden, the garden of God,” adorned with precious stones and created “blameless” until “iniquity was found in you.” This being, once perfect in beauty and wisdom, is corrupted by pride and self-exaltation, leading to his downfall. The language goes beyond any earthly king, portraying a supernatural being who held a high position among God’s creation. Satan, once a beautiful, exalted cherub, allowed pride to corrupt him, leading to rebellion and his casting out from God’s presence. This passage thus provides a glimpse into Satan’s original created glory, his tragic choice to rebel, and the resulting judgment, emphasizing the consequences of pride and the fall from grace.

Ezekiel 28:16-19 (NKJV)
16 “By the abundance of your trading
You became filled with violence within,
And you sinned;
Therefore I cast you as a profane thing
Out of the mountain of God;
And I destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the fiery stones.
17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.
18 “You defiled your sanctuaries
By the multitude of your iniquities,
By the iniquity of your trading;
Therefore I brought fire from your midst;
It devoured you,
And I turned you to ashes upon the earth
In the sight of all who saw you.
19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you;
You have become a horror,
And shall be no more forever.”

God condemns the king for allowing his wealth and beauty to foster corruption, leading to violence and sin. Consequently, God declares his downfall, casting him out from his exalted position and reducing him to ashes. This graphic depiction of judgment serves as a warning about the dangers of vanity and pride, illustrating the destructive path that unchecked self-glorification can take.

Ezekiel 28:20-23 (NKJV)
20 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
21 “Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against her,
22 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I am against you, O Sidon;
I will be glorified in your midst;
And they shall know that I am the Lord,
When I execute judgments in her and am hallowed in her.
23 For I will send pestilence upon her,
And blood in her streets;
The wounded shall be judged in her midst
By the sword against her on every side;
Then they shall know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel’s prophecy shifts to Sidon, another coastal city near Tyre. God declares judgment upon Sidon, foretelling pestilence and bloodshed to demonstrate His sovereignty. This prophecy reinforces God’s intention to humble prideful nations and remind them of His supremacy. Through these judgments, both Sidon and surrounding nations will recognize God’s ultimate authority.

Ezekiel 28:24-26 (NKJV)
24 “And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.”
25 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob.
26 And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.”’”

God promises restoration and peace for Israel, envisioning a future without hostility from surrounding nations. When God regathers His people, they will live in safety, freed from threats of foreign oppression. This concluding message offers hope and assurance that Israel’s covenant with God remains, and His commitment to their protection and prosperity endures despite past judgments.