1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:
4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.
9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
20 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
21 Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,
22 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
23 For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
24 And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
25 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
26 And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.
Ezekiel 28, a chapter in the Old Testament of the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible, is a complex and rich text that presents a prophetic message from the prophet Ezekiel. The chapter primarily addresses the King of Tyre, a significant figure who symbolically represents the pride and fall of humanity. The chapter also refers to the cherub who guards the Garden of Eden, often interpreted as a reference to Satan. Thus, the main themes of Ezekiel 28 revolve around pride, downfall, judgment, and restoration.
The chapter begins with God commanding Ezekiel to speak to the "Prince of Tyre". God accuses the prince of being arrogant and believing himself to be a god, though he is but a man. This section of the chapter highlights the theme of pride, a recurring theme throughout the Bible, often associated with downfall and judgment. The Prince of Tyre's arrogance mirrors the arrogance of humanity, who often forgets their place before God and becomes consumed by their own self-importance.
The Prince of Tyre is described as a man of great wealth, wisdom, and beauty, who has used these gifts to increase his wealth and power. However, his heart has become proud because of his beauty and wisdom, leading him to believe that he is a god. This is a clear example of the biblical theme of the dangers of pride. The Prince of Tyre's pride has led him to believe he is more than a man, a belief that has caused him to lose sight of his reliance on God. This is a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of forgetting one's place before God and the perils of human arrogance.
God declares that He will bring the Prince of Tyre down from his exalted position. He will be killed by foreigners, his wealth will be plundered, and he will die a violent death. This is a clear depiction of the theme of downfall and judgment. The Prince of Tyre, despite his wealth, power, and wisdom, is not immune to the consequences of his pride. His downfall serves as a stark reminder of the inevitable consequences of arrogance and pride, especially when one forgets their place before God.
The second half of Ezekiel 28 shifts focus to a "cherub in Eden", often interpreted as a reference to Satan. This cherub was once perfect in wisdom and beauty, placed by God in the Garden of Eden. However, his heart became proud because of his beauty, and he was cast out of Eden. This narrative parallels the story of the Prince of Tyre, reinforcing the themes of pride, downfall, and judgment. However, it also introduces a new theme: the cosmic battle between good and evil. The cherub's downfall symbolizes the eternal struggle between God and Satan, a struggle that has profound implications for humanity.
The chapter concludes with a prophecy against Sidon, another city-state. God promises to send plagues and bloodshed upon Sidon as a form of judgment. However, unlike the Prince of Tyre and the cherub, Sidon is promised restoration. God declares that He will be glorified in Sidon and that the people of Israel will know that He is the Lord when He brings peace to the land. This section introduces the theme of restoration, a significant theme in the Bible. Despite the judgment, God's mercy and grace offer hope for restoration and peace.
Ezekiel 28 serves as a profound reminder of the dangers of pride and the inevitability of judgment. It underscores the importance of humility before God and warns against the perils of self-exaltation. The chapter also offers hope through the theme of restoration, reminding us of God's mercy and grace. The narrative of the Prince of Tyre, the cherub in Eden, and Sidon illustrates the consequences of pride, the reality of judgment, and the possibility of restoration. The chapter holds a mirror up to humanity, encouraging self-reflection and humility. It serves as a cautionary tale and a call to remember our place before God.
Moreover, the chapter offers significant insights into the cosmic battle between good and evil. The cherub's story serves as a reminder that this struggle extends beyond the human realm. It underscores the importance of aligning ourselves with God in this cosmic struggle, as pride and self-exaltation can lead to downfall and judgment.
In conclusion, Ezekiel 28 is a complex chapter that explores profound themes of pride, downfall, judgment, and restoration. It serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of pride and the inevitability of judgment, while also offering hope through the promise of restoration. The chapter is a call to humility, a cautionary tale against self-exaltation, and a reminder of our place in the cosmic struggle between good and evil.
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