Ezekiel 26 12

Ezekiel 26:12 kjv

And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.

Ezekiel 26:12 nkjv

They will plunder your riches and pillage your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; they will lay your stones, your timber, and your soil in the midst of the water.

Ezekiel 26:12 niv

They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.

Ezekiel 26:12 esv

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.

Ezekiel 26:12 nlt

"They will plunder all your riches and merchandise and break down your walls. They will destroy your lovely homes and dump your stones and timbers and even your dust into the sea.

Ezekiel 26 verses

Ezekiel 26 12 Meaning

The verse describes the destructive consequences that will befall Tyre. It foretells that the city will be scraped clean, its stones, timbers, and rubble will be deposited into the sea. This utter devastation serves as a testament to God's judgment against Tyre for its pride, its role in the suffering of Jerusalem, and its blasphemous actions. The purpose of this destruction is so that Tyre will never be rebuilt, a clear demonstration of divine power and justice to the surrounding nations.

Ezekiel 26 12 Context

Ezekiel chapter 26 is a prophecy against the Phoenician city of Tyre. This chapter, along with others in Ezekiel, focuses on God's judgment against nations that opposed Israel and demonstrated arrogance. Tyre, a powerful and prosperous island city, had rejoiced over Jerusalem's destruction. Ezekiel was commissioned to pronounce a prophecy of utter desolation against Tyre, predicting its complete demolition and eventual repurposing as a place for fishermen to dry their nets. The prophecy specifically foretells the coming of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who would conquer the mainland portion of Tyre, and the eventual destruction of the island city by various nations, culminating in its rubble being cast into the sea. This prophecy was a warning to other nations and a comfort to the Israelites, assuring them that God's justice would prevail against His enemies.

Ezekiel 26 12 Word Analysis

• And (וְ – ve): Conjunction, indicating connection or continuation.

• they (הֵם – hem): Third person masculine plural pronoun, referring to the agents of destruction.

• shall (וְ – ve): Future tense marker.

• cast (יַשְׁלִכוּ – yashlîḵû): Future Hiphil (causative) form of the verb שָׁלַךְ (shalach), meaning "to throw," "to cast." Denotes a forceful, intentional action.

• thy (קִּרְיַתְכִי – qiryatḵî): "Thy city," possessive, second person feminine singular. Refers to Tyre.

• stones (אֲבָנַיִךְ – ’ăvānayik): "Thy stones," plural of אֶבֶן (’even), stone. Highlights the physical materials of the city.

• and (וְ – ve): Conjunction.

• thy (עֲצֵי – ‘ătsê): "Thy timbers," plural construct state of עֵץ (‘eṣ), tree, wood, timber. Refers to the wooden structures of Tyre.

• thy (מִגְדְּלוֹתַיִךְ – migdeletayik): "Thy towers," plural possessive of מִגְדָּל (migdal), tower. Represents the fortified structures.

• into (בּ – bə): Preposition, meaning "in," "into," "at."

• the (יָם – yām): "The sea." This is a key element, indicating the ultimate disposal of Tyre's remnants.

• Group Analysis:

  • "cast thy stones, and thy timbers, and thy walls" – This phrase emphasizes the totality of the destruction, including not only the building materials but also the defensive structures, signifying complete obliteration.
  • "into the midst of the waters" – Placing the rubble into the sea indicates total erasure and an attempt to bury the city's identity and history. It signifies ultimate defeat and disposal. The phrase suggests an act of complete removal and submergence.

Ezekiel 26 12 Bonus Section

The prophecy against Tyre is a classic example of a specific historical prophecy with a broader theological implication. While Nebuchadnezzar did indeed lay siege to Tyre for thirteen years (40 years before this prophecy, during the time of Tyre's mainland conquest), leading to its partial destruction and hardship, the complete destruction of the island city, as described here, was fulfilled centuries later by Alexander the Great. Alexander built a causeway (throwing stones, timbers, and debris into the sea) to attack the island fortress, ultimately conquering and destroying it. This dual fulfillment demonstrates the layered nature of biblical prophecy. Furthermore, the judgment on Tyre echoes themes found in the judgment on other proud nations and later, in the New Testament, on apocalyptic Babylon (Rev 18), highlighting God's consistent stance against arrogance, injustice, and blasphemy across different eras. The eventual reduction of Tyre to a mere "place for the spreading of nets" fulfills the prophecy's demand for perpetual desolation.

Ezekiel 26 12 Commentary

This verse encapsulates the finality of God's judgment upon Tyre. The city, which boasted in its wealth and fortifications, will be reduced to rubble and unceremoniously dumped into the sea. This action is not merely destructive but punitive, meant to remove any trace of Tyre and serve as an unmistakable lesson. The image of fishermen spreading their nets in its place (v. 14) underscores the profound transformation from a vibrant metropolis to a desolate, utilitarian site, a stark reminder of divine sovereignty and the ephemeral nature of human pride. The thoroughness of the destruction, down to the very stones and timbers, signifies a complete annihilation of its presence and power.