Ezekiel 26 14

Ezekiel 26:14 kjv

And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 26:14 nkjv

I will make you like the top of a rock; you shall be a place for spreading nets, and you shall never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken,' says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 26:14 niv

I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 26:14 esv

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.

Ezekiel 26:14 nlt

I will make your island a bare rock, a place for fishermen to spread their nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I, the LORD, have spoken. Yes, the Sovereign LORD has spoken!

Ezekiel 26 verses

Ezekiel 26 14 Meaning

Ezekiel 26:14 declares God's solemn decree regarding Tyre: it will be rendered utterly desolate, transformed into a barren rock devoid of fertile ground, suitable only for the humble purpose of spreading fishing nets. This destruction is prophesied to be final and irreversible; the once-mighty city will never be rebuilt, confirming the absolute authority and reliability of the Lord's word.

Ezekiel 26 14 Context

Ezekiel chapter 26 is part of a larger section (chapters 25-32) containing prophecies against foreign nations. Specifically, this chapter focuses on God's judgment against the wealthy Phoenician city of Tyre. Tyre, an ancient and prosperous maritime trading hub, was notorious for its pride, self-sufficiency, and especially for rejoicing at the downfall of Jerusalem (Ezek 26:2). It saw Jerusalem's destruction as an opportunity to gain more trade. The prophecy foretells Tyre's complete obliteration, not just as a conquest but as a permanent erasure from the landscape. This particular verse, 26:14, seals the fate of Tyre, confirming the finality of its ruin as divinely ordained, serving as a stark warning against national pride and disdain for God's chosen people. Historically, this destruction occurred in two main phases: first by Nebuchadnezzar (initially of mainland Tyre) and then, more completely, by Alexander the Great who razed the mainland city and built a causeway to the island city, eventually conquering it, leaving much of it as a bare rock.

Ezekiel 26 14 Word analysis

• I will make you: The Hebrew natattikha (נְתַתִּיךְ) comes from the root natan (נָתַן), meaning "to give, to place, to make." This emphasizes God's direct and active agency in Tyre's fate. It is not a natural disaster or mere historical occurrence, but a deliberate act of divine judgment.
• a bare rock: The Hebrew lĕṣî hammāt (לְצִי הַמָּט). Lĕṣî (לְצִי) translates to "bare rock" or "smooth rock." It implies an infertile, hard, desolate surface, incapable of sustaining life or rebuilding a city. The term contrasts sharply with Tyre's former image as a city of lush gardens, massive stone structures, and fertile land. It evokes a complete denuding of the city.
• and you shall be a place for spreading nets: The Hebrew ûmišṭaḥ ḥǎrāmîm (וּמִשְׁטַח חֲרָמִים).
  • Umišṭaḥ (וּמִשְׁטַח) derives from shaṭaḥ (שָׁטַח), meaning "to spread out, extend." It suggests a flat, open area.
  • Ḥǎrāmîm (חֲרָמִים) refers to "fishing nets." This image starkly contrasts Tyre's past as a bustling port city filled with merchant vessels and valuable goods. It will become a site fit only for the most mundane and humble of coastal activities, signifying its demotion from a commercial superpower to a mere desolate spot for local fishermen. It is a powerful symbol of reduction and loss of purpose.
• You shall never be rebuilt: The Hebrew lōʾ tibbaneh ʿôd (לֹא תִבָּנֶה עוֹד).
  • Lōʾ (לֹא) is the emphatic negation "not" or "never."
  • Tibbanneh (תִּבָּנֶה) is the feminine singular imperfect passive form of banah (בָּנָה), "to build."
  • ʿÔd (עוֹד) means "again" or "anymore."
  • This phrase is an absolute and permanent pronouncement of doom. It explicitly refutes any idea of a future restoration for the city, directly challenging the resilience and human ambition to rebuild even after major devastation. It also functions as a polemic against the ancient Near Eastern belief in the eternal nature of great cities, especially those supported by divine patron gods.
• for I the LORD have spoken: The Hebrew kî ʾǎnî YHWH dibbartî (כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה דִּבַּרְתִּי).
  • Kî (כִּי) functions as "for" or "because," introducing the reason and authority behind the previous statement.
  • ʾǎnî YHWH (אֲנִי יְהוָה) "I am Yahweh" or "I the LORD." YHWH is the sacred, personal name of God, revealing Him as the covenant-making, sovereign, and unchanging God who controls all history. This divine oath formula irrevocably guarantees the fulfillment of the prophecy.
  • Dibbartî (דִּבַּרְתִּי) is the perfect first-person singular of dabar (דָּבַר), "to speak." This emphasizes that the word has been authoritatively uttered, making its fulfillment certain. The spoken word of the Almighty Lord cannot be recalled or reversed.

Ezekiel 26 14 Bonus section

• The prophecy concerning Tyre, particularly its permanent desolation, presented a significant challenge for ancient commentators due to its two-stage fulfillment (Nebuchadnezzar then Alexander the Great), leading some historical skeptics to question its accuracy. However, careful examination of history and archaeology reveals that while the island city of Tyre persisted for some time, the original mainland city was utterly destroyed, and the causeway built by Alexander irrevocably changed its landscape, leading to its eventual decline into relative insignificance, never recovering its former glory or a "rebuilt" status as an independent, major power. The very ground from the original city became submerged and covered, literally becoming part of the sea floor and a place where fishing activities took place.
• This specific verse functions as a powerful theological statement about God's direct control over geopolitical outcomes. Unlike other prophetic texts that speak of temporary judgment followed by restoration, the verdict for Tyre is terminal. This highlights the severity of Tyre's sin—its pride, its unholy alliance against God's people, and its covetousness—which brought about such a definitive judgment.
• The phrase "bare rock" or "smooth rock" (ṣi ammōṭ) in Hebrew implies a surface devoid of soil, where nothing can take root. This makes rebuilding a significant city almost impossible, literally linking the physical destruction to the spiritual barrenness brought by sin.

Ezekiel 26 14 Commentary

Ezekiel 26:14 encapsulates the divine, irreversible judgment upon the city of Tyre. It highlights Tyre's absolute demotion from a glorious maritime capital to a literal non-entity. The transformation into a "bare rock" signifies complete and utter desolation, erasing its identity as a thriving city capable of agriculture or building. The subsequent image of "a place for spreading nets" adds insult to injury, suggesting that the very site where merchants once converged and kings paid tribute would be repurposed for the most mundane of activities, further emphasizing its reduced status. The explicit declaration, "You shall never be rebuilt," is critical; it distinguishes Tyre's fate from other cities that experienced temporary destruction but later rose again. This permanence of ruin, affirmed by the powerful divine statement "for I the LORD have spoken," underscores the absolute sovereignty and prophetic accuracy of God. It teaches that no human achievement, no matter how great or secure it seems, can ultimately stand against the Lord's declared will, especially when tainted by pride and antagonism toward His purposes. This serves as a testament to God's ultimate justice and His faithful fulfillment of prophecy.