Ezekiel 26:3 kjv
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.
Ezekiel 26:3 nkjv
"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up.
Ezekiel 26:3 niv
therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves.
Ezekiel 26:3 esv
therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.
Ezekiel 26:3 nlt
"Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am your enemy, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the waves of the sea crashing against your shoreline.
Ezekiel 26 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 26:2 | "Son of man, because Tyre has said concerning Jerusalem, 'Aha! The gate of the peoples is broken for me; I shall be supplied, now that she is ruined.'" | Fulfillment Prophecy |
| Ezekiel 28:12 | "Son of man, lament for 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.'" | Pride of Tyre |
| Isaiah 23:1 | "The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for she is destroyed, without inhabitant; from the land of the Chittim it is revealed to them." | Judgment on Tyre's maritime dominance |
| Jeremiah 25:22 | "as well as all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastlands that are beyond the sea," | Tyre's alliances |
| Jeremiah 49:23 | "Concerning Damascus. "Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news; they are discouraged, like a sea that cannot be calmed."" | Similar prophecy to other cities |
| Lamentations 4:17 | "We were watching in vain for our help; from our watchtower we looked in vain for a nation that could not save." | Tyre's failure to help Judah |
| Psalm 83:6 | "the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagarites," | Nations against Israel |
| Revelation 18:9 | "And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and beat their breasts when they see the smoke of her burning." | Judgment on luxurious cities |
| Revelation 18:18 | "and crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, they said, 'What city was like the great city?'" | Lament for a great city's fall |
| Zechariah 9:3 | "and Tyre built herself a fortress and piled up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets." | Tyre's wealth and defense |
| Joshua 19:29 | "Then the boundary went around to(../references/Ramah) north of Sidon, and the border ended at("../references/the sea), from the great sea and its coast. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Asher, according to their clans," | Asher's inheritance near Tyre |
| 1 Kings 7:13 | "And King Solomon sent and brought from Tyre Hiram, a widow's son from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was filled with wisdom, with understanding, and with skill for all work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work." | Solomon's craftsman from Tyre |
| Acts 12:20 | "Now Herod the king was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. And they came together to him, and having won over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food." | Tyre's dependence on outside kingdom |
| Joel 3:4 | "What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me retribution? If you are paying me retribution, swift and immediate I will return it upon your own heads." | God's judgment on surrounding nations |
| Amos 1:9 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Three sins of Tyre, and for four I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up whole communities to Edom and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.'" | Tyre's breach of covenant |
| Nehemiah 13:16 | "Men of Tyre also settled there, bringing fish, and all kinds of wares, and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem." | Tyre's disregard for Jewish law |
| Matthew 11:21 | "“Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes!" | Similar pronouncement of woe |
| Luke 10:13 | "“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Capernaum, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes!" | Similar pronouncement of woe |
| Psalm 121:1 | "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?" | Seeking help |
| Psalm 50:3 | "Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest." | God's powerful coming |
Ezekiel 26 verses
Ezekiel 26 3 Meaning
Thus says the Lord GOD: Because of the report from Tyre, saying, 'Aha! The gate of the peoples is broken for me; I shall be supplied, now that she is ruined.'
Ezekiel 26 3 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's prophecy against the city of Tyre, a wealthy and powerful Phoenician port city. The immediate context is the specific taunt of Tyre directed at Jerusalem's fall, implying their own eventual rise to greater prominence due to Jerusalem's demise. Tyre, known for its maritime trade and impressive fortifications, prided itself on its impregnability and influence. This verse highlights Tyre's gloating and self-congratulatory attitude upon hearing of Jerusalem's destruction.
Historically, Tyre was a major Phoenician city, renowned for its trade, wealth, and naval power. Its people were skilled artisans, particularly in working with cedar, bronze, and purple dye. They engaged in extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean. The prophecy against Tyre unfolds in Ezekiel chapters 26-28, addressing the city's pride, its participation in the downfall of Jerusalem, and its ultimate judgment by God, often personified through the figure of its king in chapter 28. This prophecy is seen by many scholars as a prediction of Nebuchadnezzar II's long siege of Tyre (starting in 585 BCE), and its eventual subjugation and near-total destruction by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE.
Ezekiel 26 3 Word Analysis
- and it came to pass (וַיְהִי / vay'hi): This is a common narrative formula in Hebrew, introducing an event or a transition in the story.
- son of man (בֶּן־אָדָם / ben-adam): This is Ezekiel's frequent mode of address from God, emphasizing his humanity in contrast to divine authority and the prophetic message. It grounds the pronouncement in a human receiver of a divine message.
- because (תַּחַת / tachath): "Instead of," or "inasmuch as," introducing the reason for the subsequent pronouncement.
- Tyre (צוֹר / Tzor): The Phoenician city, known for its wealth, maritime trade, and impregnable island fortress. Its name relates to "rock."
- has said (אָמְרָה / amrah): Perfect tense, indicating a completed action with present relevance – Tyre has spoken, and its words carry consequence.
- of (עַל / al): This preposition can indicate "against" or "concerning."
- Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם / Yerushalayim): The capital of Judah, signifying God's people and presence.
- Aha! (הֵאָ֫ה / he'ah): An exclamation of triumph, glee, or malicious satisfaction.
- the gate (שַׁ֫עַר / sha'ar): Can mean gate or gateway, referring to a point of entry or passage.
- of the peoples (עַמִּים / ammim): Refers to nations or ethnic groups. The phrase suggests Jerusalem was a gateway or conduit for various peoples, perhaps in trade or even through its cultural influence.
- is broken (נִשְׁבְּרָה / nishberah): Perfect passive, signifying it has been shattered or broken open.
- unto me (לִי / li): For my benefit, my gain.
- I shall be supplied (אֶמָּצֵא / ematzae): "I shall be filled," "I shall find," or "I shall be supplied." The sense is of gain and increased prosperity.
- now that (אַחַר / achar): "Since" or "because."
- she is (הִיא / hi): Refers to Jerusalem.
- ruined (חָרְבָה / charvah): Devastated, desolate, in ruins.
Group Analysis of Key Phrases:
- "Because Tyre has said concerning Jerusalem, 'Aha! The gate of the peoples is broken for me; I shall be supplied, now that she is ruined.'": This phrase encapsulates Tyre's proud and cruel response to Jerusalem's downfall. They viewed Jerusalem's destruction not as a tragedy but as an opportunity for their own enrichment and enhanced status. The "gate of the peoples" implies that Jerusalem was a hub, and its destruction means Tyre can now take its place as the primary beneficiary.
Ezekiel 26 3 Bonus Section
The "gate of the peoples" could also allude to Jerusalem's spiritual significance as a place where people encountered God. Tyre's malicious glee implies they saw this spiritual conduit being severed, not with sorrow, but with an opportunistic vision for their own gain, believing they could capture influence and followers previously drawn to Jerusalem's spiritual centrality. This act also shows Tyre violating the principle of solidarity among nations and brethren, as implied in passages like Amos 1:9 which condemns Tyre for selling captured peoples into slavery. Tyre's pride was deeply intertwined with its economic prosperity and its ability to control trade routes and maritime access, and it viewed the fall of rival or prominent cities as a direct economic advantage.
Ezekiel 26 3 Commentary
Tyre's elation over Jerusalem's fall stems from a mercantile and self-centered worldview. They saw the downfall of God's people as a vacuum they could fill, a market opening for their goods and influence. Their statement, "'Aha! The gate of the peoples is broken for me; I shall be supplied, now that she is ruined,'" reveals their covetousness and lack of empathy. This verse is a direct condemnation of their malicious joy and their assumption that human prosperity eclipses divine sovereignty. It sets the stage for God's pronouncement of judgment upon Tyre, highlighting that no nation's pride or gain at the expense of God's chosen people will go unpunished. Their delight in others' ruin is a testament to their corrupt spiritual and ethical state, prioritizing their own commerce and power over justice and compassion.