Ezekiel 26 3

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 verses

Ezekiel 26 3 Meaning

Ezekiel 26:3 declares the Lord GOD's direct and active opposition to Tyre, prophesying its downfall through the agency of many nations. The divine judgment is depicted as a relentless and overwhelming assault, akin to the sea ceaselessly bringing up its destructive waves against a shore. This pronouncement highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His righteous response to pride and opposition to His people.

Ezekiel 26 3 Context

Ezekiel 26:3 is the opening declaration of a lengthy prophecy against Tyre (chapters 26-28). The preceding verse, Ezekiel 26:2, reveals the catalyst for this judgment: Tyre's malicious gloating over the fall of Jerusalem, Judah's capital. Tyre, a prominent Phoenician maritime city, saw Jerusalem's destruction as an economic advantage, believing the "gateway of the peoples" (Jerusalem's overland trade route) was now open for it to dominate, as the competition was gone. This selfish, opportunistic attitude, coupled with its immense pride, provoked God's wrath. Chapters 26-28 detail the extensive destruction and utter desolation that would befall this once-impregnable and powerful city, beginning with this stark divine pronouncement of opposition and a multi-national assault.

Ezekiel 26 3 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן, lakhen): This connective word signals a direct consequence. It links the judgment described in this verse directly to Tyre's sin of gloating over Jerusalem's ruin as detailed in Ezek 26:2. It indicates God's righteous and logical response to human action.
• thus says the Lord GOD (כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, koh amar Adonai Yehovih): This is a classic prophetic formula, emphasizing the divine authority and absolute certainty of the message. It signifies that the following words are not human speculation but a direct decree from the sovereign God, Yahweh, who is Master (Adonai) and covenant-keeping Lord (Yehovih).
• 'Behold, (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An interjection used to draw immediate attention. It signifies that something profound, striking, and undeniable is about to be revealed, demanding the audience's full awareness. It heightens the sense of urgency and directness.
• I am against you, (הִנְנִי עָלַיִךְ, hinneni alayich): A powerful and personal declaration of divine opposition. God Himself directly declares His antagonism, not merely sending a messenger or allowing events to unfold. This underscores the severity of Tyre's transgression. "Against you" implies a confrontation where God is the active antagonist.
• O Tyre, (צֹר, Tsor): The specific target of the prophecy. Tyre was a celebrated island city, renowned for its seemingly impregnable defenses, vast wealth, and extensive maritime trade. Naming it explicitly emphasizes the precision and intentionality of the judgment, debunking its claims of invincibility.
• and will bring up (וְהַעֲלֵיתִי, veha'aleiti): This verb in Hebrew indicates direct divine agency. It is God who actively orchestrates and facilitates the attack. The nations are merely instruments in His hand, underscoring His sovereignty over international politics and military movements.
• many nations (גּוֹיִם רַבִּים, goyim rabbim): Refers to a succession of various peoples and armies. This isn't a single adversary but multiple waves of attackers over time, signaling a comprehensive and protracted destruction, not just a fleeting setback. This also implicitly mocks Tyre's pride in its ability to manage foreign relations.
• against you,: Reinforces the adversarial nature of the upcoming events.
• as the sea brings up its waves.' (כְּהַעֲלוֹת הַיָּם אֶת-גַּלָּיו, keha'alot hayam et-galav): A potent simile.
  • The Sea (הַיָּם, hayam): Paradoxically, the very element that symbolized Tyre's power, wealth, and perceived security (its island location, its navy, its trade routes) becomes the metaphor for its destruction. In ancient Near Eastern thought, the sea was often a chaotic and powerful force, subject only to divine control.
  • Its waves (גַּלָּיו, galav): Implies an unending, relentless, repetitive, and destructive assault. Just as one wave crashes and recedes only for another to follow, so too would Tyre face successive waves of conquerors, eroding its strength and ultimately leading to its complete downfall. It speaks to the inevitability and overwhelming nature of God's judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold,": This is a divine sentence being pronounced. It carries absolute authority and certainty, calling for immediate and serious attention. The judgment is not arbitrary but a just consequence directly from the supreme sovereign.
• "I am against you, O Tyre,": This is a direct, personal, and unequivocal declaration of war from God himself against the proud city. It means that all Tyre's formidable defenses, wealth, and power are rendered meaningless when facing divine opposition.
• "and will bring up many nations against you,": God asserts His orchestrating power over human history and geopolitics. The "many nations" suggests that Tyre's destruction would not be by a single conqueror, but a series of distinct (or perhaps combined yet diverse) attacks that would dismantle its power layer by layer over an extended period. This points to the fulfillment by figures like Nebuchadnezzar and later Alexander the Great.
• "as the sea brings up its waves.": This powerful simile encapsulates the relentless, overwhelming, and inevitable nature of the impending judgment. Tyre, a maritime power that derived its strength from the sea, would ironically be consumed by a force depicted as the very sea's waves—unstoppable, unending, and eroding all that stands in their way. It speaks to the cumulative effect of these successive assaults.

Ezekiel 26 3 Bonus section

The fulfillment of this prophecy saw "waves" of attacks. The first significant "wave" came with Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, who besieged mainland Tyre for 13 years (from around 586-573 BC), effectively devastating "Old Tyre" on the mainland and breaking its power, though the island city remained. Later, the more complete destruction and leveling of Tyre, specifically the scraping of its dust and placing of debris in the sea (foretold in Ezek 26:4-5, 12), occurred centuries later by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. Alexander built a mile-long causeway from the mainland to the island city using the rubble of the former mainland city, ultimately conquering and utterly demolishing it. This historical progression perfectly illustrates the "many nations" and the ceaseless "waves" of judgment that eroded Tyre's existence over time, underscoring the enduring accuracy of divine prophecy.

Ezekiel 26 3 Commentary

Ezekiel 26:3 powerfully opens the divine indictment against Tyre, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty over nations and His intolerance for pride and hostility toward His people. Tyre, secure in its island fortifications and vast wealth, saw Jerusalem's fall as an opportunity for increased prosperity, revealing a deep spiritual arrogance and disregard for God's purposes. The Lord GOD declares direct, personal antagonism against Tyre, signaling that no human might can withstand divine wrath. He himself "brings up" the "many nations" – a testament to His orchestrating hand in history, using even pagan empires as instruments of His justice. The simile of the sea's relentless waves brilliantly conveys the inevitable, successive, and ultimately overwhelming nature of this judgment. Tyre's own symbol of strength – the sea – becomes the very metaphor for its demise, highlighting that all sources of earthly security are fragile when faced with the eternal purposes of God. This verse warns that those who exalt themselves against God's plan or gloat over the afflictions of His people invite sure and comprehensive judgment.