Ezekiel 26 4

Ezekiel 26:4 kjv

And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.

Ezekiel 26:4 nkjv

And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.

Ezekiel 26:4 niv

They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock.

Ezekiel 26:4 esv

They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock.

Ezekiel 26:4 nlt

They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down its towers. I will scrape away its soil and make it a bare rock!

Ezekiel 26 verses

Ezekiel 26 4 Meaning

This verse describes the future state of Tyre, portraying it as a desolate place where fishermen spread their nets. It signifies a complete destruction and a return to a primitive, unusable state, stripped of its former glory and trade.

Ezekiel 26 4 Context

Ezekiel 26 is a prophecy of judgment against the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre. The chapter begins by stating that Nebuchadnezzar conquered many cities, and Tyre is particularly targeted for its pride and its exultation over the fall of Jerusalem. The prophecy outlines a prolonged siege, the destruction of Tyre's walls and buildings, its inhabitants cast into the sea, and its utter desolation. This specific verse, chapter 26 verse 4, fits into this broader condemnation of Tyre. The prophecy indicates that not only will the city itself be destroyed, but even its foundations will be disrupted, making it a place where fishermen would find no remnants of its former glory, only bare rock suitable for spreading nets to dry. Historically, Tyre was a wealthy and powerful maritime city known for its trade, fortifications, and arrogance. The prophecy is a divine declaration of its complete ruin.

Ezekiel 26 4 Word Analysis

• וּנְתַתִּ֥י (u·ne·tat·ti): "and I will make" or "and I will give." The conjugation here indicates a future action by God.

• לָ֛הּ (lah): "for her" or "to her," referring to the city of Tyre.

• בְּקָ֥ע לַצִּדִּ֖ים (bə·qā‘·lā·ṣî·dîm): "a bare rock for spreading nets."

  • בְּקָע֙ (bə·qā‘): "a bare place," "a waste," or "a split place." Implies a desolate, exposed area.
  • לַצִּדִּ֖ים (la·ṣ·ṣî·dîm): "for spreading nets." The preposition "l" denotes purpose. "Siddim" refers to nets, likely for drying. This imagery points to a place of fishing activity, but devoid of the city's commerce. It emphasizes a reduction to a very basic, unproductive state from a human economic perspective, contrasting sharply with Tyre's past.

• וְחַצְרַ֖ת רוֹעֵ֥י צֹאן (wə·ḥaṣ·rĕ·rō‘·ê·ṣō’n): "and a place for shepherds to make flocks lie down."

  • חַצְרַ֖ת (ḥaṣ·rĕ): "a court," "a court yard," or "a fold" for animals. Implies a place of keeping livestock.
  • רוֹעֵ֥י (rō‘·ê): "shepherds."
  • צֹאן (ṣō’n): "flocks of sheep" or "sheep."
  • The inclusion of "shepherds to make flocks lie down" further emphasizes the rustic, pastoral, and deserted nature of the place. It's so desolated that it reverts to being a common pasture.

Words Group Analysis:

• The combination of "bare rock for spreading nets" and "place for shepherds to make flocks lie down" powerfully contrasts the past prosperity and maritime commerce of Tyre with its future utter desolation. The sea, which was the source of Tyre's wealth, becomes a place where simple fishing nets are spread on the bare rocks, a meager livelihood. The land around the city is returned to its most basic state, where sheep graze and rest, managed by humble shepherds.

Ezekiel 26 4 Bonus Section

This prophecy against Tyre, recorded by Ezekiel, is notable because Tyre was considered nearly impregnable. Its location, partly on an island, made it difficult to conquer. The prophecy speaks of a severe siege by Nebuchadnezzar that lasted thirteen years (a historical event noted in commentaries and historical records). However, Ezekiel’s prophecy also speaks of an even greater and more complete destruction that would fulfill this specific verse and others in the chapter, a judgment often associated with later historical events involving the Romans and other conquerors who reduced the island city to rubble and made the mainland area suitable for pasturage. The contrast between the great city that controlled trade routes and dominated the seas, and the future image of simple fishermen and grazing flocks, underscores the severe nature of divine judgment against hubris and opposition to God's people.

Ezekiel 26 4 Commentary

Ezekiel 26:4 paints a vivid picture of Tyre's total destruction and reversal of fortune. God declares His intention to transform the magnificent, powerful city into a bare, empty place. This isn't just about physical destruction but about rendering the site utterly unusable for its former purposes. The image of fishermen spreading their nets implies the area will be left exposed and vulnerable, a sign of human activity returning to a most basic level, dependent on the sea in a primitive way, not through the grand commerce Tyre was known for. The addition of shepherds and their flocks signifies the complete abandonment of urban life, a return to a pastoral landscape. This pronouncement highlights God's absolute sovereignty over nations and cities, capable of bringing down the proudest and restoring a devastated place to a state of stark simplicity, or even ruin, as a testimony to His power and judgment.