Ezekiel 26 8

Ezekiel 26:8 kjv

He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.

Ezekiel 26:8 nkjv

He will slay with the sword your daughter villages in the fields; he will heap up a siege mound against you, build a wall against you, and raise a defense against you.

Ezekiel 26:8 niv

He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp up to your walls and raise his shields against you.

Ezekiel 26:8 esv

He will kill with the sword your daughters on the mainland. He will set up a siege wall against you and throw up a mound against you, and raise a roof of shields against you.

Ezekiel 26:8 nlt

First he will destroy your mainland villages. Then he will attack you by building a siege wall, constructing a ramp, and raising a roof of shields against you.

Ezekiel 26 verses

Ezekiel 26 8 Meaning

This verse meticulously describes the destructive siege tactics employed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, against the proud city of Tyre. It details the initial killing of its dependent settlements or mainland inhabitants, followed by the systematic construction of advanced siege fortifications: circumvallation or siege walls to encircle and blockade, massive earthen ramps to breach the city's defenses, and protective shield walls to safeguard the attacking forces. It emphasizes a thorough and overwhelming military assault, indicative of divine judgment being executed with methodical precision.

Ezekiel 26 8 Context

Ezekiel chapter 26 is part of a series of prophecies (chapters 25-32) pronounced against foreign nations that had opposed God's people or celebrated their downfall. Specifically, this chapter, given around 587 BC (the eleventh year of Jehoiachin's exile), targets Tyre, a powerful Phoenician mercantile city. Tyre's sin, highlighted in verse 2, was rejoicing at Jerusalem's destruction, seeing it as an opportunity for increased trade and economic dominance. The prophecy predicts its utter destruction, using the imagery of Nebuchadnezzar's forces as God's instrument. Verse 8 details the initial phase of this conquest, focusing on the rigorous and sophisticated siege operations designed to overcome Tyre's formidable defenses.

Ezekiel 26 8 Word analysis

• He will kill (וְהוּא... יַהֲרֹג, wə-hū’... ya-hă-rōḡ): "He" refers to Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (Eze 26:7), who acts as God's agent of judgment. Yahărōḡ (to kill, slay) emphasizes violent, fatal destruction, signifying severe consequences.
• your residents (אֶת בְּנוֹתַיִךְ, ’eṯ bə-nō-ṯa-yiḵ): Literally "your daughters." This idiom frequently refers to the smaller, dependent towns, villages, or outlying settlements surrounding a main city, similar to "daughter of Zion" for Jerusalem. It implies that these more accessible communities would be ravaged first.
• with the sword (בַּחֶרֶב, ba-ḥe-reḇ): The primary weapon of ancient warfare, signifying brutal and decisive military conquest, violence, and death. It indicates no quarter given.
• and set up (וְיָקִים, wə-yā-qîm): A verb implying deliberate and organized construction, highlighting the methodical nature of the siege rather than a spontaneous attack.
• siege works (דָּיֵק, dā-yêq): This term refers to circumvallation, a continuous siege wall built around a city to prevent ingress/egress, isolate defenders, and establish offensive positions. It signifies a long, arduous, and total blockade.
• against you (עָלַיִךְ, ʿā-la-yiḵ): Repeated throughout the verse, emphasizing the direct and aggressive targeting of Tyre.
• he will build a ramp (וְשָׁפַךְ עָלַיִךְ סֹלְלָה, wə-šā-paḵ... sol-lə-lāh): Šāpaḵ (to pour out/cast up) describes the massive earth-moving involved in creating a solləlāh, a siege ramp or mound. This ramp allowed attackers to ascend to the city walls' height, bringing battering rams and troops to the fortified level.
• and erect (וְהֵקִים, wə-hê-qîm): Another verb for setting up or establishing, reinforcing the deliberate and monumental scale of the siege construction.
• a great shield wall (צִנָּה גְדוֹלָה, ṣin-nāh gə-ḏō-lāh): Ṣinnāh refers to a large, body-covering shield. In a siege context, "great shield" likely means a defensive screen, mobile shield formations, or large wooden siege shields. These were essential for protecting archers and workers constructing siege engines from defenders' projectiles. "Great" (gə-ḏō-lāh) emphasizes the imposing size and protective power.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• He will kill your residents with the sword: This opening phrase highlights the immediate and violent destruction awaiting Tyre's surrounding, less fortified settlements or the people outside the main city walls. It's a swift, brutal prelude to the main siege.
• and set up siege works against you; he will build a ramp against you: This signifies the methodical and professional aspect of Babylonian warfare. These were large-scale engineering feats, showing the determination and resource investment in a prolonged siege to systematically overcome formidable fortifications like Tyre's.
• and erect a great shield wall: This detail underscores the attackers' need for protection during the hazardous work of building ramps and siege structures. It portrays a well-organized military force equipped to withstand counterattacks and achieve its objective relentlessly.

Ezekiel 26 8 Bonus section

Historically, Nebuchadnezzar's siege of mainland Tyre is recorded to have lasted thirteen years (c. 585–572 BC), making it one of the longest sieges in history. While this lengthy siege succeeded in capturing mainland Tyre, the island city itself maintained some autonomy. This apparent partial fulfillment points to a layered understanding of Ezekiel's prophecies against Tyre, with Alexander the Great's conquest much later (c. 332 BC) leading to the complete destruction and removal of the island city as detailed in later verses of Ezekiel 26. The imagery in this verse would have resonated with audiences familiar with the Assyrian and Babylonian military prowess, often depicted on siege reliefs showing similar fortifications and methods. The specific engineering details of siege ramps (solləlāh) and circumvallation (dāyēq) illustrate the highly specialized and demanding nature of such ancient military campaigns, confirming the precision of Ezekiel's divine message.

Ezekiel 26 8 Commentary

Ezekiel 26:8 is a prophecy that details the formidable and relentless nature of the Babylonian siege against Tyre. It moves from immediate, brutal actions (slaughter of outer inhabitants) to sophisticated, prolonged siege engineering. The precise description of "siege works" (circumvallation), "ramp," and "great shield wall" reflects the advanced military tactics of the era and emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the predicted judgment. This verse confirms that God's judgment, while executed through human agents like Nebuchadnezzar, is not random but deliberate, thorough, and unwavering. Tyre, once seen as invincible with its island fortifications, would face an adversary capable of sustained, destructive effort, orchestrated by the Sovereign Lord. It teaches that no earthly power, however mighty or strategically positioned, can ultimately withstand the judgment of God when it is due.