Ezekiel 28:1 kjv
The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 28:1 nkjv
The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
Ezekiel 28:1 niv
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 28:1 esv
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 28:1 nlt
Then this message came to me from the LORD:
Ezekiel 28 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 1:2 | "The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year..." | Prophetic call/formula |
| Hos 1:1 | "The word of the LORD that came to Hosea the son of Beeri..." | Standard prophetic introduction |
| Joel 1:1 | "The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel." | Divine revelation |
| Mic 1:1 | "The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth..." | God speaking through prophets |
| Zeph 1:1 | "The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi..." | Origin of prophetic message |
| Zech 1:1 | "In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of..." | Divine word delivered at specific time |
| Ezek 2:1 | "He said to me, 'Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak...'" | God addressing Ezekiel |
| Ezek 3:1 | "He said to me, 'Son of man, eat what you find...'" | Repetitive use of "Son of man" |
| Ezek 6:1 | "The word of the LORD came to me:" | Common opening for new prophecies |
| Ezek 13:3 | "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Woe to the foolish prophets...'" | Establishes divine authority of message |
| Jer 13:3 | "And the word of the LORD came to me a second time..." | "Again" - repetition of divine instruction |
| Jon 3:1 | "Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time..." | "Again" - renewed divine commission |
| Gen 3:1 | "Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast..." | Alludes to the original source of pride/rebellion (later themes) |
| Isa 14:12-15 | "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star..." | Prophecy against King of Babylon (parallels Tyre's pride) |
| Dan 7:13 | "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of..." | "Son of man" figure with divine authority |
| Matt 8:20 | "And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes... the Son of Man has nowhere...'" | Jesus' self-designation |
| Matt 24:30 | "Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man..." | Jesus' identity as ultimate divine/human |
| Jude 1:6 | "And the angels who did not stay within their own position..." | Angelic fall due to pride/rebellion |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | "...for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" | Principle of divine opposition to pride |
| Jas 4:6 | "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes...'" | Reinforcement of God's stance against pride |
| Isa 23:1-18 | "The oracle concerning Tyre." | Prophetic judgment against Tyre (precedes Ezek 28) |
| Jer 47:4 | "...to destroy all the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland..." | Judgment on a maritime nation (like Tyre) |
Ezekiel 28 verses
Ezekiel 28 1 Meaning
Ezekiel 28:1 serves as a declarative introductory formula, establishing that the subsequent prophetic message originated directly and repeatedly from God, Yahweh, and was delivered personally to His prophet, Ezekiel, identified here as "Son of man." This verse signals the commencement of a new divine oracle concerning a specific subject—the ruler of Tyre, which unfolds in the following verses.
Ezekiel 28 1 Context
Ezekiel 28:1 marks the beginning of a specific oracle directed against the "prince" or "ruler" (often translated as "king" in later verses) of Tyre. This chapter follows a series of prophecies (Ezekiel 25-27) delivered by Ezekiel against various surrounding nations (Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia) and then specifically against Tyre, detailing its commercial greatness and ultimate downfall.
The historical context is the Babylonian exile, where Ezekiel, among the captives, delivered God's messages. Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city-state located on the Mediterranean coast, was renowned for its immense wealth derived from maritime trade, its sophisticated culture, and its formidable fortifications. Its prosperity fostered an intense pride and sense of invincibility, leading its ruler to boast of wisdom and self-sufficiency, elevating himself to a status akin to a god (Ezek 28:2).
This introductory verse sets the stage for a strong polemic against this self-exaltation. God's message through Ezekiel directly confronts the prevailing belief among Tyre's leadership that their achievements were solely due to their own sagacity and power, thereby challenging their idolatry of wealth and wisdom and affirming Yahweh's supreme sovereignty over all nations, including the seemingly unconquerable Tyre.
Ezekiel 28 1 Word Analysis
- The word (דְּבַר - d'var): Hebrew for "word," signifying a specific divine message, a spoken command, or a revelation. It emphasizes God's active communication, not merely a thought or feeling, but a declared intent.
- of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal, holy, and eternal nature. It underscores the ultimate authority and immutable character of the sender of this message.
- came (הָיָה - hayah): Hebrew for "to be," "to become," or "to happen." In this context, it denotes a definite, active, and accomplished arrival of the divine message to the prophet. It is not an inspiration imagined by Ezekiel but a direct divine event.
- to me (אֵלַי - elay): Hebrew for "to me," signifying the direct and personal reception of the message by Ezekiel himself. It establishes him as the appointed human recipient and intermediary.
- again (שֵׁנִית - shenith): Hebrew for "second time," "again," or "afresh." This emphasizes the repetitive and persistent nature of God's communication with His prophet. It may signal a continuation of previous prophecies, an intensified message, or a fresh, distinct oracle following earlier ones.
- Son of man (בֶּן־אָדָם - ben-adam): A frequent address to Ezekiel in his book (used over 90 times). It highlights Ezekiel's humanity, mortality, and frailty in stark contrast to the divine authority speaking through him. It connects the message to human experience, yet also positions Ezekiel as distinct from the heavenly realm from which the message originates.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "The word of the LORD came to me again": This formula emphatically establishes the divine origin, direct delivery, and repetition/continuity of God's revelation. It guarantees that the following pronouncements are not Ezekiel's opinions but the absolute truth and will of Yahweh, thereby conferring supreme authority and gravity on the message. The repetition highlights God's unwavering intention and purpose.
- "Son of man": This particular address to Ezekiel consistently anchors the prophet in his humanity, serving as a reminder that a human vessel is communicating a divine, eternal truth. It contrasts sharply with the omniscient and omnipotent God, thereby emphasizing the prophetic grace extended to Ezekiel and making the message relatable, yet divinely inspired.
Ezekiel 28 1 Bonus section
- The consistent use of "Son of man" as an address to Ezekiel prepares readers for the idea of a divinely commissioned human who speaks with God's authority, subtly prefiguring the ultimate "Son of Man," Jesus Christ, who would perfectly embody both humanity and divine authority in a fuller sense (though Ezekiel's usage refers strictly to his humanity as a contrast to God's divinity).
- The structure of Ezekiel's prophecies against foreign nations (chapters 25-32), often begins with this formula, lending formal and theological weight to each declaration. This ensures that no nation, however mighty or self-sufficient, operates outside the jurisdiction of Yahweh.
- The "again" in the verse subtly introduces a shift in focus. While chapters 26-27 detailed the city of Tyre's downfall due to its material pride, chapter 28 delves deeper into the spirit behind that pride, embodied in its ruler, eventually leading to metaphorical language that some interpret as applying to a pre-Adamic spiritual rebellion. Verse 1 merely sets the prophetic encounter in motion.
Ezekiel 28 1 Commentary
Ezekiel 28:1 acts as a standard, yet potent, prophetic heading, framing the entirety of the subsequent oracle concerning the prince of Tyre. The phrase "The word of the LORD came to me" is the backbone of prophetic literature, unequivocally asserting that the source of the message is divine, not human conjecture. The addition of "again" suggests either a new installment in a continuing series of revelations or a reinforcement of previous prophetic themes, signifying an intensified divine focus on the subject. By specifically naming God as "the LORD" (Yahweh), the verse emphasizes that the judgment about to be proclaimed against a pagan ruler comes from the sovereign God of Israel, whose authority extends over all nations and their rulers.
Addressing Ezekiel as "Son of man" throughout his prophecies distinguishes him as a mortal, underscoring the gap between finite humanity and infinite divinity, yet it also signifies his representative role. This intro sets the stage for one of Ezekiel's most profound and debated prophecies, initiating a message of condemnation against the prince of Tyre for his arrogance and self-deification, foreshadowing a broader truth about pride and fall that resonates through scripture.