Ezekiel 28 10

Ezekiel 28:10 kjv

Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 28:10 nkjv

You shall die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I have spoken," says the Lord GOD.' "

Ezekiel 28:10 niv

You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.'?"

Ezekiel 28:10 esv

You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD."

Ezekiel 28:10 nlt

You will die like an outcast
at the hands of foreigners.
I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"

Ezekiel 28 verses

Ezekiel 28 10 Meaning

Ezekiel 28:10 pronounces God's unwavering judgment against the proud and self-exalting King of Tyre. The verse declares that the king, who presumed himself divine and immune, will suffer a common, dishonorable death. This death, described as that of the "uncircumcised," signifies spiritual uncleanness, being outside the covenant of God, and dying a disgraced end at the hands of foreign conquerors, underscoring God's ultimate sovereignty and the certainty of His spoken word over all human claims.

Ezekiel 28 10 Context

Ezekiel chapter 28 is part of a series of prophecies against foreign nations, specifically targeting Tyre. The immediate context for verse 10 begins earlier in the chapter (Ezek 28:1-10) with an oracle against the "prince" (or "king") of Tyre. This ruler, fueled by immense wealth, power, and the perceived impregnability of his city, succumbed to audacious pride. He famously declared himself a god, asserting, "I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the heart of the seas" (Ezek 28:2). He attributed his wisdom and wealth to his own divine essence, not to God.

Verse 10 serves as God's direct rebuttal to this hubris. It meticulously dismantles the king's self-deification, announcing his inevitable and disgraceful mortality. The historical context reveals Tyre as a leading maritime power, renowned for its trade, vast wealth, strategic fortifications, and a reputation for invulnerability due to its island location. This material prosperity fostered a dangerous self-reliance and arrogance in its leadership. The judgment on Tyre not only served as a prophetic warning but also demonstrated God's sovereignty over all earthly powers, even those considered insurmountable, reminding both Judah (in exile) and the surrounding nations that Yahweh alone is God.

Ezekiel 28 10 Word analysis

• You will die (תָּמוּת - tāmûṯ): A direct and absolute pronouncement. This stands in stark contrast to the King of Tyre's self-proclaimed divinity and implied immortality (Ezek 28:2, 9). The Hebrew emphasizes the certainty of physical death, ending his claim to be "a god" who "sits in the seat of gods." It undercuts his pride by reducing him to the universal human fate he sought to escape.
• the death (מֵימַת - mêmǎṯ from מָוֶת - māwet): Referring specifically to a manner of death, not just the act of dying. The phrase "death of the uncircumcised" describes a particularly ignominious and disgraceful end, characteristic of those outside God's covenant and protection.
• of the uncircumcised (עֲרֵלִים - ʿărēlîm): Literally referring to individuals who have not undergone ritual circumcision. In Israelite thought, particularly for covenant people, being uncircumcised (ʿārēl) carried significant negative connotations. It implied defilement, being gentile, an outsider, a heathen, or ritually impure (cf. 1 Sam 17:26; Isa 52:1). For one claiming divinity and unparalleled wisdom, dying the "death of the uncircumcised" was the ultimate insult and humiliation, denying him even the dignity of a 'proper' burial or death in a kingly manner, placing him among the despised enemies of God and Israel (see also Ezek 31:18, Ezek 32:19, 24). It's a polemical statement, underscoring his spiritual alienation despite outward pomp.
• by the hand (בִּיד - bi-yad, from יָד - yāḏ): Signifies instrumentality; the means by which the judgment will be carried out. It means 'at the hand of' or 'by means of'.
• of strangers (זָרִים - zārîm): Refers to foreigners, aliens, or non-Israelite enemies. This further deepens the humiliation for the Tyrian king. Not only would he die, and die dishonorably as an uncircumcised pagan, but his demise would be orchestrated by contemptible outsiders, God's chosen instruments of judgment, emphasizing that he would not die a glorious death in battle against worthy opponents, nor would his own people perform a dignified burial. It reinforces the theme of God using nations to execute His judgment (e.g., Nebuchadnezzar against Tyre).
• for I have spoken (כִּי אֲנִי דִבַּרְתִּי - kî ʾănî dibbartî): A solemn divine declaration confirming the absolute certainty and irrevocability of the judgment. The "I" (אֲנִי - ʾănî) is emphatic, highlighting God's personal authority. This phrase underscores God's sovereign power over human affairs and His unwavering faithfulness to His word.
• declares the Lord GOD (נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה - neʾum Adonai Yahweh): This is a prophetic formula, authenticating the message as directly from the sovereign Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the prophecy, rendering it immutable and assuring its fulfillment.

• You will die the death of the uncircumcised: This phrase delivers a double blow. First, it counters the King's presumption of immortality and divine status by confirming his mortality. Second, it strips him of any perceived honor, associating his end with spiritual outcasts. This is a form of contrapasso, where the punishment directly relates to the sin: one who claimed divine honor receives the most dishonorable of deaths.
• by the hand of strangers: This adds to the disgrace. For an exalted king, death by outsiders, rather than an honorable fall in battle or a respectful burial by his own, underscores his complete lack of power and the irony that his end comes from those he might have viewed as beneath him or used as tools.
• for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD: These two concluding phrases unequivocally state that this judgment is not an accident of history but a divine decree. It affirms God's absolute control over the fate of nations and their rulers, reiterating His supremacy over all false gods and human pride. It transforms a historical event into a clear manifestation of divine justice.

Ezekiel 28 10 Bonus section

The oracle against Tyre in Ezekiel 28, particularly in its depiction of the "king" who walks in Eden, is one of the passages that scholars often associate with the theme of humanity's original fall from grace, paralleling the temptations of Adam and the figure often linked to Lucifer (as seen in Isaiah 14 against the king of Babylon). While verse 10 focuses specifically on the consequence of pride for the Tyrian king, it implies a broader theological truth: even though humans might aspire to a paradisiacal, god-like existence, their inherent mortality and dependency on God are inescapable. The king's judgment in verse 10 is not merely about physical death but the profound spiritual death and disgrace associated with being utterly cut off from any blessing or protection by God, mirroring the ultimate consequences of rebellion against Him. This serves as a cautionary tale not only for proud rulers but for anyone who succumbs to self-exaltation.

Ezekiel 28 10 Commentary

Ezekiel 28:10 powerfully asserts God's ultimate authority over human arrogance. The King of Tyre, through his wealth and self-aggrandizement, elevated himself to a divine status, declaring himself above mortality and outside God's purview. This verse is God's uncompromising refutation, affirming that even the most formidable human ruler is merely flesh. The pronouncement of "the death of the uncircumcised" is deliberately humiliating; it strips the king of all honor and covenant association, likening him to common, spiritually alienated pagans who face ignominious ends. The phrase "by the hand of strangers" emphasizes his vulnerability and God's sovereignty in using external powers (like Nebuchadnezzar) as instruments of judgment. The repeated divine declarations, "for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD," underline the unalterable certainty of this judgment, making it clear that this fate is not mere misfortune but a direct consequence of defying the One true God. This passage stands as a timeless reminder that all human glory is fleeting and subject to divine review, and pride invariably leads to a fall.