Ezekiel 28 12

Ezekiel 28:12 kjv

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

Ezekiel 28:12 nkjv

"Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

Ezekiel 28:12 niv

"Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "?'You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

Ezekiel 28:12 esv

"Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

Ezekiel 28:12 nlt

"Son of man, sing this funeral song for the king of Tyre. Give him this message from the Sovereign LORD: "You were the model of perfection,
full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty.

Ezekiel 28 12 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 1:26-27Then God said, “Let us make man in our image... male and female he created them.”God's creation, initially perfect.
Psa 8:5You have made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor.Human creation with initial glory, echoes the type.
Job 38:7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?Angelic beings present and joyful at creation.
Col 1:16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth... Visible and invisible...Christ's role in creating all things, including spiritual beings.
John 1:3All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.Christ's role as creator of all, including original perfection.
Isa 14:12How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!Parallel prophecy of Lucifer's fall from celestial glory.
Luke 10:18He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”Jesus' confirmation of Satan's dramatic expulsion from heaven.
1 Tim 3:6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.Connects pride directly to the devil's original sin and condemnation.
Jude 1:6And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority... reserved in eternal chains.Angels who did not keep their first estate.
Heb 1:14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent out to serve...Angels as created beings, not deities, serving God.
Rom 1:20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities...have been clearly seen...God's divine attributes evident in creation's design.
Eph 3:10through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.God's wisdom, observed even by spiritual rulers.
Isa 2:12For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be against all that is proud and lofty...Judgment against pride, which led to the fall.
Prov 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.Principle of pride leading to downfall.
Job 1:6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD...Satan's former access to God, implies previous status.
Zech 3:1-2He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.Satan, the accuser, previously had a higher role.
Ezek 28:15You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.Directly explains the cause of the fall—iniquity.
Psa 45:2You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips.Earthly kingly beauty, a type but distinct from unique divine creation.
1 Sam 28:13-14"I see a god coming up out of the earth." And he said to her, "What is his appearance?" She said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe."Appearance of powerful spiritual beings in contrast to mere human kings.
Jer 9:23-24Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the mighty man boast in his might, nor the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me...”Contrasts human boasts (wisdom, power, wealth) with knowing God; the fallen being likely boasted in its inherent qualities.
Rom 1:22Claiming to be wise, they became fools.Perversion of wisdom that leads to downfall.
Jas 4:6God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.The divine opposition to pride, the very sin described.
1 Jn 3:8Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.The devil's consistent state of sin after his fall from perfection.

Ezekiel 28 verses

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Ezekiel 28 12 Meaning

Ezekiel 28:12 serves as a prophetic lamentation addressed to the "king of Tyre," describing a being of unparalleled initial perfection, wisdom, and beauty, specially created and positioned. This passage is commonly understood as having a dual fulfillment: an immediate reference to the historical, arrogant ruler of Tyre, and a profound, underlying typological reference to Satan (Lucifer) before his fall, outlining his primeval state of glory and divine favor. It details his pristine origins, indicating he was a crowning example of divine artistry and intelligence.

Ezekiel 28 12 Context

Ezekiel chapters 26-28 deliver a series of prophecies and lamentations against the Phoenician city-state of Tyre, a major maritime power known for its immense wealth, trade, and pride. Chapter 28 begins with a direct judgment against the "ruler of Tyre" (Ezek 28:1-10), condemning his self-exaltation to godlike status due to his wisdom and riches, resulting in a violent downfall. Verse 12 shifts abruptly from this "ruler" (Heb. nasi) to a "lamentation" over the "king" (Heb. melekh) of Tyre. The language employed from verse 12 onwards becomes profoundly symbolic and transcendental, describing an existence of extraordinary initial glory and presence in a sacred setting ("Eden, the garden of God"), with unique attributes that surpass any human monarch. This transition signals a deeper spiritual reality being addressed, traditionally understood as a pre-incarnate portrayal of Satan's pristine creation and subsequent fall from glory, with the historical king of Tyre serving as an earthly type or manifestation of this spiritual pride and rebellion. The chapter therefore moves from condemning a proud human king to unveiling the spiritual adversary behind such arrogance, culminating in a cosmic fall.

Ezekiel 28 12 Word analysis

  • "Son of man" (ben-'ādām, בֶן-אָדָם): A common designation for the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and status as a mortal representative speaking on behalf of the divine. It establishes the prophet's earthly perspective and God's initiative in revelation.

  • "take up a lamentation" (śā’ qînâ, שָׂא קִינָה): To utter, or lift up, a funeral song or dirge. This signifies that what follows is a mournful poem, an elegy for a lost glorious state, highlighting a fall from a height of honor.

  • "over the king of Tyre" ('al-melekh Ṣōr, עַל־מֶלֶךְ צֹור): The direct addressee of the prophecy. "King" (melekh) here carries a broader meaning than the "ruler" (nasi) of the preceding verses, suggesting a more ultimate authority or a archetypal figure. Tyre (Ṣōr) was renowned for its prosperity, naval power, and commercial networks, embodying human pride and self-sufficiency.

  • "Thus says the Lord GOD" (koh-'āmar 'Adonai YHWH, כֹּה־אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה): A standard prophetic formula, asserting the divine origin and authoritative nature of the message that follows.

  • "You were" ('attāh, אַתָּה): A direct address, singular and emphatic, highlighting the specific identity and past state of the being in focus.

  • "the signet of perfection" (ḥōtam tokniyth, חותם תכנית):

    • "Signet" (ḥōtam): A seal or signet ring, a symbol of authority, ownership, authenticity, and high value. It suggests being the ultimate imprint or confirmation of something. Often used to make things official or complete.
    • "of perfection" (tokniyth): Denotes perfection, complete pattern, accurate measure, full complement, or master design. Together, "signet of perfection" implies this being was the absolute standard, the perfect specimen, a masterpiece of divine creation, utterly complete and faultless in its original design.

  • "full of wisdom" (mālē’ ḥokhmah, מלא חָכְמָה):

    • "Full of" (mālē’): Abundantly supplied, overflowing, replete.
    • "wisdom" (ḥokhmah): Skill, insight, understanding, cunning, discernment, moral prudence, intellectual brilliance. This indicates exceptional mental capacity and understanding bestowed upon this being.

  • "and perfect in beauty" (u-khe-līl yōfî, וּכְלִיל יֹפִי):

    • "and perfect in" (u-khe-līl): From kalīl, meaning perfect, complete, whole, entirely beautiful. This term emphasizes absolute flawlessness.
    • "beauty" (yōfî): Physical attractiveness, splendor, glorious appearance. It denotes an exquisite aesthetic quality.

Words-group analysis

  • "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty": This phrase establishes a three-fold commendation of extraordinary, unblemished excellence. It speaks of a creation that was the epitome of divine workmanship in terms of its integrity, intelligence, and aesthetic appeal. The language goes beyond typical human characteristics, suggesting a primeval, divinely appointed excellence that was unparalleled among created beings, fitting for a chief angelic being rather than a mere mortal king. The ḥōtam tokniyth points to being the definitive and ultimate example of God's perfect plan and creation for that category of being. The combination of ḥokhmah and yōfî signifies an unmatched harmony of intellectual and aesthetic glory, forming a truly magnificent entity.

Ezekiel 28 12 Bonus section

The concept of the "signet" is profoundly significant in ancient Near Eastern culture. A signet ring was not merely decorative; it was an instrument of power and authority, used to seal documents, decrees, and possessions, authenticating them as genuine. To be the "signet of perfection" therefore suggests not just being perfectly made, but being the authoritative example or standard of perfection, validating all other created excellence as being aligned with God's perfect creative will. This lament serves as a divine demystification, peeling back the layers of human hubris to reveal the spiritual adversary influencing earthly kingdoms and exposing the profound loss of an originally magnificent being who rebelled against his Creator. The historical Tyre served as an object lesson for Israel, illustrating the deceptive allure of wealth and wisdom when divorced from God, ultimately showing that even the highest created glory cannot escape God's judgment when pride takes root.

Ezekiel 28 12 Commentary

Ezekiel 28:12 serves as the opening declaration of a unique lamentation, immediately shifting the reader's focus from a mere human ruler to a being of sublime original status. The description "signet of perfection" (or "pattern of perfection") conveys that this entity was a crowning achievement, a flawless embodiment of design and ideal. Coupled with being "full of wisdom" and "perfect in beauty," it paints a portrait of extraordinary pre-eminence, intellectually brilliant and aesthetically glorious. This unparalleled set of attributes suggests a created being designed for ultimate glory and prominence, distinct from any ordinary earthly king. While ostensibly about the king of Tyre, the extravagant and transcendental language strongly alludes to Lucifer, the chief angelic being created by God in a state of pristine perfection before his fall into sin through pride, a concept echoed in Isaiah 14 and Luke 10:18. It underscores that even the most glorious created beings owe their very existence and splendor to God and are subject to His will, revealing the tragedy of choosing self-exaltation over humble devotion.