Ezekiel 28:2 kjv
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Ezekiel 28:2 nkjv
"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,' Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god
Ezekiel 28:2 niv
"Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "?'In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.
Ezekiel 28:2 esv
"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god ?
Ezekiel 28:2 nlt
"Son of man, give the prince of Tyre this message from the Sovereign LORD: "In your great pride you claim, 'I am a god!
I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.'
But you are only a man and not a god,
though you boast that you are a god.
Ezekiel 28 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 28:2 | Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up... | Pride of heart |
| Isaiah 14:13 | For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... | Lucifer's fall |
| Isaiah 14:14 | I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. | Boasting |
| Jeremiah 49:16 | Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock... | Tyre's overconfidence |
| Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before the fall. | General wisdom on pride |
| Proverbs 18:12 | Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. | Pride vs. humility |
| Luke 1:51 | He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. | God opposes the proud |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:4 | Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped... | Antichrist parallels |
| Revelation 18:7 | How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her... | Babylon's pride |
| Psalm 73:6 | Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; and violence covereth them as a garment. | Wickedness of the proud |
| Psalm 131:1 | LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. | David's humility |
| Ezekiel 29:3 | Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt... | Oracles against nations |
| Ezekiel 32:1 | And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me... | Lament for Egypt's king |
| Romans 1:30 | Disobedient to parents, Without understanding, Covenantbreakers, Without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: | Pride as a sin |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. | God's grace and the proud |
| Daniel 4:30 | The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built by the mighty power of my kingdom... | Nebuchadnezzar's pride |
| Daniel 5:20 | But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: | Belshazzar's downfall |
| Psalm 10:4 | The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. | God's absence in the proud |
| Job 40:9-14 | Thine heart is lifted up... Dost thou believe, that thou mayest be justified? | God challenges pride |
| Psalm 50:21 | These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such as thyself... | God's patience and judgment |
| Ezekiel 25:17 | And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel... | Retribution against nations |
| Zechariah 4:6 | ...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. | Spirit over worldly power |
Ezekiel 28 verses
Ezekiel 28 2 Meaning
This verse introduces a prophetic oracle against the King of Tyre, a declaration of judgment. The focus is on the king's pride and his self-deification, claiming divine status and attributes. God declares that because of this arrogant defiance, judgment will fall upon him and the city of Tyre. The verse establishes the divine perspective on human presumption and the inevitable consequence of exalting oneself against the Creator.
Ezekiel 28 2 Context
Chapter 28 of Ezekiel continues a series of prophetic judgments against various nations surrounding Israel. This particular oracle is directed at the King of Tyre. Tyre was a major Phoenician port city renowned for its wealth, maritime power, and impressive fortifications. Its rulers were known for their ambition and arrogance. The historical context sees Tyre as a prosperous and influential city, confident in its security and might. Prophetically, the language used against the King of Tyre has often been interpreted as having a dual application, referring not only to the human ruler of Tyre but also symbolically to Satan, the fallen angel, whose pride led to his rebellion against God. The verse immediately following the introduction of the oracle sets the stage for understanding the root cause of God's judgment: the king's immense pride and his presumptuous claim to divinity.
Ezekiel 28 2 Word Analysis
- Son of man (אִבְּנְאָדָם - ib-ne-a-dam): A common appellation for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a messenger of God, distinct from divine beings.
- say (אֶמְר - emr): To speak, declare, command. It signifies the prophet's commissioned role as God's spokesperson.
- unto the prince (אֶל־נְגִיד־צוֹר - el-negid-tsor): "Negid" can mean prince, ruler, chief, leader. Tyre was governed by a king, so "prince" likely refers to the ruling monarch, emphasizing his leadership position.
- of Tyrus (צוֹר - tsor): The ancient Phoenician city of Tyre, a prosperous maritime power.
- Thus saith the Lord GOD (כֹּה־אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה - koh-amar Adonai YHWH): A standard formula in prophetic literature, introducing a divine declaration and underscoring the authority behind the message.
- Because (יַעַן - ya'an): Indicating the reason or cause for the judgment to follow.
- thine heart (לִבְּךָ - lib-beka): The "heart" in Hebrew thought represents the inner person, the seat of intellect, emotions, will, and intent.
- is lifted up (רָמָה - ramah): Means to be exalted, arrogant, proud. This is the core sin being addressed.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Because thine heart is lifted up...": This phrase encapsulates the fundamental sin. It points to an inner state of arrogance and self-sufficiency, which then manifests in outward actions and pronouncements. The "heart" here signifies the innermost being where thoughts and intentions originate.
Ezekiel 28 2 Bonus Section
The phrasing "Because thine heart is lifted up" suggests a deep-seated arrogance originating from within. This internal corruption eventually leads to external actions and claims of divine status. The prophecy against the King of Tyre is so severe and comprehensive that many theologians and biblical scholars see it as a clear depiction of Satan's original fall from grace due to pride. Isaiah 14 and the description of the fall of Lucifer, along with the typological connections found in Revelation 18 concerning Babylon (which includes Tyre's characteristics), support this broader interpretation, illustrating a profound spiritual principle of God's opposition to pride at every level, from earthly rulers to celestial beings.
Ezekiel 28 2 Commentary
The oracle begins by directly addressing the prophet, commissioning him to deliver a stern message to the King of Tyre. The reason for this judgment is explicitly stated: his heart has become arrogant and puffed up with pride. This pride is not just a personal failing but a rebellion against God, manifesting in the king's self-exaltation. Tyre, with its strategic location, immense wealth, and powerful navy, fostered a sense of invincibility in its ruler, leading him to believe he was equal to or above God. This defiance would bring divine retribution. The verse sets a strong precedent for understanding that spiritual pride and claiming divine attributes is a direct affront to God's sovereignty and will always incur judgment.