Ezekiel 28:7 kjv
Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
Ezekiel 28:7 nkjv
Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, The most terrible of the nations; And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, And defile your splendor.
Ezekiel 28:7 niv
I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor.
Ezekiel 28:7 esv
therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.
Ezekiel 28:7 nlt
I will now bring against you a foreign army,
the terror of the nations.
They will draw their swords against your marvelous wisdom
and defile your splendor!
Ezekiel 28 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 28:7 | I will bring the most terrifying nations against you, and they will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom... | Isaiah 10:5-6; Jeremiah 50:11; Lamentations 2:15 |
| Isaiah 10:5-6 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger..." (depicts a powerful invading nation) | God's judgment through an empire |
| Jeremiah 50:11 | "Because you have rejoiced and are glad, O destroyer of my heritage..." | Enemy rejoicing over destruction |
| Lamentations 2:15 | "All who pass by clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the virgin daughter of Jerusalem." | Public ridicule and mockery of ruin |
| Jeremiah 4:3 | "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap according to steadfast love..." | Call to repentance to avert judgment |
| Amos 1:3 | "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment..." | God's judgment on surrounding nations |
| Joel 2:2-11 | Describes a locust plague and an invading army, with similar terrifying imagery | Widespread devastation and terror |
| Nahum 2:1-3 | Describes the destruction of Nineveh with vivid imagery of military might | God's justice against oppressors |
| Habakkuk 1:8 | "Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk..." | Fierce and swift invading forces |
| Jeremiah 13:23 | "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard his spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil." | Incurable wickedness facing judgment |
| Isaiah 5:29 | "Their roaring is like the roaring of a lion; they roar mightily, they growl and grasp their prey..." | Description of a fierce adversary |
| Hosea 11:10 | "They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion; even from the west he will call..." | God's ultimate power and authority |
| Proverbs 30:30 | "A lion, which is mighty among beasts and does not turn back from anything;" | Strength and boldness of a predator |
| Revelation 13:1-8 | Describes a beast rising from the sea, symbolizing powerful earthly empires opposed to God | Symbolism of powerful, anti-God forces |
| Ezekiel 38:16 | "You will come up against my people Israel like a cloud to cover the land..." | Another instance of an invading army |
| Isaiah 42:13 | "The LORD will march out like a mighty warrior; he will stir up his fury like a warrior..." | God's power demonstrated through judgment |
| Jeremiah 6:22-23 | "Behold, a people is coming from the north country..." | Invaders from the north |
| Proverbs 16:4 | "The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." | Wickedness used by God for His purposes |
| Isaiah 24:1-6 | Describes the earth being laid waste and plundered as a consequence of sin | Universal desolation due to sin |
| Jeremiah 51:34 | "Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me, he has crushed me..." | Babylon as a devastator |
| Ezekiel 7:23 | "Prepare chains, for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence." | Internal violence preceding judgment |
| Psalm 35:11 | "False witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know." | False accusations and persecution |
Ezekiel 28 verses
Ezekiel 28 7 Meaning
This verse describes the terrifying nature of an invading army that God will bring against Jerusalem. They are compared to wild beasts, specifically powerful and ravenous creatures. Their purpose is to devour and destroy, leaving nothing behind. The imagery emphasizes the thoroughness and ferocity of the divine judgment.
Ezekiel 28 7 Context
This verse is part of a prophetic oracle delivered by Ezekiel concerning the king of Tyre. The oracle begins by condemning the king's immense pride and self-deification (verses 2-5). It then transitions into a description of the divine judgment that will befall him and his city. The focus shifts from the king's internal corruption to the external force that God will use to execute His wrath. This specific verse vividly portrays the nature of that divinely appointed invading force. The broader context of Ezekiel's prophecy is the judgment of God upon Israel and the surrounding nations due to their sin and rebellion.
Ezekiel 28 7 Word Analysis
- "I": Refers to Yahweh, the Lord God.
- "will bring": Future tense, indicating a definite action by God.
- "the most terrifying": Hebrew: yadaim (יָדַיִם - hands), but in this context, it's more accurately parar (פָרַר - to break in pieces, destroy) and the overall sentiment points to eim (אֵמִים - terrors). It signifies an extreme and unparalleled level of dread.
- "nations": Hebrew: goim (גוֹיִם), referring to the gentile nations surrounding Israel, often used to describe armies or peoples used in God's judgment.
- "against you": Direct address to the king of Tyre.
- "and they will draw": Hebrew: haphakh (הָפַךְ - to turn, bring) with emphasis on preparation for action.
- "their swords": Hebrew: cherev (חֶרֶב), signifying weapons of warfare and instruments of destruction.
- "against": Indicates the target of the aggression.
- "the beauty": Hebrew: yofi (יוֹפִי), referring to comeliness, fairness, and perhaps even the impressive nature of their accomplishments or appearance.
- "of your wisdom": Hebrew: chochmah (חָכְמָה), highlighting that their very intelligence and shrewdness, which led to their prosperity, will be the source of their downfall and judgment.
Words-Group Analysis
- "the most terrifying nations": This phrase vividly describes the chosen instruments of God's judgment. They are not just any enemies but those who inspire extreme fear. This aligns with other biblical portrayals of God using formidable and feared powers for His purposes.
- "draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom": This impactful statement suggests that the very qualities the king of Tyre boasted in – his intelligence, strategic prowess, and the beauty of his city and achievements derived from it – will be the focus of the invaders' assault and ultimate destruction. The invaders are so powerful and merciless that they will strike at what is considered the peak of achievement.
Ezekiel 28 7 Bonus Section
The imagery of terrifying nations is not unique to Ezekiel 28. Similar language is used throughout Scripture to describe divine judgment enacted through human armies (e.g., Isaiah 10, Jeremiah 4). The concept of God using a powerful but often pagan nation to chasten His people, or even other unrighteous nations, is a recurring theme. This also touches on the "wise men" and "counselors" mentioned in preceding verses. Their wisdom, though impressive to humans, proved insufficient against God's decreed judgment. This reflects a pattern where true wisdom is defined by obedience to God, not just earthly intelligence.
Ezekiel 28 7 Commentary
This verse emphasizes that God is sovereign over all nations and historical events, including military invasions. The "most terrifying nations" are instruments in God's hand, brought forth to punish pride and wickedness. The invasion will specifically target the "beauty of your wisdom," indicating that the source of Tyre's perceived invincibility and arrogance—its strategic brilliance and resulting prosperity—will be the very aspect that is utterly destroyed. It underscores the principle that what humans value most, when held in pride, is susceptible to divine judgment. This passage warns against elevating human intellect or achievement to the point of defying God.