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Ezekiel 26 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹In the eleventh month of the twelfth year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ²“Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken; it has swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will be filled,’ ³therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, O Tyre, I am against you, and I will raise up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. ⁴They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock. ⁵She will become a place to spread nets in the sea, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. She will become plunder for the nations, ⁶and the villages on her mainland will be slain by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ ⁷For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great company of troops. ⁸He will slaughter the villages of your mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp to your walls, and raise his shields against you. ⁹He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and tear down your towers with his axes. ¹⁰His multitude of horses will cover you in their dust. When he enters your gates as an army entering a breached city, your walls will shake from the noise of cavalry, wagons, and chariots. ¹¹The hooves of his horses will trample all your streets. He will slaughter your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground. ¹²They will plunder your wealth and pillage your merchandise. They will demolish your walls, tear down your beautiful homes, and throw your stones and timber and soil into the water. ¹³So I will silence the sound of your songs, and the music of your lyres will no longer be heard. ¹⁴I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread the fishing nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I, the LORD, have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.’ ¹⁵This is what the Lord GOD says to Tyre: ‘Will not the coastlands quake at the sound of your downfall, when the wounded groan at the slaughter in your midst? ¹⁶All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled over you. ¹⁷Then they will lament for you, saying, “How you have perished, O city of renown inhabited by seafaring men— she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people, who imposed terror on all peoples! ¹⁸Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your downfall; the islands in the sea are dismayed by your demise.” ’ ¹⁹For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city like other deserted cities, and when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you, ²⁰then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendor in the land of the living. ²¹I will make you an object of horror, and you will be no more. You will be sought, but will never be found,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Berean Standard Bible · public domain. More versions and languages in the Reading Plan.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 26

The Fall of Tyrus: Judgment Against Pride and False Security

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Objective

To declare the divine judgment pronounced against the proud city of Tyrus for its arrogance and rejoicing over Jerusalem’s fall, revealing God’s sovereign power over nations and the certainty of His justice.

Overview

Ezekiel 26 delivers a prophetic oracle against the ancient maritime city of Tyrus, which had mocked the devastation of Jerusalem. God announces that many nations, led by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, will rise against Tyrus. Its walls and towers will be destroyed, its wealth plundered, and its very foundations scraped away until it becomes a bare rock, a place for fishermen’s nets. The lamentation of the surrounding islands will mark its fall, and it will be made desolate, never to be rebuilt. This chapter reveals the consequences of pride and the certainty of God’s judgment upon those who exalt themselves against His people.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel in the eleventh year, announcing judgment against Tyrus. The city had taunted Jerusalem’s destruction with a proud 'Aha,' rejoicing over the downfall of the 'gates of the people.' God declares His opposition to Tyrus and foretells that many nations will rise against it like waves of the sea. The city’s walls and towers will be broken down, and it will be scraped bare like the top of a rock, becoming a place for fishermen to spread their nets. Its daughters in the field will be slain by the sword, so that all will know the Lord.

Central Themes

Divine judgment against pride

the sovereignty of God over nations

the certainty of retribution for arrogance

the downfall of a once-mighty city.

Cultural & Historical Context

Tyrus was a wealthy Phoenician city-state famed for its maritime power and commerce. Its boasting over Jerusalem’s fall reflects the rivalry and political tensions of the ancient Near East. The prophecy echoes the biblical motif that God raises up and humbles nations according to His will (cf. Isaiah 23; Jeremiah 25).

Key Verse

Ezekiel 26:3

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

The Provocation of Tyrus and the Divine Response (Verses 1–6)

A proud city perched on a rocky shore, its walls gleaming in the sun, with a bold figure shouting 'Aha!' toward a distant ruined Jerusalem. Behind the city, dark waves rise like armies, symbolizing the nations God will send to overwhelm it.

The Siege by Nebuchadnezzar and the City’s Destruction (Verses 7–14)

A vast Babylonian army encircles the city, siege engines battering walls, horses trampling streets, and dust rising like a storm. The city’s towers crumble, and stones tumble into the sea, while the silence of broken harps hangs heavy in the air.

The Lamentation of the Isles and the Final Desolation (Verses 15–21)

Islands shrouded in mist, their princes seated on thrones, casting aside royal robes in sorrow. The once-mighty city lies submerged beneath dark waters, a barren rock with fishermen’s nets spread across it, while shadows of lament float on the sea breeze.

Song

Ezekiel 26 Song

Verse 1

Tyrus stood with haughty voice, Rejoicing o’er Jerusalem’s fall, But God’s decree, a rising tide, Would sweep her pride and towers tall.

Verse 2

Nebuchadnezzar’s steeds advance, Siege engines roar, the city shakes, Streets are crushed beneath their hooves, The silence of the harp now breaks.

Chorus

Waves of nations crash and roar, Walls shall break and towers fall, From the heights to ocean floor, The Lord’s word conquers all.

Bridge

Isles weep robes laid aside, Princes tremble, hearts undone, A city lost beneath the tide, Its glory set to none.

Final Chorus

Waves of nations crash and roar, Walls shall break and towers fall, From the heights to ocean floor, The Lord’s word conquers all.

Practical Application

Personal Life

Examine the pride in your heart that may rejoice at others’ misfortune instead of trusting God’s justice.

Recognize that God is sovereign over all nations and circumstances, calling for humble dependence on Him.

Repent from any arrogance or false security that opposes God’s will.

Community & Society

Encourage communities to resist prideful boasting and to mourn with those who suffer loss.

Promote justice and humility in communal relationships, recognizing God’s authority over all.

Support those who face judgment or hardship with compassion, reflecting God’s mercy.

Global Perspective

Pray for nations that exalt themselves against God’s purposes and for leaders to submit to divine authority.

Advocate for peace and justice among nations, remembering the consequences of pride and violence.

Remember that God’s judgment is certain and just, calling the global church to faithful witness.

Conclusion

Ezekiel 26 reveals the certainty of God’s judgment against pride and false security. Tyrus, a city that mocked Jerusalem’s fall, is itself destined for destruction by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar and many nations. Its ruin is total—walls broken, riches plundered, songs silenced, and its very foundations cast into the sea. The lamentation of the islands and the final desolation underscore the universal impact of divine justice. This chapter calls all to humility before the sovereign Lord who rules over the rise and fall of nations, reminding believers that no power stands against His will.