Ezekiel 28
New English Translation
A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre
28 The Lord’s message came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to the prince[a] of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Your heart is proud[b] and you said, “I am a god;[c]
I sit in the seat of gods, in the heart of the seas”—
yet you are a man and not a god,
though you think you are godlike.[d]
3 Look, you are wiser than Daniel;[e]
no secret is hidden from you.[f]
4 By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself;
you have amassed gold and silver in your treasuries.
5 By your great skill[g] in trade you have increased your wealth,
and your heart is proud because of your wealth.
6 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
Because you think you are godlike,[h]
7 I am about to bring foreigners[i] against you, the most terrifying of nations.
They will draw their swords against the grandeur made by your wisdom,[j]
and they will defile your splendor.
8 They will bring you down to the Pit, and you will die violently[k] in the heart of the seas.
9 Will you still say, “I am a god,” before the one who kills you—
though you are a man and not a god—
when you are in the power of those who wound you?
10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised[l] by the hand of foreigners;
for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
11 The Lord’s message came to me: 12 “Son of man, sing[m] a lament for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘You were the sealer[n] of perfection,
full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God.[o]
Every precious stone was your covering,
the ruby, topaz, and emerald,
the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper,
the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl;[p]
your settings and mounts were made of gold.
On the day you were created they were prepared.
14 I placed you there with an anointed[q] guardian[r] cherub;[s]
you were on the holy mountain of God;
you walked about amidst fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your behavior[t] from the day you were created,
until sin was discovered in you.
16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence,[u] and you sinned;
so I defiled you and banished you[v] from the mountain of God—
the guardian cherub expelled you[w] from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom on account of your splendor.
I threw you down to the ground;
I placed you before kings, that they might see you.
18 By the multitude of your iniquities, through the sinfulness of your trade,
you desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I drew fire out from within you;
it consumed you,
and I turned you to ashes on the earth
before the eyes of all who saw you.
19 All who know you among the peoples are shocked at you;
you have become terrified and will be no more.’”
A Prophecy Against Sidon
20 The Lord’s message came to me: 21 “Son of man, turn toward[x] Sidon[y] and prophesy against it. 22 Say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Look, I am against you,[z] Sidon,
and I will magnify myself in your midst.
Then they will know that I am the Lord
when I execute judgments on her
and reveal my sovereign power[aa] in her.
23 I will send a plague into the city[ab] and bloodshed into its streets;
the slain will fall within it, by the sword that attacks it[ac] from every side.
Then they will know that I am the Lord.
24 “‘No longer will Israel suffer from the sharp briers[ad] or painful thorns of all who surround and scorn them.[ae] Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.
25 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I regather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are dispersed, I will reveal my sovereign power[af] over them in the sight of the nations, and they will live in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 They will live securely in it; they will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live securely[ag] when I execute my judgments on all those who scorn them and surround them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 28:2 tn Or “ruler” (NIV, NCV).
- Ezekiel 28:2 tn Heb “lifted up.” sn See Prov 16:5.
- Ezekiel 28:2 tn Or “I am divine.”
- Ezekiel 28:2 tn Heb “and you made your heart/mind (לֵב, lev) like the heart/mind of gods.”
- Ezekiel 28:3 sn Or perhaps “Danel” (so TEV), referring to a ruler known from Canaanite legend. See the note on “Daniel” in 14:14. A reference to Danel (preserved in legend at Ugarit, near the northern end of the Phoenician coast) makes more sense here when addressing Tyre than in 14:14.
- Ezekiel 28:3 sn The tone here is sarcastic, reflecting the ruler’s view of himself.
- Ezekiel 28:5 tn Or “wisdom.”
- Ezekiel 28:6 tn Heb “because of your making your heart like the heart of gods.”
- Ezekiel 28:7 sn This is probably a reference to the Babylonians.
- Ezekiel 28:7 tn Heb “they will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom.”
- Ezekiel 28:8 tn Heb “you will die the death of the slain.”
- Ezekiel 28:10 sn The Phoenicians practiced circumcision, so the language here must be figurative, indicating that they would be treated in a disgraceful manner. Uncircumcised peoples were viewed as inferior and unclean. See 31:18 and 32:17-32, as well as the discussion in D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:99.
- Ezekiel 28:12 tn Heb “lift up.”
- Ezekiel 28:12 tn For a discussion of possible nuances of this phrase, see M. Greenberg, Ezekiel (AB), 2:580-81.
- Ezekiel 28:13 sn The imagery of the lament appears to draw upon an extrabiblical Eden tradition about the expulsion of the first man (see v. 14 and the note there) from the garden due to his pride. The biblical Eden tradition speaks of cherubim placed as guardians at the garden entrance following the sin of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:24), but no guardian cherub like the one described in verse 14 is depicted or mentioned in the biblical account. Ezekiel’s imagery also appears to reflect Mesopotamian and Canaanite mythology at certain points. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:119-20.
- Ezekiel 28:13 tn The exact identification of each gemstone is uncertain. The list should be compared to that of the priest in Exod 28:17-20, which lists twelve stones in rows of three. The LXX apparently imports the Exod 28 list. See reference to the types of stones in L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:91.
- Ezekiel 28:14 tn Or “winged”; see L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:91.
- Ezekiel 28:14 tn The meaning of this phrase in Hebrew is uncertain. The word translated here “guards” occurs in Exod 25:20 in reference to the cherubim “covering” the ark.
- Ezekiel 28:14 tn Heb “you (were) an anointed cherub that covers, and I placed you.” In the Hebrew text the ruler of Tyre is equated with a cherub, and the verb “I placed you” is taken with what follows (“on the holy mountain of God”). However, this reading is problematic. The pronoun “you” at the beginning of verse 14 is feminine singular in the Hebrew text; elsewhere in this passage the ruler of Tyre is addressed with masculine singular forms. It is possible that the pronoun is a rare (see Deut 5:24; Num 11:15) or defectively written (see 1 Sam 24:19; Neh 9:6; Job 1:10; Ps 6:3; Eccl 7:22) masculine form, but it is more likely that the form should be repointed as the preposition “with” (see the LXX). In this case the ruler of Tyre is compared to the first man, not to a cherub. If this emendation is accepted, then the verb “I placed you” belongs with what precedes and concludes the first sentence in the verse. It is noteworthy that the verbs in the second and third lines of the verse also appear at the end of the sentence in the Hebrew text. The presence of a conjunction at the beginning of “I placed you” is problematic for the proposal, but it may reflect a later misunderstanding of the syntax of the verse. For a defense of the proposed emendation, see L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:91.
- Ezekiel 28:15 tn Heb “ways.”
- Ezekiel 28:16 tn Heb “they filled your midst with violence.”
- Ezekiel 28:16 tn Heb “I defiled you.” The presence of the preposition “from” following the verb indicates that a verb of motion is implied as well. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:91.
- Ezekiel 28:16 tn Heb “and I expelled you, O guardian cherub.” The Hebrew text takes the verb as first person and understands “guardian cherub” as a vocative, in apposition to the pronominal suffix on the verb. However, if the emendation in verse 14a is accepted (see the note above), then one may follow the LXX here as well and emend the verb to a third person perfect. In this case the subject of the verb is the guardian cherub. See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:91.
- Ezekiel 28:21 tn Heb “set your face against.”
- Ezekiel 28:21 sn Sidon was located 25 miles north of Tyre.
- Ezekiel 28:22 tn Or “I challenge you.” The phrase “I am against you” may be a formula for challenging someone to combat or a duel. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:201-2, and P. Humbert, “Die Herausforderungsformel ‘hinnenî ’êlékâ’” ZAW 45 (1933): 101-8.
- Ezekiel 28:22 tn Or “reveal my holiness.” God’s “holiness” is fundamentally his transcendence as sovereign ruler of the world. The revelation of his authority and power through judgment is in view in this context.
- Ezekiel 28:23 tn Heb “into it”; the referent of the feminine pronoun has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Ezekiel 28:23 tn Heb “by a sword against it.”
- Ezekiel 28:24 sn Similar language is used in reference to Israel’s adversaries in Num 33:55 and Josh 23:13.
- Ezekiel 28:24 tn Heb “and there will not be for the house of Israel a brier that pricks and a thorn that inflicts pain from all the ones who surround them, the ones who scorn them.”
- Ezekiel 28:25 tn Or “reveal my holiness.” See verse 22.
- Ezekiel 28:26 sn This promise was given in Lev 25:18-19.
Ezechiël 28
BasisBijbel
Gods woorden over de koning van Tyrus
28 De Heer zei tegen mij: 2 "Mensenzoon, zeg over de koning van Tyrus: Dit zegt de Heer: U bent erg trots geworden. U verbeeldt zich dat u een god bent. Een god die woont in zijn goddelijk paleis midden in zee. Maar u bent maar een sterveling, en geen god. Toch verbeeldt u zich dat u zo wijs als een god bent. 3 Ja, u bent wijzer dan Daniël.[a] Geen probleem is te moeilijk voor u. 4 Door uw wijsheid en uw verstand bent u zo rijk geworden. Uw schatkamers zijn vol goud en zilver. 5 Doordat u zo verstandig handel hebt gedreven, bent u steeds rijker geworden. Maar uw rijkdom heeft u trots gemaakt. 6 De Heer zegt: U vindt dat u zo wijs als een god bent. 7 Daarom stuur Ik sterke legers van wrede volken op u af. Zij zullen u vernietigen en u uw wijsheid en rijkdom afnemen. 8 U zal gedood worden in de strijd. Daar in de zee zult u in het dodenrijk terecht komen. 9 Zult u uzelf nog steeds een god noemen als u oog in oog staat met hem die u zal doden? U zal in handen vallen van hem die u doodt, u, een sterveling en geen god. 10 U zal gedood worden door iemand van een ander volk. Ik zal doen wat ik heb gezegd, zegt de Heer."
Treurlied over de koning van Tyrus
11 De Heer zei tegen mij: 12 "Mensenzoon, zing dit treurlied over de koning van Tyrus:
U was volmaakt.
U was vol van wijsheid en volmaakt mooi.
13 U woonde in Eden, de tuin van God.
U was helemaal bedekt met allerlei edelstenen:
sardis, topaas, diamant,
turkoois, sardonyx, jaspis,
saffier, robijn, smaragd.
Al die stenen waren met gouden zettingen op u vastgezet.
Op de dag dat u gemaakt werd, werden ze voor u gemaakt.
14 Ik had u een taak gegeven: u was een beschermende engel.
Ik had u een plaats gegeven op mijn heilige berg.
U mocht tussen de vurige stenen komen.
15 Vanaf de dag dat Ik u maakte, leefde u zoals Ik het wil.
U was volmaakt.
Totdat u op een dag slecht werd.
16 Want doordat u zo rijk werd, kreeg het kwaad u in zijn macht.
U leefde niet langer zoals Ik het wil.
Daarom stuurde Ik u weg van mijn heilige berg.
U, beschermende engel, mocht niet langer tussen de vurige stenen komen.
17 U was er trots op geworden hoe prachtig u er uitzag.
Daardoor verloor u uw wijsheid.
Ik wierp u neer op de aarde.
Koningen van andere landen liet Ik zien hoe het slecht met u afliep.
18 Door uw slechte en oneerlijke manier van leven
heeft u uw heiligdommen bedorven.
Daarom heb Ik uw stad tot aan de grond afgebrand.
Er is alleen nog as van over.
19 Alle volken die u hebben gekend,
zijn geschokt over wat er met u gebeurd is.
Het is vreselijk met u afgelopen.
U bent voor altijd van de aardbodem verdwenen."
Gods woorden over Sidon
20 De Heer zei tegen mij: 21 "Mensenzoon, ga met je gezicht in de richting van de stad Sidon staan en profeteer ertegen. 22 Zeg: Dit zegt de Heer: Pas maar op, Sidon! Ik zal je laten zien hoe machtig Ik ben. Ik ga je straffen. Ik zal je laten zien wie Ik ben. Dan zul je beseffen dat Ik de Heer ben. 23 Ik zal de pest in de stad laten komen. Er zal bloed vloeien in de straten. De mensen zullen door het zwaard worden gedood. De strijd zal van alle kanten op hen afkomen. Ze zullen beseffen dat Ik de Heer ben."
Israël zal weer in vrede kunnen wonen
24 De Heer zei: "Het volk Israël had altijd last van de landen er omheen, zoals je last hebt van dorens en distels. Maar dat zal voorbij zijn. Israël zal geen last meer hebben van de landen die het altijd beroofden. Israël zal beseffen dat Ik de Heer ben.
25 Dit zegt de Heer: Ik zal het volk Israël weer verzamelen uit de landen waar ze wonen. Dan zal Ik hun laten zien hoe machtig Ik ben. Ze zullen weer in hun eigen land wonen, het land dat Ik aan mijn dienaar Jakob heb gegeven. 26 Daar zullen ze veilig wonen. Ze zullen er huizen bouwen en wijngaarden planten. Ja, ze zullen er veilig wonen, want Ik zal alle volken om hen heen straffen omdat ze Israël hebben beroofd. Mijn volk zal beseffen dat Ik hun Heer God ben."
Footnotes
- Ezechiël 28:3 Daniël leefde in de tijd van Ezechiël aan het hof van de koning van Babel. Hij was minister en een profeet van God. Over hem is te lezen in het bijbelboek DANIËL.
Ezekiel 28
International Children’s Bible
Prophecy Against the King of Tyre
28 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said: 2 “Human being, say to the ruler of Tyre: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
You are too proud.
And you say, “I am a god.
I sit on the throne of a god
in the middle of the seas.”
You think you are as wise as a god.
But you are a man, not a god.
3 You think you are wiser than Daniel.
You think you can find out all secrets.
4 Through your wisdom and understanding
you have made yourself rich.
You have gained gold and silver.
And you have saved it in your storerooms.
5 Through your great skill in trading,
you have made your riches grow.
You are too proud
because of your riches.
6 “‘So this is what the Lord God says:
You think you are wise
like a god.
7 But I will bring foreign people against you.
They will be the cruelest nation.
They will pull out their swords
and destroy all that your wisdom has built.
And they will dishonor your greatness.
8 They will kill you.
You will die a terrible death
like those who are killed at sea.
9 While they are killing you,
you will not be able to say anymore, “I am a god.”
You will be only a man, not a god,
when your murderers kill you.
10 You will die like an unclean person.
Foreigners will kill you.
I have spoken, says the Lord God.’”
11 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said: 12 “Human being, sing a funeral song for the king of Tyre. Say to him: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
You were an example of what was perfect.
You were full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You had a wonderful life,
like those in Eden, the garden of God.
Every valuable gem was on you:
ruby, topaz and emerald,
yellow quartz, onyx and jasper,
sapphire, turquoise and chrysolite.
Your jewelry was made of gold.
It was prepared on the day you were created.
14 I appointed a living creature to guard you.
I put you on the holy mountain of God.
You walked among the gems of fire.
15 Your life was right and good.
This was from the day you were created,
until evil was found in you.
16 Because you traded with countries far away,
you learned to be cruel, and you sinned.
So I threw you down in disgrace from the mountain of God.
And the living creature who guarded you
forced you out from among the gems of fire.
17 You became too proud
because of your beauty.
You ruined your wisdom
because of your greatness.
I threw you down to the ground.
Your example taught a lesson to other kings.
18 You dishonored your places of worship
through your many sins and dishonest trade.
So I set your city on fire.
And it burned up.
I turned you into ashes on the ground
for all those watching to see.
19 All the nations who knew you
are shocked about you.
Your punishment was so terrible.
And you are gone forever.’”
Prophecy Against Sidon
20 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said: 21 “Human being, look toward the city of Sidon and prophesy against her. 22 Say: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
I am against you, Sidon.
I will show my greatness among you.
Then people will know that I am the Lord
when I have punished Sidon.
I will show my holiness by defeating her.
23 I will send diseases to Sidon,
and blood will flow in her streets.
Those who are wounded in Sidon will fall dead.
She will be attacked from all sides.
Then they will know that I am the Lord.
God Will Help Israel
24 “‘No more will neighboring nations be like thorny branches or sharp stickers to hurt Israel. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.
25 “‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather the people of Israel from the nations where they are scattered. I will show my holiness when the nations see what I do to my people. Then they will live in their own land—the land I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 Then they will live safely in the land. They will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live in safety after I have punished all the nations around who hate them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’”
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