Back to Ezekiel 28

Ezekiel 28:2-9

“Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the middle of the seas;’ yet you are man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God—

behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you;

by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures;

by your great wisdom and by your trading you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches—”

“ ‘therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “Because you have set your heart as the heart of God,

therefore, behold, I will bring strangers on you, the terrible of the nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom. They will defile your brightness.

They will bring you down to the pit. You will die the death of those who are slain in the heart of the seas.

Will you yet say before him who kills you, ‘I am God’? But you are man, and not God, in the hand of him who wounds you.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    “Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the middle of the seas;’ yet you are man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God—

    behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you;

    by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures;

    by your great wisdom and by your trading you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches—”

    “ ‘therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “Because you have set your heart as the heart of God,

    therefore, behold, I will bring strangers on you, the terrible of the nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom. They will defile your brightness.

    They will bring you down to the pit. You will die the death of those who are slain in the heart of the seas.

    Will you yet say before him who kills you, ‘I am God’? But you are man, and not God, in the hand of him who wounds you.

  • KJV King James Version

    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:

    Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

    With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

    By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;

    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.

    They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.

    Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    'Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyre: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said: I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the heart of the seas; yet thou art man, and not God, though thou didst set thy heart as the heart of God —

    Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel! there is no secret that they can hide from thee!

    By thy wisdom and by thy discernment thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures;

    In thy great wisdom by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches —

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Because thou hast set thy heart as the heart of God;

    Therefore, behold, 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.

    They shall bring thee down to the pit; and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain, in the heart of the seas.

    Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee: I am God? But thou art man, and not God, in the hand of them that defile thee.

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Cross-references (105)

  • Ezekiel 28:9 (v2) Will you yet say before him who kills you, ‘I am God’? But you are man, and not God, in the hand of him who wounds you.
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (vv2, 6) he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting…
  • Isaiah 14:13-14 (v2) You said in your heart, “I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly,…
  • Isaiah 31:3 (vv2, 9) Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When Yahweh stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall…
  • Psalms 9:20 (v2) Put them in fear, Yahweh. Let the nations know that they are only men.
Show all 99 cross-references
  • Psalms 52:7 (v5) “Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his…
  • Psalms 62:10 (v5) Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.
  • Proverbs 16:18 (v2) Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
  • Daniel 1:20 (v3) In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the…
  • Ezekiel 28:2 (vv5, 6, 9) “Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the…
  • Acts 12:22-23 (vv2, 9) The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the…
  • Ezekiel 31:12 (v7) Strangers, the tyrants of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him. His branches have fallen on the mountains and in all the…
  • Daniel 2:22 (v3) He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
  • Hosea 13:6 (v5) According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.
  • Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (v4) and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for…
  • Proverbs 11:28 (v5) He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
  • Proverbs 18:11 (v4) The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
  • Proverbs 23:4-5 (v4) Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts…
  • Isaiah 2:12 (v2) For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and arrogant, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low:
  • Ezekiel 30:11 (v7) He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt,…
  • Ezekiel 32:12 (v7) I will cause your multitude to fall by the swords of the mighty. They are all the ruthless of the nations. They will bring the pride of…
  • Daniel 2:27-28 (v3) Daniel answered before the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded can’t be shown to the king by wise men, enchanters,…
  • Hosea 12:7-8 (v5) A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud. Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In…
  • James 4:13-14 (v5) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” Whereas you don’t…
  • Ezekiel 27:26-27 (vv2, 8) Your rowers have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas. Your riches, your wares, your…
  • Genesis 3:5 (v2) for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
  • Exodus 9:17 (v6) because you still exalt yourself against my people, that you won’t let them go.
  • Deuteronomy 6:11-12 (v5) and houses full of all good things which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees which you…
  • Deuteronomy 8:13-14 (v5) and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; then your…
  • Deuteronomy 8:14 (v2) then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage;
  • 1 Kings 4:29-32 (v3) God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore. Solomon’s…
  • 1 Kings 10:3 (v3) Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.
  • 2 Chronicles 26:16 (v2) But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into…
  • Job 15:8 (v3) Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
  • Job 31:24-25 (v5) “If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’ If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and…
  • Psalms 82:7 (v9) Nevertheless you shall die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.”
  • Proverbs 18:12 (v2) Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
  • Proverbs 26:12 (v5) Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
  • Ecclesiastes 9:11 (v4) I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet…
  • Isaiah 5:21 (v5) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
  • Ezekiel 27:3-4 (v2) and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord Yahweh says: “You,…
  • Ezekiel 27:34 (v8) In the time that you were broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company fell within you.
  • Ezekiel 28:5-6 (v2) by your great wisdom and by your trading you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches—” “ ‘therefore…
  • Ezekiel 28:12-14 (v2) “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and tell him, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “You were the seal of full measure, full of…
  • Ezekiel 28:17 (v2) Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. You have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I have cast you to the ground.…
  • Ezekiel 29:3 (v4) Speak and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the middle of his…
  • Ezekiel 31:10 (v2) “Therefore thus said the Lord Yahweh: ‘Because you are exalted in stature, and he has set his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is…
  • Daniel 4:30-31 (v2) The king spoke and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the…
  • Daniel 4:37 (v5) Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk…
  • Daniel 5:11-12 (v3) There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom,…
  • Daniel 5:22-23 (v2) “You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven;…
  • Habakkuk 1:6-8 (v7) For, behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the width of the earth, to possess dwelling places…
  • Habakkuk 1:16 (v4) Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.
  • Habakkuk 2:4 (v2) Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.
  • Zechariah 9:2-4 (v4) and Hamath, also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise. Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver…
  • Romans 12:16 (v5) Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own…
  • 1 Timothy 3:6 (v2) not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
  • 1 Timothy 6:17 (v5) Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the…
  • 1 Peter 5:5 (v2) Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another;…
  • Revelation 17:3 (v2) He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, full of blasphemous names, having…
  • Deuteronomy 28:49-50 (v7) Yahweh will bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flies: a nation whose language you will not…
  • 2 Chronicles 25:19 (v5) You say to yourself that you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home. Why should you meddle with trouble,…
  • 2 Chronicles 32:23-25 (v5) Many brought gifts to Yahweh to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all…
  • Job 9:4 (v6) God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
  • Job 17:16 (v8) Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?”
  • Job 33:18 (v8) He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
  • Job 33:28 (v8) He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
  • Job 40:9-12 (v6) Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him? “Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with…
  • Psalms 25:14 (v3) The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.
  • Psalms 28:1 (v8) To you, Yahweh, I call. My rock, don’t be deaf to me, lest, if you are silent to me, I would become like those who go down into the pit.
  • Psalms 30:9 (v8) “What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth?
  • Psalms 55:15 (v8) Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.
  • Psalms 72:6-7 (v2) He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of…
  • Psalms 88:4-5 (v8) I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help, set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the…
  • Proverbs 1:12 (v8) Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
  • Proverbs 28:17 (v8) A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.
  • Proverbs 30:9 (v5) lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
  • Isaiah 10:8-14 (v5) For he says, “Aren’t all of my princes kings? Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?” As my…
  • Isaiah 23:3 (v5) On great waters, the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue. She was the market of nations.
  • Isaiah 23:8 (v5) Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth?
  • Isaiah 23:8-9 (v7) Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth? Yahweh…
  • Isaiah 25:3-4 (v7) Therefore a strong people will glorify you. A city of awesome nations will fear you. For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a…
  • Isaiah 38:17 (v8) Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my…
  • Ezekiel 16:49 (v5) “ ‘ “Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters. She…
  • Ezekiel 26:7-14 (v7) “For the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, with horses, with…
  • Ezekiel 27:12-36 (v5) “ ‘ “Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and…
  • Ezekiel 32:18-30 (v8) “Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her and the daughters of the famous nations, to the lower parts of…
  • Daniel 4:30 (v5) The king spoke and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the…
  • Daniel 4:31-32 (v9) While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from the sky, saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: ‘The kingdom has…
  • Daniel 5:23-30 (v9) but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords,…
  • Daniel 7:7 (v7) “After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great…
  • Amos 3:6 (v7) Does the trumpet alarm sound in a city, without the people being afraid? Does evil happen to a city, and Yahweh hasn’t done it?
  • Zechariah 9:2-3 (v3) and Hamath, also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise. Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver…
  • Zechariah 9:3 (v5) Tyre built herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver like the dust, and fine gold like the mire of the streets.
  • Luke 12:16-21 (v5) He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I…
  • 1 Corinthians 10:22 (v6) Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
  • James 1:11 (v6) For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So…
  • Psalms 82:6-7 (v2) I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High. Nevertheless you shall die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.”
  • Daniel 2:47-48 (v3) The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you…

99 distinct cross-references across this passage (105 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (15 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Hebrew, though thou set thine heart as the heart…

Hebrew, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God.

I am safe that none can come to hurt me, as God is in the heaven.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–9 Eze 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2–9 Unto; of.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–9 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyre,....…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 7 Hast said - In thy heart. In the seat…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 5, 7, 9 Verse 2. Say unto the prince of Tyrus] But…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 9 Eze 28:2. Say to the prince of Tyrus —…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv2–3 Prince. The Jews say Hiram, (St. Jerome) supposing that…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Ezekiel ironically alludes to Ithbaal's overweening opinion of the…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 7, 9 2. Tyrus — Tyre (rock), now at the height…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 8, 9 2. am a God] I am God. Ezekiel speaks…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 (2) I am a God.—The arraignment of the prince…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2, 3, 7, 8 I am a God. We are reminded of Isaiah"s…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv4, 6, 8 Connecting Statement:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3, 6, 8 28:3-5 The prince of Tyre’s claim to divine status…
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