Ezekiel 28:2-9

28:2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says:

“‘Your heart is proud and you said, “I am a god;

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.

28:3 Look, you are wiser than Daniel;

no secret is hidden from you.

28:4 By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself;

you have amassed gold and silver in your treasuries.

28:5 By your great skill in trade you have increased your wealth,

and your heart is proud because of your wealth.

28:6 “‘Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says:

Because you think you are godlike,

28:7 I am about to bring foreigners against you, the most terrifying of nations.

They will draw their swords against the grandeur made by your wisdom, 10 

and they will defile your splendor.

28:8 They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die violently 11  in the heart of the seas.

28:9 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?


tn Or “ruler” (NIV, NCV).

tn Heb “lifted up.”

sn See Prov 16:5.

tn Or “I am divine.”

tn Heb “and you made your heart (mind) like the heart (mind) of gods.”

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.

sn The tone here is sarcastic, reflecting the ruler’s view of himself.

tn Or “wisdom.”

tn Heb “because of your making your heart like the heart of gods.”

sn This is probably a reference to the Babylonians.

10 tn Heb “they will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom.”

11 tn Heb “you will die the death of the slain.”