Ezekiel 28:2-9

Context
28:2 “Son of man, say to the prince¹ of Tyre, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says:

“‘Your heart is proud² and you said, “I am a god;³

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.⁴

28:3 Look, you are wiser than Daniel;⁵

no secret is hidden from you.⁶

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 skill⁷ 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,⁸

28:7 I am about to bring foreigners⁹ 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 violently¹¹ 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?

[28:2] ¹tn Or “ruler” (NIV, NCV).

[28:2] ²tn Heb “lifted up.”

[28:2] ³tn Or “I am divine.”

[28:2] ⁴tn Heb “and you made your heart (mind) like the heart (mind) of gods.”

[28:3] ⁵sn 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.

[28:3] ⁶sn The tone here is sarcastic, reflecting the ruler’s view of himself.

[28:5] ⁷tn Or “wisdom.”

[28:6] ⁸tn Heb “because of your making your heart like the heart of gods.”

[28:7] ⁹sn This is probably a reference to the Babylonians.

[28:7] ¹⁰tn Heb “they will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom.”

[28:8] ¹¹tn Heb “you will die the death of the slain.”