Ezekiel 28

Ezekiel 28 is the twenty-eighth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet/priest Ezekiel, and is one of the Books of the Prophets. This chapter contains a prophecy against the king of Tyre and a prophecy against neighbouring Sidon, concluding with a promise that Israel will be "delivered from the nations".

Text

The original text was written in the Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 26 verses.

The ruins of Tyre

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).Template:Sfn

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $𝔊$^B; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; $𝔊$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; $𝔊$^Q; 6th century).Template:SfnTemplate:Efn

Against the Ruler of Tyre (28:1-19)

This part contains an oracle against the ruler (negid; "prince") of Tyre (verses 1–10) and a lament over the destruction of the king (melek) of Tyre (verses 11–19).Template:Sfn

Verse 2

""Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre,

‘Thus says the Lord God:

"Because your heart is lifted up,

And you say, 'I am a god'

I sit in the seat of gods,

In the midst of the seas',

Yet you are a man, and not a god,

Though you set your heart as the heart of a god"

• "Son of man" (Template:Langx): this phrase is used 93 times to address Ezekiel.Template:Sfn
• "Prince" (Template:Lang): the Hebrew word has a meaning of "ruler", "leader" of people, tribal "chief", a nobleman.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The "king" in Template:Bibleverse is referring to the same person.Template:Sfn The leader of Tyre is judged for his pride and self-deification.Template:Sfn During Ezekiel's time, this leader would have been the Tyrian king Ittobaal III.Template:Sfn

Verse 3

Are you wiser than Daniel?

Is no secret hidden from you?

The name "Daniel" may refer to Danel, "a man of renown in ancient literature" or King David's son Daniel. The text in the Jerusalem Bible reads:

You are now wiser than Daniel;

there is no sage as wise as you.

Verse 13

You were in Eden, the garden of God;

every precious stone was your covering,

sardius, topaz, and diamond,

beryl, onyx, and jasper,

sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;

and crafted in gold were your settings

and your engravings.

On the day that you were created

they were prepared.

• Cross reference: Template:Bibleverse, Template:Bibleverse, Template:Bibleverse; Template:Bibleverse-nb.Template:Sfn
• "Every precious stone was your covering": comparable to the stones in the "breastpiece of judgement" wore by the High Priest of Israel (cf. Template:Bibleverse; Template:Bibleverse-nb).Template:Sfn
• "Sapphire" (Hebrew: ספיר Template:Strong-number): "a kind of gem"; "lapis lazuli" (Template:Bibleref2; Ezekiel 1:26).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Against Sidon (28:20-23)

This section contains an oracle of Yahweh's judgement against Sidon, another member of the anti-Babylonian alliance (Jeremiah 27), but less important than Tyre, with the ultimate goal, repeated twice in this brief oracle, that they shall acknowledge Yahweh's sovereignty.Template:Sfn

Promises to Israel (28:24-26)

Following the oracles against Israel's neighbours, two promises are prophesied to Israel: (1) Israel will cease to be provoked by these neighbours (verse 24); (2) having punished Israel's neighbours, Yahweh will restore Israel to its land and his presence to Israel (verses 25–26).Template:Sfn

See also

• Danel
• Daniel (biblical figure)
• Eden
• Israel
• Jacob
• Sidon
• Ezekiel's cherub in Eden
• Tyre
• Related Bible passages: Genesis 3, Isaiah 14, Isaiah 23, Daniel 4, Acts 12, 2 Thessalonians 2

Sources

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External links

Jewish

• Ezekiel 28 Hebrew with Parallel English
• Ezekiel 28 Hebrew with Rashi's Commentary

Christian

• Ezekiel 28 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate Template:Webarchive