therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed here is that God's judgment on Tyre isn't just a single, swift attack, but a relentless, overwhelming assault. He uses the imagery of the sea's waves not just for their number, but their constant, surging power, signifying a judgment that will repeatedly batter and ultimately consume the proud city over a long period. This highlights God's deep displeasure with Tyre's self-satisfaction and her joy over Jerusalem's downfall.
therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Tyre, a wealthy island city, is exulting over the fall of Jerusalem, believing their enemy's destruction will only increase their own prosperity and trade. In response, God declares His intention to bring numerous nations against Tyre, overwhelming them with relentless force like the surging waves of the sea. This judgment isn't just about the initial conquest by Babylon, but a prophecy of all the future attacks that will ultimately reduce Tyre to desolate ruins.
When the world rejoices over the downfall of others, it's easy to think we're invincible. But what happens when the Lord Himself declares, 'I am against you'?
This verse kicks off a powerful prophecy against the city of Tyre, a wealthy and influential Phoenician port. The opening declaration, 'Behold, I am against you, O Tyre,' isn't just a human threat; it's the voice of the Lord God. This means that no matter how strong, rich, or strategically positioned Tyre might be, divine opposition is the ultimate and most terrifying force. God's 'being against' someone signifies His active displeasure and His intention to bring about their judgment. It’s a stark reminder that earthly power and prosperity do not guarantee divine favor.
Tyre prided itself on its strength and its access to global trade. But God planned to unleash a force far greater than any navy or merchant fleet.
The prophecy vividly compares the coming judgment to the sea bringing up its waves. This imagery is incredibly fitting for Tyre, an island city constantly battered by the Mediterranean. God declares He will 'cause many nations to come up against you.' This wasn't just one enemy; it was a relentless, overwhelming onslaught. The scholars note that this refers not only to Nebuchadnezzar's initial conquest but also to a long series of future attacks that would eventually lead to Tyre's utter destruction. The 'waves' represent the multitude, the force, and the unstoppable nature of God's chosen instruments of judgment.
Understand the original words
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Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Noun phrase
A designation for the Creator-King of Israel, emphasizing His absolute authority and sovereign lordship over all creation and history. It combines the personal covenant name of God with the title indicating His supreme rule.
hineni 'alayikh · Hebrew Verb phrase
The divine declaration of judgment, positioning the Almighty in direct opposition to an entity due to its pride, sin, or resistance to His purposes. It signals that God has set Himself as an adversary against those who exalt themselves against His people or His will.
The prophecy against Tyre in Ezekiel 26 addresses not only the immediate threat from Nebuchadnezzar but also foreshadows a long history of destruction by successive empires, likening the relentless assaults to the unceasing waves of the sea.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre
Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, laid siege to the island city of Tyre. The siege lasted 13 years, a testament to Tyre's formidable defenses and the determination of its people.
585 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar II, finally conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. The fall of Jerusalem brought immense wealth and prestige to Tyre, which profited from the disruption.
573 BC
Tyre Surrenders to Babylon
After the lengthy siege, Tyre finally surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar, agreeing to pay tribute. Though the island city remained unconquered, its mainland possessions were devastated.
c. 332 BC
Alexander the Great Conquers Tyre
Alexander the Great besieged Tyre for seven months. He famously built a causeway to the island city, eventually capturing it and brutally enslaving its inhabitants.
c. 16th Century AD
Tyre's Final Destruction
Though Tyre experienced periods of resurgence, its ultimate destruction and abandonment occurred much later, fulfilling prophecies of its utter desolation.
This passage parallels the theme of God bringing foreign nations against rebellious peoples, specifically mentioning Nebuchadnezzar as His servant, much like the nations God raises against Tyre.
Isaiah 23:1This earlier prophecy also addresses the destruction of Tyre, emphasizing its pride and impending downfall through foreign invasion.
Revelation 18:10This New Testament passage echoes the judgment on a commercial city, reflecting Tyre's fate and contrasting its former glory with its final ruin.
Nahum 1:9This prophecy against Nineveh shares the imagery of overwhelming destruction and divine opposition, illustrating how God's judgment can come like a flood.
ellicottEzekiel 26:3: "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up."
(3) Many nations. —The prophet here, at the outset, glances down through the ages of Tyre’s future history. He has in mind not merely the conquest by Nebuchadnezzar, of which he will speak more particularly presently ( Ezekiel 26:7-11 ), but all the successive conquests until the proud city should be reduced to utter…
pulpitEzekiel 26:3: "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up."
Verse 3. - As the sea causeth, etc. We note the special appropriateness of the comparison to the position of the island city.
What's easily missed here is that God's judgment on Tyre isn't just a single, swift attack, but a relentless, overwhelming assault. He uses the imagery of the sea's waves not just for their number, but their constant, surging power, signifying a judgment that will repeatedly batter and ultimately consume the proud city over a long period. This highlights God's deep displeasure with Tyre's self-satisfaction and her joy over Jerusalem's downfall.
Tyre, a wealthy island city, is exulting over the fall of Jerusalem, believing their enemy's destruction will only increase their own prosperity and trade. In response, God declares His intention to bring numerous nations against Tyre, overwhelming them with relentless force like the surging waves of the sea. This judgment isn't just about the initial conquest by Babylon, but a prophecy of all the future attacks that will ultimately reduce Tyre to desolate ruins.
Tyre, a wealthy island city, is exulting over the fall of Jerusalem, believing their enemy's destruction will only increase their own prosperity and trade. In response, God declares His intention to bring numerous nations against Tyre, overwhelming them with relentless force like the surging waves of the sea. This judgment isn't just about the initial conquest by Babylon, but a prophecy of all the future attacks that will ultimately reduce Tyre to desolate ruins.
"therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves." — What's easily missed here is that God's judgment on Tyre isn't just a single, swift attack, but a relentless, overwhelming assault. He uses the imagery of the sea's waves not just for their number, b…
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Last reviewed October 2026