Ezekiel 26:3-5
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. They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock. She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. And she shall become plunder for the nations,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to see the "many nations" as just a bigger army, but the imagery of "as the sea brings up its waves" highlights the overwhelming and relentless nature of the attack. God isn't just sending one wave, but a continuous, powerful onslaught that Tyre, an island city, would particularly understand.
The prophet Ezekiel is delivering a harsh prophecy against the wealthy island city of Tyre, which has rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem. This divine message declares God's direct opposition to Tyre, promising that a multitude of nations will be brought against her, their attacks overwhelming and relentless like the crashing waves of the sea against her shores. This foretells not just Nebuchadnezzar's siege but the city's repeated conquests throughout history until its ultimate desolation.
When a nation or person boasts about their success, especially at the expense of others, it doesn't go unnoticed by God. In fact, He declares Himself 'against' them.
The verse opens with a powerful declaration: "Behold, I am against you, O Tyre." This isn't a casual observation; it's God's direct and resolute opposition to the city's pride. Tyre had rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem, likely seeing it as an opportunity to increase their own wealth and influence. But God's perspective is different. He sees their self-congratulation as arrogance and injustice. When God says He is 'against' someone, it means His sovereign power and justice are aligned to bring about their downfall. This is not a conditional threat, but a divine decree rooted in His character.
Tyre was a powerful island city, secure in its wealth and defenses. But God compares His judgment not to a single attack, but to something relentless and overwhelming.
The imagery God uses is striking: He will 'cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea brings up its waves.' This comparison highlights several key aspects of God's judgment:
Understand the original words
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.
shalal · Hebrew Noun
Wealth, goods, or territory seized as spoils of war, often signifying the loss of power and the humiliating reversal of fortunes for a prideful nation under God's judgment. It reflects the outcome of divine discipline upon those who trusted in their own strength rather than in God.
The prophecy against Tyre unfolds over centuries, with Nebuchadnezzar's siege being the first major blow. Tyre's pride in its resilience and its joy over Jerusalem's fall directly triggered God's judgment, which would come in waves of nations, just like the sea it bordered.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Campaign
Nebuchadnezzar, prince of Babylon, defeats the Egyptians and Assyrians at Carchemish, gaining control over Syria and Palestine. This sets the stage for Babylonian dominance over the region.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling many Judeans. Tyre rejoices at this event, seeing it as an opportunity to expand its trade and influence.
585-573 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to the island city of Tyre for thirteen years. While he eventually conquers the mainland portion, the main island city holds out.
332 BC
Alexander the Great Conquers Tyre
Alexander the Great, after a five-month siege, captures Tyre by building a causeway to the island. This marks another major turning point in the city's long history.
This passage also describes a divine judgment against a city, emphasizing the fear and confusion that will spread as nations mobilize against it, echoing the overwhelming force mentioned in Ezekiel 26:3.
Isaiah 23:1-14This prophetic oracle against Tyre speaks of its eventual downfall and desolation by various nations, providing a broader context for the divine judgment declared in Ezekiel.
Revelation 18:15-17This New Testament passage describes the lament of merchants over the fall of a great commercial city, mirroring the concerns of Tyre and illustrating the devastating economic impact of divine judgment.
Daniel 4:30-37This passage illustrates God's ultimate sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and rulers, showing how He brings down the proud and establishes His own kingdom, a theme present in the judgment against Tyre.
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.
It's easy to see the "many nations" as just a bigger army, but the imagery of "as the sea brings up its waves" highlights the overwhelming and relentless nature of the attack. God isn't just sending one wave, but a continuous, powerful onslaught that Tyre, an island city, would particularly understand.
The prophet Ezekiel is delivering a harsh prophecy against the wealthy island city of Tyre, which has rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem. This divine message declares God's direct opposition to Tyre, promising that a multitude of nations will be brought against her, their attacks overwhelming and relentless like the crashing waves of the sea against her shores. This foretells not just Nebuchadnezzar's siege but the city's repeated conquests throughout history until its ultimate desolation.
The prophet Ezekiel is delivering a harsh prophecy against the wealthy island city of Tyre, which has rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem. This divine message declares God's direct opposition to Tyre, promising that a multitude of nations will be brought against her, their attacks overwhelming and relentless like the crashing waves of the sea against her shores. This foretells not just Nebuchadnezzar's siege but the city's repeated conquests throughout history until its ultimate desolation.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 26:3-5 is available in the Sola app.
c. 16th Century AD
Final Destruction of Ancient Tyre
The historical city of Tyre, after centuries of decline and various rulers, eventually falls into ruin, fulfilling the prophecy of its utter desolation.
"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. They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from…" — It's easy to see the "many nations" as just a bigger army, but the imagery of "as the sea brings up its waves" highlights the overwhelming and relentless nature of the attack. God isn't just sendin…
