Ezekiel 26:12

Authorized King James Version

And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְשָׁלְל֣וּ
And they shall make a spoil
to drop or strip; by implication, to plunder
#2
חֵילֵ֗ךְ
of thy riches
probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
#3
וּבָֽזְזוּ֙
and make a prey
to plunder
#4
רְכֻלָּתֵ֔ךְ
of thy merchandise
trade (as peddled)
#5
וְהָֽרְסוּ֙
and they shall break down
to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy
#6
חוֹמוֹתַ֔יִךְ
thy walls
a wall of protection
#7
וּבָתֵּ֥י
houses
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#8
חֶמְדָּתֵ֖ךְ
thy pleasant
delight
#9
יִתֹּ֑צוּ
and destroy
to tear down
#10
וַאֲבָנַ֤יִךְ
H68
thy stones
a stone
#11
וְעֵצַ֙יִךְ֙
and thy timber
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
#12
וַֽעֲפָרֵ֔ךְ
and thy dust
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
#13
בְּת֥וֹךְ
in the midst
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
#14
מַ֖יִם
of the water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#15
יָשִֽׂימוּ׃
and they shall lay
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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