Ezekiel 26:14

Authorized King James Version

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And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Original Language Analysis

וּנְתַתִּ֞יךְ And I will make H5414
וּנְתַתִּ֞יךְ And I will make
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 1 of 16
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לִצְחִ֣יחַ thee like the top H6706
לִצְחִ֣יחַ thee like the top
Strong's: H6706
Word #: 2 of 16
glaring, i.e., exposed to the bright sun
סֶ֗לַע of a rock H5553
סֶ֗לַע of a rock
Strong's: H5553
Word #: 3 of 16
a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
מִשְׁטַ֤ח thou shalt be a place to spread H4894
מִשְׁטַ֤ח thou shalt be a place to spread
Strong's: H4894
Word #: 4 of 16
a spreading-place
חֲרָמִים֙ nets H2764
חֲרָמִים֙ nets
Strong's: H2764
Word #: 5 of 16
physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed object; abstractly extermination
תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה H1961
תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 6 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לֹ֥א H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 7 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִבָּנֶ֖ה thou shalt be built H1129
תִבָּנֶ֖ה thou shalt be built
Strong's: H1129
Word #: 8 of 16
to build (literally and figuratively)
ע֑וֹד H5750
ע֑וֹד
Strong's: H5750
Word #: 9 of 16
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
כִּ֣י H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 10 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֲנִ֤י H589
אֲנִ֤י
Strong's: H589
Word #: 11 of 16
i
יְהוָה֙ GOD H3069
יְהוָה֙ GOD
Strong's: H3069
Word #: 12 of 16
god
דִּבַּ֔רְתִּי have spoken H1696
דִּבַּ֔רְתִּי have spoken
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 13 of 16
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
נְאֻ֖ם it saith H5002
נְאֻ֖ם it saith
Strong's: H5002
Word #: 14 of 16
an oracle
אֲדֹנָ֥י the Lord H136
אֲדֹנָ֥י the Lord
Strong's: H136
Word #: 15 of 16
the lord (used as a proper name of god only)
יְהוִֽה׃ no more for I the LORD H3068
יְהוִֽה׃ no more for I the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 16 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis & Commentary

And I will make thee like the top of a rock repeats verse 4's imagery—bare, scraped clean. Thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon confirms fishing village status. Thou shalt be built no more declares permanent diminishment. For I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD seals the prophecy with divine authority. The repetition emphasizes certainty. The phrase built no more doesn't mean absolutely never rebuilt but never restored to former glory. Tyre exists today but never regained its ancient dominance. God's judgments may not mean total annihilation but permanent humiliation—reduction from empire to insignificance.

Historical Context

Tyre still exists as the Lebanese city of Sur, but it never regained the power and glory of the Phoenician empire. From world-spanning maritime superpower, it became a minor Mediterranean port. Though rebuilt multiple times by various powers (Roman, Byzantine, Crusader, Arab), it remained a shadow of its former self, exactly fulfilling 'thou shalt be built no more'—not absolutely, but never to former glory.

Questions for Reflection

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