Ezekiel 28:11
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֥י
H1961
וַיְהִ֥י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 5
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דְבַר
Moreover the word
H1697
דְבַר
Moreover the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
2 of 5
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern laments over fallen rulers often employed cosmic imagery and mythological language (see Isaiah 14:12-15 regarding the king of Babylon, using "Lucifer/Day Star" imagery). Ezekiel, ministering among the exiles in Babylon (593-571 BC), pronounced judgment on surrounding nations (chapters 25-32) to demonstrate Yahweh's universal sovereignty. Tyre's judgment would vindicate God's holiness and justice before watching nations.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing spiritual powers behind earthly kingdoms affect your prayers for nations and rulers?
- What does the transition from human pride (vv. 1-10) to satanic fall (vv. 12-19) teach about the ultimate source of rebellious self-deification?
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Analysis & Commentary
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, This prophetic formula (wayəhî dəbar-YHWH 'ēlay lē'mōr, וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר) marks a transition to a new oracle. The phrase appears over 50 times in Ezekiel, authenticating the prophet's message as divine revelation, not human speculation. The structure emphasizes both the initiative ("came") and the content ("word of the LORD") belong entirely to God.
This introduces the famous lamentation over the king of Tyre (vv. 12-19), one of Scripture's most debated passages. While verses 1-10 addressed the historical king's pride and coming judgment as a mortal man, verses 12-19 shift to language many interpreters see as reaching beyond the human ruler to the spiritual power behind Tyre—Satan himself. The description includes being "in Eden the garden of God" (v. 13), "the anointed cherub that covereth" (v. 14), "perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created" (v. 15), and cast down from "the mountain of God" (v. 16).
Whether understood as poetic hyperbole applied to Tyre's king, a dual reference addressing both human ruler and demonic principality, or a direct prophecy against Satan using Tyre's king as an earthly type, the passage reveals the spiritual reality behind human rebellion: pride, self-deification, and the fall that inevitably follows exalting oneself against God.