Ezekiel 28:2
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
Original Language Analysis
בֶּן
Son
H1121
בֶּן
Son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 28
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָם֙
of man
H120
אָדָם֙
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 28
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
לִנְגִ֨יד
unto the prince
H5057
לִנְגִ֨יד
unto the prince
Strong's:
H5057
Word #:
4 of 28
a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
6 of 28
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יַ֣עַן
H3282
יַ֣עַן
Strong's:
H3282
Word #:
10 of 28
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
גָּבַ֤הּ
is lifted up
H1361
גָּבַ֤הּ
is lifted up
Strong's:
H1361
Word #:
11 of 28
to soar, i.e., be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty
כְּלֵ֥ב
Because thine heart
H3820
כְּלֵ֥ב
Because thine heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
12 of 28
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
אֵ֔ל
I am a God
H410
אֵ֔ל
I am a God
Strong's:
H410
Word #:
14 of 28
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)
מוֹשַׁ֧ב
in the seat
H4186
מוֹשַׁ֧ב
in the seat
Strong's:
H4186
Word #:
16 of 28
a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place or the time); by implication, population
אֱלֹהִֽים׃
of God
H430
אֱלֹהִֽים׃
of God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
17 of 28
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
יָשַׁ֖בְתִּי
I sit
H3427
יָשַׁ֖בְתִּי
I sit
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
18 of 28
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
כְּלֵ֥ב
Because thine heart
H3820
כְּלֵ֥ב
Because thine heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
19 of 28
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
יַמִּ֑ים
of the seas
H3220
יַמִּ֑ים
of the seas
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
20 of 28
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
אָדָם֙
of man
H120
אָדָם֙
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
22 of 28
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
וְֽלֹא
H3808
וְֽלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
23 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֵ֔ל
I am a God
H410
אֵ֔ל
I am a God
Strong's:
H410
Word #:
24 of 28
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)
וַתִּתֵּ֥ן
though thou set
H5414
וַתִּתֵּ֥ן
though thou set
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
25 of 28
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
כְּלֵ֥ב
Because thine heart
H3820
כְּלֵ֥ב
Because thine heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
26 of 28
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
Cross References
Ezekiel 28:9Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.2 Thessalonians 2:4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.Isaiah 31:3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.Psalms 9:20Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.Proverbs 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.Isaiah 2:12For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:Proverbs 18:12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.1 Timothy 3:6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.Genesis 3:5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.Deuteronomy 8:14Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Historical Context
Tyre was a wealthy Phoenician city-state known for maritime trade and commercial dominance. Its king/prince enjoyed tremendous prosperity and power, which bred arrogance. The city's island location (before Alexander the Great built a causeway) made it nearly impregnable to ancient siege warfare, fostering pride in human achievement and security. Tyre's wealth came from purple dye production, cedar trade, and extensive Mediterranean commerce. This prophecy was delivered around 587 BC, shortly before or during Jerusalem's fall. Tyre's response to Jerusalem's destruction reveals their attitude: 'Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people' (26:2)—they saw profit opportunity in Israel's calamity. God's judgment on Tyre demonstrates that He holds all nations accountable, not just covenant Israel.
Questions for Reflection
- What forms of pride in achievement, intellect, or security tempt you to 'set your heart as the heart of God'?
- How does recognizing you are 'man, and not God' shape proper humility and dependence?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God addresses 'the prince of Tyre,' exposing his arrogant claim: 'Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God.' The Hebrew 'gabah libekha' (גָּבַהּ לִבֶּךָ, 'your heart is lifted up') describes pride's essential nature—self-exaltation. The prince's claim 'I am a God' (el ani, אֵל אָנִי) represents ultimate hubris, echoing Satan's original rebellion ('I will be like the Most High,' Isaiah 14:14). The phrase 'in the midst of the seas' refers to Tyre's island location, which gave it strategic military advantage and fostered false security. God's response is blunt: 'yet thou art a man, and not God' (adam attah velo-el, אָדָם אַתָּה וְלֹא־אֵל). This confronts human pride's fundamental delusion—the creature claiming creator status, the finite pretending to be infinite.