Ezekiel 28:22
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֤ה
H3541
כֹּ֤ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
2 of 19
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
עָלַ֙יִךְ֙
H5921
עָלַ֙יִךְ֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
צִיד֔וֹן
Behold I am against thee O Zidon
H6721
צִיד֔וֹן
Behold I am against thee O Zidon
Strong's:
H6721
Word #:
8 of 19
tsidon, the name of a son of canaan, and of a place in palestine
וְנִכְבַּדְתִּ֖י
and I will be glorified
H3513
וְנִכְבַּדְתִּ֖י
and I will be glorified
Strong's:
H3513
Word #:
9 of 19
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
בְּתוֹכֵ֑ךְ
in the midst
H8432
בְּתוֹכֵ֑ךְ
in the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
10 of 19
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
וְֽיָדְע֞וּ
of thee and they shall know
H3045
וְֽיָדְע֞וּ
of thee and they shall know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
11 of 19
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
12 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְהוָ֗ה
that I am the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
that I am the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בַּעֲשׂ֥וֹתִי
when I shall have executed
H6213
בַּעֲשׂ֥וֹתִי
when I shall have executed
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
15 of 19
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Cross References
Ezekiel 39:13Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.Exodus 14:4And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.Exodus 14:17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.Ezekiel 20:41I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
Historical Context
Historical records confirm pestilence, bloodshed, and siege warfare characterized Sidon's judgments. The Persian siege (345 BC) involved famine (causing plague), betrayal (bloodshed), and complete military encirclement. Classical historians Diodorus Siculus and Arrian describe the horror. Ezekiel's 'sword upon her on every side' proved literally accurate.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God use multiple instruments of judgment (pestilence, blood, sword)?
- How do comprehensive judgments ('on every side') demonstrate the impossibility of escaping God?
- What should we learn from the fulfillment of specific prophetic details?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets—God's instruments of judgment: דֶּבֶר (deber, 'pestilence/plague') and דָּם (dām, 'blood'). The combination appears frequently in covenant curses (Leviticus 26:25, Deuteronomy 32:24).
And the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side—The Hebrew וְנִפַל חָלָל בְּתוֹכָהּ בְּחֶרֶב עָלֶיהָ מִסָּבִיב (wĕniphal ḥālāl bĕthôkhāh bĕḥereb ʿāleyhā missābîb) depicts complete encirclement and slaughter. מִסָּבִיב (missābîb, 'on every side') means no escape. And they shall know that I am the LORD—The inevitable conclusion: fulfilled prophecy produces recognition of YHWH's sovereignty. God's judgments are not arbitrary but covenant-based, publicly demonstrated, and designed to reveal His character to both victims and observers.