Ezekiel 26:12

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.

And they shall make a spoil {H7997} of thy riches {H2428}, and make a prey {H962} of thy merchandise {H7404}: and they shall break down {H2040} thy walls {H2346}, and destroy {H5422} thy pleasant {H2532} houses {H1004}: and they shall lay {H7760} thy stones {H68} and thy timber {H6086} and thy dust {H6083} in the midst {H8432} of the water {H4325}.

They will seize your wealth, loot your wares, break down your walls, destroy your fine houses; then they will throw your stones and timber and even your dust into the sea.

They will plunder your wealth and pillage your merchandise. They will demolish your walls, tear down your beautiful homes, and throw your stones and timber and soil into the water.

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 waters.

Ezekiel 26:12 is a powerful and vivid prophecy detailing the utter destruction of the ancient city of Tyre. This verse specifically describes the thoroughness of the desolation that would befall this wealthy and prominent maritime power.

Historical and Cultural Context

The prophet Ezekiel delivered this message from God primarily to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Chapters 26-28 are dedicated to prophecies against Tyre, a Phoenician city-state renowned for its immense wealth, naval strength, and extensive trade networks. Tyre was situated on the Mediterranean coast, with a mainland portion and an island fortress. Its prosperity often led to arrogance and a sense of invincibility, which is a recurring theme in the biblical prophets' condemnations of nations. The primary instrument of this judgment would be King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, though the prophecy also hints at subsequent attacks, eventually leading to its complete ruin, notably by Alexander the Great centuries later.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Humiliation: The verse emphasizes the stripping away of Tyre's most prized possessions – its riches and merchandise. This act of "spoil" and "prey" signifies a complete reversal of Tyre's status from a dominant trading hub to a plundered ruin.
  • Total Destruction: The prophecy goes beyond mere conquest, describing the breaking down of "walls" and the destruction of "pleasant houses." This indicates a systemic and comprehensive demolition, not just a military victory. The phrase "they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water" is particularly striking, illustrating an unprecedented level of obliteration where even the building materials are cast into the sea, turning the former city into a bare, desolate place, much like a bare rock for the spreading of nets as foretold in Ezekiel 26:4.
  • Consequences of Pride and Materialism: Tyre's downfall serves as a stark warning against reliance on worldly wealth and human strength, and the spiritual danger of pride. Its vast riches ultimately could not save it from God's decree.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong, active verbs to convey the aggression of the invaders: "make a spoil," "make a prey," "break down," "destroy," "lay." The repetition of "make a spoil" and "make a prey" highlights the thoroughness of the plundering. The phrase "in the midst of the water" is highly significant; it describes the debris of the city being literally thrown into the sea, a unique detail that speaks to the extreme nature of the destruction and the fulfillment of the prophecy, as the island city's ruins were pushed into the sea to create a causeway by Alexander the Great.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 26:12 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • The Fleeting Nature of Worldly Possessions: Like Tyre's riches, all material wealth and human achievements are temporary. Matthew 6:19-21 reminds us not to lay up treasures on earth where they can be destroyed or stolen.
  • God's Sovereignty and the Certainty of His Word: This prophecy, meticulously fulfilled over centuries, underscores God's absolute control over nations and history. It reassures us that God's word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
  • Warning Against Pride: Tyre's fall is a cautionary tale against the dangers of pride and self-sufficiency. As Proverbs 16:18 states, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 23:8

    Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants [are] princes, whose traffickers [are] the honourable of the earth?

  • 2 Chronicles 32:27

    And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;

  • Amos 5:11

    Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.

  • Zechariah 9:3

    And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

  • Zechariah 9:4

    Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

  • Revelation 18:11

    And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

  • Revelation 18:13

    And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

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