Ezekiel 26:12

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 26:12 presents a vivid and devastating prophecy detailing the complete and irreversible destruction of Tyre, a once-mighty and prosperous maritime city. This verse graphically portrays the comprehensive nature of its downfall, encompassing the plundering of its immense wealth and commercial goods, the thorough demolition of its formidable walls and cherished dwellings, and culminating in the unprecedented act of casting the very remnants of its buildings—stones, timber, and dust—into the depths of the sea. This signifies an obliteration so profound that the city's physical presence would be utterly erased from the landscape, leaving behind nothing but a desolate watery expanse.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 26:12 is an integral part of a lengthy prophetic oracle against the city of Tyre, spanning [Ezekiel chapters 26-28](/ezekiel/26 "Ezekiel 26-28 - Prophecies Against Tyre"). This specific verse follows God's initial condemnation of Tyre for its gloating over Jerusalem's destruction, as declared in [Ezekiel 26:2](/ezekiel/26-2 "Ezekiel 26:2 - Tyre's Rejoicing Over Jerusalem's Fall"). The preceding verses in [Ezekiel 26](/ezekiel/26 "Ezekiel 26 - Prophecy Against Tyre") describe the coming of "many nations" against the city, foretelling its ultimate desolation to the point of becoming a "bare rock" for the spreading of fishing nets, a striking image found in [Ezekiel 26:4](/ezekiel/26-4 "Ezekiel 26:4 - Tyre to Become a Bare Rock"). Verse 12 provides the climactic details of this physical annihilation, describing the thoroughness of the plunder and demolition, and setting the stage for the poignant lament over Tyre's fall in [Ezekiel 27](/ezekiel/27 "Ezekiel 27 - A Lament for Tyre") and the subsequent judgment of its proud king in [Ezekiel 28](/ezekiel/28 "Ezekiel 28 - Judgment on the Prince of Tyre").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Ezekiel delivered these profound messages to the Jewish exiles in Babylon during the 6th century BC. Tyre was a preeminent Phoenician city-state, strategically situated on the Mediterranean coast with both a mainland settlement and a formidable island fortress. It was celebrated for its unparalleled wealth, naval supremacy, and vast trade networks, making it a global economic powerhouse and a symbol of human ingenuity and self-sufficiency. This prosperity, however, fostered immense pride and a dangerous sense of invincibility, often leading Tyre to act in opposition to God's chosen people. The prophecy initially pointed to Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, as the primary instrument of God's judgment (cf. [Ezekiel 26:7](/ezekiel/26-7 "Ezekiel 26:7 - Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre")). Yet, the extreme nature of the destruction depicted in [Ezekiel 26:12](/ezekiel/26-12 "Ezekiel 26:12 - The Utter Destruction of Tyre") also remarkably foreshadowed subsequent historical events, most notably the siege by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, who famously constructed a causeway to the island fortress using the very debris of the mainland city, thereby literally fulfilling the prophecy of Tyre's stones, timber, and dust being cast into the water.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes evident throughout the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic corpus. It underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Humiliation**, vividly demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His unwavering resolve to bring down even the most formidable human powers that defy His will. Tyre's complete stripping of its "riches" and "merchandise" signifies a profound reversal of its status, transforming it from a dominant trading hub into a plundered ruin, thereby highlighting the **Fleeting Nature of Worldly Wealth and Power**. The detailed description of the breaking down of "walls" and "pleasant houses," culminating in the unprecedented act of casting debris into the sea, emphasizes the theme of **Total and Irreversible Destruction**, serving as a stark warning against reliance on human strength and material possessions. Ultimately, Tyre's dramatic downfall serves as a potent cautionary tale against the spiritual dangers of **Pride and Materialism**, reminding all that true security and lasting prosperity are found solely in God, not in earthly achievements or accumulated wealth, a timeless lesson echoed in wisdom literature such as [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction") and profoundly reiterated in the teachings of Christ, as seen in [Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **riches (Hebrew, _chayil'_):** This word (H2428) is remarkably expansive in its meaning, referring not merely to material wealth but also encompassing "force," "strength," "valor," and "an army." In the context of Tyre, it denotes its vast financial assets, its powerful military, and its overall might and influence derived from its extensive trade. The prophecy that "they shall make a spoil of thy riches" therefore signifies a complete dismantling of everything that constituted Tyre's power and self-sufficiency—its economic foundation, its military prowess, and its very reputation. The plundering of its _chayil_ represents a total emasculation and incapacitation of the city.
* **break down (Hebrew, _hâraç'_):** The verb (H2040) means "to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy." It implies a deliberate, violent, and systematic act of demolition, far beyond a mere collapse or breach. When applied to Tyre's formidable "walls," it speaks to the intentional and thorough dismantling of its primary defenses. This is not just a penetration but an utter destruction, ensuring that no fortifications would remain standing to offer future protection. The choice of this strong verb underscores the intentionality and completeness of the invaders' destructive work.
* **water (Hebrew, _mayim'_):** This term (H4325) refers to water in its most literal sense. The phrase "in the midst of the water" carries profound significance in this prophecy. It describes the ultimate fate of Tyre's building materials—its stones, timber, and dust—being cast into the sea. This act transcends mere demolition; it is an act of total erasure, ensuring that the very ground upon which Tyre stood would be cleared, and its remnants would disappear into the depths, rendering the site a desolate, bare place, as if the city had never existed. This unique and extreme detail highlights the unprecedented nature of Tyre's judgment and its complete obliteration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they shall make a spoil of thy riches,"**: This initial clause prophesies the systematic and comprehensive plundering of Tyre's immense wealth. "Spoil" refers to the valuable goods, assets, and treasures seized from a conquered enemy. This indicates that Tyre's economic power, which was the foundation of its pride and influence, would be entirely confiscated by its conquerors, leaving it utterly destitute.
* **"and make a prey of thy merchandise:"**: This clause reiterates and amplifies the previous statement, specifically focusing on the seizure of Tyre's vast trading empire. "Merchandise" refers to the goods bought and sold, representing the very lifeblood of Tyre's prosperity. This emphasizes that not only its accumulated wealth but also its ongoing commercial activity and the means of its economic sustenance would be seized, bringing its lucrative global trade to an abrupt and devastating halt.
* **"and they shall break down thy walls,"**: This describes the violent destruction of Tyre's formidable fortifications. Tyre was renowned for its exceptionally strong walls, particularly those of its island fortress, which were considered virtually impregnable. The prophecy of their "breaking down" signifies the utter collapse of its military defenses and its physical security, rendering the city completely vulnerable and defenseless.
* **"and destroy thy pleasant houses:"**: This clause speaks to the demolition of Tyre's residential and civic structures, specifically those described as "pleasant" or desirable, implying luxurious and beautiful buildings. This highlights the profound personal and domestic devastation that would accompany the city's fall, affecting the daily lives and comfort of its inhabitants and eradicating the visible symbols of its opulence and grandeur.
* **"and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water."**: This is the most striking and unique part of the prophecy, describing an unparalleled level of obliteration. Not only would the city be demolished, but its very building materials—the foundational stones, the wooden beams (timber), and the pulverized rubble (dust)—would be cast into the sea. This act signifies a complete erasure of the city's physical presence, turning its former site into a bare, desolate area, as if it had been swept clean by the ocean itself. This seemingly impossible detail found its literal fulfillment centuries later when Alexander the Great used the ruins of the mainland city to build a causeway to the island fortress.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 26:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey the intensity, thoroughness, and finality of Tyre's predicted destruction. The use of **Parallelism** and **Repetition** in phrases like "make a spoil of thy riches" and "make a prey of thy merchandise" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the plundering, highlighting that every aspect of Tyre's economic life would be seized. The language is rich in vivid **Imagery**, painting a stark picture of desolation: the stripping of wealth, the crumbling of mighty walls, the ruin of beautiful houses, and most strikingly, the literal casting of building debris into the sea. This last image functions as a powerful form of **Hyperbole**, suggesting an extreme and unprecedented level of annihilation that goes beyond mere conquest to complete erasure, a testament to God's absolute judgment. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as **Prophecy**, a divinely inspired declaration of future events that serves both as a solemn warning and an undeniable testament to God's sovereign control over history and nations. The highly detailed nature of the destruction, particularly the unique detail of materials being cast into the water, also lends itself to profound **Symbolism**, where the sea represents oblivion and the complete disappearance of a once-proud civilization.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 26:12 serves as a profound theological statement on God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and the inevitable, precise consequences of pride, materialism, and opposition to His divine will. Tyre's judgment powerfully demonstrates that no earthly power, accumulated wealth, or human ingenuity can ultimately stand against the decree of the Almighty. The meticulous fulfillment of this prophecy, even down to the seemingly impossible detail of its ruins being cast into the sea, underscores the infallibility, certainty, and precision of God's Word. It reveals a God who sees the heart of nations, judges their arrogance, and executes His justice with unwavering precision, ensuring that those who trust in their own strength and earthly treasures will ultimately face ruin. This serves as a timeless warning that true security and lasting prosperity are not found in material accumulation or military might, but in humble submission and unwavering obedience to the Creator.

* [Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven"): This passage directly warns against the futility of laying up treasures on earth, where they are subject to decay and theft, contrasting it with the eternal security of laying up treasures in heaven.
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Will Not Return Void"): This verse powerfully affirms the efficacy and certainty of God's spoken word, declaring that it will accomplish its intended purpose and not return to Him empty, a truth profoundly exemplified by the historical fulfillment of the Tyre prophecy.
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction"): This proverb succinctly captures the spiritual principle at play in Tyre's dramatic downfall, highlighting that pride, often fueled by unchecked wealth and power, inevitably precedes destruction and a fall.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The prophecy against Tyre in Ezekiel 26:12 offers profound and enduring lessons for believers today, challenging our perspectives on wealth, security, and the nature of divine sovereignty. In a world that often measures success by material accumulation, economic power, and political influence, Tyre's devastating fall serves as a stark and sobering reminder of the fleeting nature of all earthly possessions and human achievements. It compels us to critically examine where our ultimate trust and security truly lie: Is it in our financial portfolios, our social status, our national strength, or in the unchanging, all-powerful God who holds the destiny of all nations in His hands? The thoroughness of Tyre's destruction, to the point of its very foundations being cast into the sea, graphically illustrates the ultimate emptiness and vulnerability of a life built on anything other than the eternal truth and unshakeable character of God. This passage calls us to cultivate profound humility, to steward our resources with an eternal perspective, and to place our hope firmly in the unshakeable kingdom of God, rather than in the ephemeral and transient kingdoms of this world. It reassures us that God's word is utterly reliable, and His justice, though sometimes delayed, is always certain and precise.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "riches" or "pleasant houses" in my own life or in my community might I be trusting in more than God, and how can I reorient my trust fully to Him?**
* **How does the detailed and historical fulfillment of this ancient prophecy strengthen my faith in the absolute reliability and transformative power of God's Word today?**
* **In what specific ways might pride, whether personal or collective, be manifesting in my life or in the broader Christian community, and how can I actively cultivate a spirit of humility and dependence before God?**

### FAQ

**Who are "they" who carry out the destruction of Tyre in this prophecy?**

Answer: The "they" in Ezekiel 26:12 refers to the various nations and armies that God would raise up to execute His righteous judgment against Tyre. While the initial and primary instrument of this judgment was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his formidable army (as explicitly stated in [Ezekiel 26:7](/ezekiel/26-7 "Ezekiel 26:7 - Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre")), the prophecy's comprehensive nature and the detail of "many nations" coming against Tyre (cf. [Ezekiel 26:3](/ezekiel/26-3 "Ezekiel 26:3 - Many Nations Against Tyre")) suggest a multi-stage and prolonged fulfillment. Historically, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for a grueling thirteen years, significantly weakening it. However, the ultimate and complete demolition, particularly the unprecedented act of casting its materials into the water, was famously accomplished centuries later by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. Alexander, facing the island city's stubborn resistance, ingeniously used the debris of the old mainland city of Tyre to construct a massive causeway to the island, thereby literally fulfilling the prophecy of its stones, timber, and dust being laid "in the midst of the water." Thus, "they" encompasses both the immediate Babylonian invaders and subsequent historical agents of God's precise and unwavering judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 26:12 describes a specific historical judgment against an ancient city, its profound theological principles find their ultimate and most comprehensive fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Tyre's dramatic fall, a powerful testament to the fleeting nature of earthly kingdoms built on human pride and material wealth, foreshadows the superior, eternal, and unshakable kingdom established by Christ. Unlike Tyre, whose very foundations were cast into the sea, Christ is the [cornerstone](/ephesians/2-20 "Ephesians 2:20 - Christ the Cornerstone") upon whom God's true and eternal temple is built—a spiritual house composed of living stones, believers united in Him ([1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones in God's Spiritual House")). The judgment against Tyre, a city overflowing with arrogance and self-sufficiency, stands in stark contrast to the profound humility of Christ, who, though [He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant](/philippians/2-6-8 "Philippians 2:6-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience"). Furthermore, Christ is the ultimate and righteous Judge, to whom [all judgment has been committed by the Father](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father has given all judgment to the Son"). The destruction of Tyre's worldly power and riches points forward to the day when all earthly systems and powers that oppose God's righteous rule will be dismantled, and Christ's [kingdom, which is not of this world](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World"), will stand supreme and eternal, crushing all other kingdoms and enduring forever ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Eternal Kingdom")). Thus, Tyre's desolation serves as a powerful Old Testament shadow, pointing to the final triumph of Christ over all worldly pride and the establishment of His everlasting, glorious reign.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.