Ezekiel 26:4

And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.

And they shall destroy {H7843} the walls {H2346} of Tyrus {H6865}, and break down {H2040} her towers {H4026}: I will also scrape {H5500} her dust {H6083} from her, and make {H5414} her like the top {H6706} of a rock {H5553}.

They will destroy the walls of Tzor, they will demolish her towers. I will scrape its soil from her and reduce her to bare rock.

They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.

And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her a bare rock.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 26:4 is part of a series of prophecies delivered by the prophet Ezekiel against the city of Tyre, a powerful Phoenician maritime hub. Chapters 26-28 of Ezekiel are specifically dedicated to this judgment. The prophecy against Tyre begins in Ezekiel 26:2, where God declares His judgment because Tyre rejoiced over the destruction of Jerusalem, saying, "Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste." This verse emphasizes God's immediate and severe response to Tyre's pride and malicious joy over Israel's downfall, setting the stage for the detailed description of its impending ruin.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: This verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute control over nations and His willingness to execute judgment on those who oppose His purposes or exhibit pride. It demonstrates that no earthly power, no matter how strong or wealthy, is beyond His reach.
  • Consequences of Pride and Materialism: Tyre was renowned for its wealth, trade, and fortifications. The prophecy highlights that such earthly achievements, when coupled with arrogance and disregard for God's people, lead to ultimate downfall. This echoes warnings found in other scriptures about the dangers of pride, such as Proverbs 16:18.
  • Prophetic Accuracy: The vivid and specific description of Tyre's destruction in this verse speaks to the remarkable accuracy of biblical prophecy, which saw historical fulfillment centuries later.

Historical & Prophetic Fulfillment

The prophecy against Tyre in Ezekiel 26 describes a two-stage destruction. The first part was partially fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, who besieged mainland Tyre for 13 years (586-573 BC), as mentioned in Ezekiel 29:18. However, the complete desolation described in Ezekiel 26:4, where the city would be "scraped... and make her like the top of a rock," found its dramatic fulfillment much later.

Around 332 BC, Alexander the Great besieged the island city of Tyre. To reach it, he famously used the rubble and materials of the old mainland city (which Nebuchadnezzar had largely destroyed) to build a massive causeway to the island. In doing so, he literally "scraped her dust" from the mainland site, leaving it barren like a "top of a rock," a place where fishermen would spread their nets, as prophesied in Ezekiel 26:5. This precise fulfillment is a powerful testament to the divine inspiration of Ezekiel's words.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "scrape her dust from her" in Hebrew (וְקֵרַחְתִּי אֶת־עֲפָרָהּ מִמֶּנָּה, v'qerachti et-aphara mimmennah) conveys a sense of thorough and complete removal. The verb "scrape" (קָרַח, qarach) can also mean "to make bald" or "to clear away," emphasizing the absolute stripping away of all that made Tyre prosperous and habitable. The result, "make her like the top of a rock" (וְשַׂמְתִּיהָ לְצִי הַסָּלַע, v'samtiha l'tzi hassala'), paints a picture of barrenness and desolation—a place utterly devoid of soil, vegetation, or human habitation, suitable only for exposed rock.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 26:4 serves as a timeless warning:

  • Humility before God: It reminds us that all earthly power, wealth, and security are fleeting if not grounded in reverence for God. Pride, especially that which leads to rejoicing in others' misfortunes, invites divine judgment.
  • Trust in God's Word: The precise fulfillment of this prophecy encourages believers to have confidence in the reliability and truthfulness of God's every word, whether concerning judgment or blessing.
  • Focus on Eternal Values: The destruction of Tyre underscores the transient nature of material possessions and worldly success. It encourages us to prioritize spiritual riches and God's kingdom, which are eternal, over temporary earthly gains, a theme echoed in Matthew 6:19-21.

Reflection

The prophecy against Tyre in Ezekiel 26:4 stands as a stark reminder of God's sovereign power and His unwavering justice. It illustrates that God is not indifferent to the affairs of nations or the pride of humanity. The detailed and historically accurate fulfillment of this prophecy reinforces the Bible's unique claim as the inspired Word of God, offering both a solemn warning to the arrogant and a profound reassurance to those who trust in His unfailing word.

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Cross-References

  • Amos 1:10

    But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.

  • Isaiah 23:11

    He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant [city], to destroy the strong holds thereof.

  • Ezekiel 26:9

    And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.

  • Leviticus 14:41

    And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:

  • Leviticus 14:45

    And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry [them] forth out of the city into an unclean place.

  • Ezekiel 24:7

    For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;

  • Ezekiel 24:8

    That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.