Ezekiel 26:8

He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.

He shall slay {H2026} with the sword {H2719} thy daughters {H1323} in the field {H7704}: and he shall make {H5414} a fort {H1785} against thee, and cast {H8210} a mount {H5550} against thee, and lift up {H6965} the buckler {H6793} against thee.

"'Your daughters on the mainland he will put to death with the sword. He will build siege-towers against you, he will build a ramp against you and raise a screen of shields against you.

He will slaughter the villages of your mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp to your walls, and raise his shields against you.

He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field; and he shall make forts against thee, and cast up a mound against thee, and raise up the buckler against thee.

Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 26:8

This verse is part of a series of prophecies delivered by the prophet Ezekiel against the city-state of Tyre, a powerful and wealthy Phoenician maritime hub. The pronouncements, found in Ezekiel chapters 26-28, detail God's judgment against Tyre for its pride, its rejoicing over Jerusalem's fall, and its commercial arrogance. Specifically, Ezekiel 26:7 identifies Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, as the instrument God would use to execute this judgment. Verse 8 describes the initial stages of the Babylonian siege and its devastating impact.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse vividly portrays the severe judgment God would bring upon Tyre. The destruction of "daughters in the field" (outlying towns and villages) signifies the comprehensive nature of the attack, extending beyond the main city walls.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Ezekiel's detailed predictions concerning the siege tactics—making a "fort," casting a "mount," and lifting up the "buckler"—highlight the precision of God's prophetic word. These were standard elements of ancient siege warfare.
  • Consequences of Pride: Tyre's downfall serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of national pride and self-sufficiency that ignores God's sovereignty. This theme is echoed throughout the prophetic books, demonstrating that pride goes before destruction.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses specific terms that reflect ancient military engineering:

  • "Fort" (Hebrew: dayeq): Refers to a siege wall or circumvallation built around a besieged city to prevent escape or relief supplies from entering.
  • "Mount" (Hebrew: solelah): Describes a siege ramp or mound of earth and timber constructed to allow attackers to reach the height of the city walls, often for battering rams or scaling.
  • "Buckler" (Hebrew: tsinnah): A large, full-body shield used by soldiers, especially those advancing on a city wall, to protect against projectiles from above. Its mention emphasizes the close-quarters, dangerous nature of the siege.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 26:8, while describing a historical event, offers timeless truths:

  • God's Sovereignty: It demonstrates God's absolute control over nations and their leaders, using even powerful empires like Babylon to fulfill His purposes and execute judgment.
  • Warning Against Arrogance: The fate of Tyre serves as a perpetual warning against excessive pride, reliance on material wealth, and defiance of God's moral order. Nations and individuals alike are called to humility before their Creator.
  • Certainty of God's Word: The detailed fulfillment of this prophecy reinforces the reliability and truthfulness of God's promises and warnings. What God declares, He brings to pass, underscoring the importance of heeding His voice.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 21:22

    At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the gates, to cast a mount, [and] to build a fort.

  • Jeremiah 32:24

    Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest [it].

  • Jeremiah 52:4

    And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

  • Jeremiah 6:6

    For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this [is] the city to be visited; she [is] wholly oppression in the midst of her.

  • 2 Samuel 20:15

    And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that [were] with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
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