Ezekiel 28:13

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Thou hast been in Eden {H5731} the garden {H1588} of God {H430}; every precious {H3368} stone {H68} was thy covering {H4540}, the sardius {H124}, topaz {H6357}, and the diamond {H3095}, the beryl {H8658}, the onyx {H7718}, and the jasper {H3471}, the sapphire {H5601}, the emerald {H5306}, and the carbuncle {H1304}, and gold {H2091}: the workmanship {H4399} of thy tabrets {H8596} and of thy pipes {H5345} was prepared {H3559} in thee in the day {H3117} that thou wast created {H1254}.

you were in 'Eden, the garden of God; covered with all kinds of precious stones - carnelians, topaz, diamonds, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphires, green feldspar, emeralds; your pendants and jewels were made of gold, prepared the day you were created.

You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation.

Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was in thee; in the day that thou wast created they were prepared.

Ezekiel 28:13 is a powerful and enigmatic verse, part of a lamentation delivered by the prophet Ezekiel against the King of Tyre. While ostensibly addressed to an earthly ruler, the language used – describing a being in "Eden, the garden of God," adorned with magnificent jewels, and created with musical instruments – leads many theologians to interpret this passage as also referencing the fall of Satan, the spiritual power behind the earthly king's pride.

Context

This verse is found within Ezekiel's prophecies concerning the nations, specifically a lamentation (chapters 26-28) against Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city-state known for its immense wealth, trade, and maritime power. The immediate preceding verses (Ezekiel 28:1-10) speak of the "Prince of Tyre" and his arrogant claim to be a god. However, the description shifts dramatically in verses 11-19 to the "King of Tyre," employing imagery that transcends human attributes, pointing to a supernatural entity. This dual interpretation highlights the spiritual forces at play behind human systems of pride and rebellion against God.

Key Themes

  • Original Perfection and Exaltation: The phrase "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God" immediately evokes a state of pristine beauty and direct divine presence, reminiscent of humanity's initial dwelling place (Genesis 2:8). This suggests an incredibly privileged and exalted position for the being addressed.
  • Unparalleled Splendor: The extensive list of "precious stones" (sardius, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, carbuncle, and gold) describes an extraordinary covering or adornment, signifying immense glory, beauty, and value. This imagery underscores the magnificent status this being once held.
  • Divine Creation and Purpose: The declaration "in the day that thou wast created" explicitly states that this magnificent entity was a created being, not eternal or self-existent. The mention of "the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee" suggests an inherent musicality or a specific role, perhaps in leading worship or praise, from its very inception. This points to a divinely ordained purpose before its fall.
  • The Nature of Spiritual Pride: Although not explicit in this verse, the broader context of Ezekiel 28 points to pride and self-exaltation as the ultimate cause of this being's downfall, mirroring the warnings found elsewhere in scripture about the dangers of arrogance (Proverbs 16:18).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "tabrets" (תֹּף, tōph) refers to a tambourine or hand drum, while "pipes" (נֶקֶב, neqeb) refers to wind instruments, possibly flutes or pipes. The combination suggests a being endowed with innate musicality or a specific function related to sound and perhaps worship. The detailed list of precious stones reflects the richness and variety of mineral wealth, emphasizing the extraordinary beauty and value attributed to this created being's original state.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 28:13 offers profound insights for believers today:

  • Understanding the Origin of Evil: This passage helps us grasp that evil is not co-eternal with God but originated from a created being who rebelled against its Creator. The enemy, Satan, was once a magnificent creation, which makes his fall even more tragic and serves as a stark warning.
  • Beware of Pride: The ultimate downfall of the King of Tyre (and by extension, Satan) was pride. This verse reminds us that even the most gifted and exalted can fall when they allow arrogance to corrupt their hearts and lead them to self-exaltation rather than humility before God (Isaiah 14:12-15 provides a parallel account of this fall).
  • Appreciate God's Perfect Creation: The description of Eden and the precious stones highlights the original perfection and beauty of God's creation, before sin marred it. It gives us a glimpse into the glory that was lost and points to the restoration promised in Christ (Revelation 21:1-4 speaks of a new heaven and new earth, a renewed creation).
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.

  • Ezekiel 28:15

    Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

  • Ezekiel 27:16

    Syria [was] thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.

  • Genesis 2:8

    ¶ And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

  • Isaiah 51:3

    For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

  • Isaiah 54:11

    ¶ O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

  • Isaiah 54:12

    And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

  • Genesis 3:23

    Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

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