Ezekiel 28:4

With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

With thy wisdom {H2451} and with thine understanding {H8394} thou hast gotten {H6213} thee riches {H2428}, and hast gotten {H6213} gold {H2091} and silver {H3701} into thy treasures {H214}:

By your wisdom and discernment you have acquired wealth, you have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries.

By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries.

by thy wisdom and by thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures;

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 28 contains a powerful prophetic lament against the King of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city-state renowned for its immense wealth, maritime trade, and perceived invincibility. This passage is part of a larger section in Ezekiel where God pronounces judgment against various foreign nations that had opposed Israel or grown arrogant in their prosperity. The King of Tyre, often seen as a symbol of human pride and self-sufficiency, is condemned not just for his political might but for his spiritual arrogance. Verse 4 specifically points to the source of his vast wealth as he perceived it: his own intellect and skill, rather than any divine favor or blessing.

Key Themes

  • Self-Reliance and Pride: The core message of Ezekiel 28:4 is the King of Tyre's profound self-exaltation. He attributes his impressive accumulation of "riches, and... gold and silver" entirely to his "wisdom and understanding." This highlights a dangerous form of pride, where human ingenuity and effort are seen as the ultimate source of success, leading to a neglect of or defiance against God. This attitude is a precursor to a fall, as seen in other biblical warnings about pride going before destruction.
  • Materialism and Earthly Treasure: The verse explicitly mentions "riches," "gold," and "silver" as the fruits of the king's self-generated prosperity. This emphasis on material gain underscores the worldly focus of Tyre, where wealth became an idol and a measure of greatness.
  • Contrast Between Human and Divine Wisdom: While human wisdom and understanding (Hebrew: chokmah and tevunah) are valuable, the passage critiques their use when they lead to self-sufficiency and spiritual blindness. The king's wisdom was applied to acquiring worldly treasures, contrasting sharply with the divine wisdom that leads to life and righteousness, as emphasized in Proverbs 9:10, where the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for "wisdom" (ื—ึธื›ึฐืžึธื” - chokmah) and "understanding" (ืชึฐึผื‘ื•ึผื ึธื” - tevunah) are significant. They denote practical skill, discernment, and intellectual prowess. In many biblical contexts, these terms are associated with God-given abilities or divine insight. However, in this verse, they are presented as the King of Tyre's *own* attributes, used for self-enrichment, highlighting a misapplication or perversion of these capacities when divorced from divine guidance. The repetition of "hast gotten thee" emphasizes the king's perception of his own agency in acquiring wealth.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 28:4 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of materialism and self-reliance. In a world that often measures success by wealth and personal achievement, this verse reminds us:

  • Beware of Self-Attribution: It is easy to attribute our successes solely to our own intelligence, hard work, or talent. This verse challenges us to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of all blessings and abilities, recognizing that true wisdom comes from Him (James 1:5).
  • The Deceptive Nature of Riches: While not inherently evil, the pursuit and accumulation of wealth can lead to pride and a distorted view of reality, causing one to trust in riches rather than in God. The Bible warns against the love of money as the root of all evil.
  • True Treasure: The King of Tyre's story highlights the fleeting nature of earthly treasures. Ultimately, his kingdom would fall, and his wealth would not save him. Believers are encouraged to seek spiritual riches and eternal treasures that do not fade away.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 18:11

    ยถ The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

  • Deuteronomy 8:17

    And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth.

  • Deuteronomy 8:18

    But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.

  • Proverbs 23:4

    ยถ Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

  • Proverbs 23:5

    Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for [riches] certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

  • Habakkuk 1:16

    Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion [is] fat, and their meat plenteous.

  • Ezekiel 29:3

    Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river [is] mine own, and I have made [it] for myself.
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