Ezekiel 28:11
“Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,”
This verse serves as an introduction to a prophecy given to the prophet Ezekiel. The phrase “the word of the Lord came unto me” is a common formula used by the prophet to signify that he received a message from God. In this case, Ezekiel is about to receive a message specifically addressed to the prince of Tyre, although the following verses make it clear that the prophecy goes beyond a mere human ruler and refers to a spiritual power behind the earthly kingdom. It’s important to note that the prophecy in Ezekiel 28:11-19 is composed of two parts. The first part (verses 11-15) addresses the “prince of Tyre,” while the second part (verses 12-19) is directed towards a figure referred to as the “king of Tyre.”
Ezekiel 28:12-15 (KJV):
“Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 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 art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”
In these verses, the prophet addresses the king of Tyre, using vivid imagery and poetic language to describe his splendor and position of influence. The language goes beyond what could be applied to a human ruler, suggesting that the passage is speaking about a being beyond the earthly realm. Some interpretations suggest that the language refers to a heavenly being, possibly an angel or a cherub, who held a position of great honor and beauty. The reference to Eden and the description of the precious stones may signify the ruler’s privileged position in the divine presence. The phrase “anointed cherub that covereth” implies a role of protection, possibly alluding to the cherubim who guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were banished.
Ezekiel 28:16-19 (KJV):
“By the multitude of thy merchandise, they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror , and never shalt thou be any more.”
In this part of the prophecy, the focus shifts from the king of Tyre to the spiritual power behind him. It describes the downfall and judgment of this being due to their pride and corrupt ways. The phrase “cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God” signifies the removal of this entity from its exalted position. The judgment pronounced includes being cast to the ground, laid before kings, and ultimately being destroyed and brought to ashes. These verses are highly symbolic and have led to various interpretations throughout history. Some see this prophecy as referring to a human king and the city of Tyre, while others view it as describing the fall of Satan or a fallen angelic being. The imagery and language used suggest a spiritual entity that was originally in a position of favor but succumbed to pride and corruption. Overall, Ezekiel 28:11 and the subsequent verses in this prophecy provide a glimpse into a spiritual power behind the earthly ruler of Tyre, highlighting the consequences of pride and the judgment that follows.
