Ezekiel 28:11-19·~1 min

A Lament for the King of Tyre

The lament over the king of Tyre portrays him as the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty, adorned like one in Eden and placed in exalted privilege. He was blameless until unrighteousness was found in him, as the abundance of his trade filled him with violence and sin. His beauty made his heart proud, his splendor corrupted his wisdom, and his sanctuaries were profaned. So God casts him down, brings fire from his midst to consume him, and makes him a horror before all who once knew him.

A¹¹gain the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ¹²“Son of man, take up a lament for the king of Tyre and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: ¹³You were in Eden, ¹⁴You were anointed as a guardian cherub, ¹⁵From the day you were created ¹⁶By the vastness of your trade, ¹⁷Your heart grew proud of your beauty; ¹⁸By the multitude of your iniquities ¹⁹All the nations who know you

Section summaryA lament is raised over the king of Tyre as one who once seemed the very seal of perfection, adorned with wisdom, beauty, and every precious stone, placed in Eden and on God's holy mountain like an anointed guardian cherub. Yet his abundance of trade filled him with violence, his heart became proud because of beauty, and his wisdom was corrupted by splendor. Therefore he is cast down from the mountain, expelled from among the fiery stones, exposed before kings, and finally consumed in judgment until all who knew him are appalled at his end.

Role in the chapterThis section turns Tyre's royal magnificence into a cosmic fall narrative of beauty corrupted by pride and commerce.