Ezekiel Chapter 26 – Commentary and Explanation
So here we are again, digging deep into another powerful chapter from the book of Ezekiel. And wow, Ezekiel 26... it hits differently. It’s all about the prophecy against Tyre—yeah, that rich, influential, proud island city. If you thought earlier chapters were intense, this one turns up the heat in a whole different direction. Instead of dealing directly with Jerusalem, Ezekiel now zooms out and starts addressing surrounding nations. Tyre, in particular, gets quite the divine spotlight.
Let’s be real: on the surface, this chapter seems like just another judgment proclamation. But don’t scroll past it too fast. Ezekiel’s words here are layered. Historically rich. Spiritually revealing. And honestly, it reflects God’s sovereignty on a global scale. Not just over Israel. Not just over Judah. Over everyone.
Verses 1–2: The Word Comes, and Tyre’s Attitude is Exposed
"In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me..." (Ezekiel 26:1)
Let’s pause already. This “eleventh year” is referring to the year of King Jehoiachin’s exile—Ezekiel always dates his prophecies that way. So, we’re about 586 BC. You know what happened in 586 BC, right? Jerusalem finally fell. The Babylonian army crushed it. The Temple was burned. The city left in ruins.
Now in the midst of that catastrophe, we find Tyre... celebrating?
Yep. Verse 2 tells us that Tyre said: "Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper."
Ouch. Cold, right? Tyre wasn't mourning Jerusalem's fall. They were cheering. Why? Because Jerusalem was a trade rival. A competitor. Now that Judah's capital was down, Tyre expected to take over that economic space and get even richer.
This wasn't just about politics or economics though. It revealed a heart problem. Pride. Opportunism. Rejoicing over someone else’s disaster.
And God wasn’t having it.
Verses 3–6: God Declares His Intent
God’s response through Ezekiel is direct. "I am against you, Tyre." That’s never a good sentence to hear from the Almighty.
What follows is a poetic but terrifying series of images:
"I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves."
Like waves. One after another. Relentless. That’s how God’s judgment would hit Tyre. It wouldn’t be a one-time thing. Many nations would come. And eventually, they would wear Tyre down.
God says He will scrape her bare like a rock, turn her into a place to spread fishing nets. Can you imagine that? This city that was once booming with wealth, trade, and influence—flattened to nothing but a quiet fishing spot. Talk about dramatic contrast.
Verse 6 ends this little section with a purpose statement: "Then they will know that I am the Lord."
That’s been the recurring phrase in Ezekiel, hasn’t it? All these judgments, all these prophecies—they’re not random acts of divine wrath. They’re purposeful. Designed to wake people up. To point back to God’s holiness and sovereignty.
Verses 7–14: The Name of Nebuchadnezzar
Now we get specific. God names names. The first wave of judgment will come through... Nebuchadnezzar.
"From the north, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army..." (v. 7)
We’re talking about Babylon, folks. The same empire that had just destroyed Jerusalem. And they weren’t done yet. Babylon would now set its eyes on Tyre.
The details Ezekiel gives here are fascinating. This isn’t just generic doom-and-gloom. It’s militarily vivid. Horses pounding the ground. Siege ramps built. Walls broken down. Dust clouding the skies.
It feels like you're right there in the middle of the siege, doesn't it?
And there’s more. God says He will "break down your walls," "destroy your pleasant houses," and "throw your stones, timber, and soil into the water."
That last one’s important. Because centuries later, Alexander the Great would actually use the ruins of mainland Tyre to build a causeway to the island city of Tyre and conquer it. He literally threw the city’s stones into the sea. Prophecy? Yeah. Fulfilled in shocking detail.
And then God says it again: Tyre will become a place to spread fishing nets. A flat, exposed rock. Nothing glorious left.
Verses 15–18: The Ripple Effect
Now this part gets poetic and dramatic. The nations around Tyre are shaken. They hear the crash, the destruction, the fall of a giant—and they tremble.
The coastlands mourn. The princes of the sea step down from their thrones, take off their robes, and sit on the ground trembling. It’s such a strong image. Powerful men undone by the fall of another.
But this isn’t just about sympathy. These surrounding nations are also afraid because they know—if Tyre can fall, so can they. Tyre was a symbol of prosperity and invincibility. If God’s judgment could touch her, no one’s safe.
Verse 19–21: The Final Nail in the Coffin
Let’s read verse 19 carefully:
"When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited..."
God talks about the deep waters. The great depths. Bringing Tyre down into the pit with those who go down to the grave.
This is heavy. God isn’t just saying Tyre will lose its economy. He’s saying it’ll lose its existence. It’ll become forgotten. Like a whisper of what once was.
And the last words? "You will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found."
Powerful. Final. That kind of language leaves no wiggle room. No comeback story. No “rising from the ashes.” Just... gone.
Okay, Let’s Step Back for a Minute...
So what do we do with this chapter? What does it mean to us today?
It’s tempting to treat these judgment chapters like ancient history textbooks. Interesting, sure. But distant. Detached. Not personal.
But that would be a huge mistake.
This chapter isn’t just about Tyre. It’s about pride. Opportunism. Gloating over someone else’s fall. Trusting in wealth and trade more than God. These things still happen. These things are still problems today.
When we look at the heart of Tyre, we see ourselves reflected back at us. Maybe not in such an extravagant way. But the temptation to celebrate when a rival fails? The joy we feel when a competitor stumbles? It’s real.
And God's warning is clear: He sees that. And He cares.
A Quick History Note (Because It’s Actually Super Cool)
So historically, the prophecy here is shockingly accurate. Tyre was originally a mainland city, but during Nebuchadnezzar's siege, a good portion of the population escaped to an island half a mile off the coast.
Nebuchadnezzar did lay siege to Tyre—for 13 years. Crazy, right? Eventually, he wore them down, but he didn’t completely destroy the island part. That came later.
About 250 years after Ezekiel’s prophecy, Alexander the Great showed up. And he was determined. So what did he do? He built a causeway out to the island using the ruins of mainland Tyre. Literally threw the rubble into the sea. Just like God said.
He conquered the island city and completely flattened it.
And now? That causeway still exists. The island became connected to the mainland and is no longer an island at all.
It’s like the prophecy was laid out in layers—first fulfilled by Babylon, then completed by Greece. That’s wild.
Now, Let’s Get Personal: What Is God Saying to Us?
You might be thinking, “Okay, but I don’t run a city like Tyre. I don’t have ships and trade routes. This doesn’t apply to me.”
But let me challenge that.
Maybe you’ve got your own “island.” Something you’ve built up. Something you rely on. Could be a career. A platform. A reputation. Your financial plan.
Tyre thought it was untouchable. It was out on the water. Walled. Fortified. Wealthy. Secure.
But God showed them—security doesn’t come from location, wealth, or prestige. It comes from Him. Period.
And if we build our lives on anything else... well, it might just crumble like Tyre.
Also, let’s not ignore Tyre’s gloating. They were thrilled when Jerusalem fell. Instead of mourning for their neighbor, they celebrated. That’s... convicting.
How often do we do the same? When someone we don’t like messes up, are we quick to pray for them—or do we secretly smile?
God's watching our hearts.
Lessons from the Fall of Tyre
Let’s sum up a few takeaways here, cause there’s a lot:
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God judges pride and arrogance. Tyre was rich, strong, and proud. But none of that protected them from God's justice.
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God sees how we treat others. Tyre rejoiced at Judah’s fall—and God responded with righteous anger. Compassion matters.
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God’s judgment is thorough and strategic. This wasn’t random wrath. It was layered, detailed, and accurate. And yes—it took time. But it came.
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Prophecy isn't just about the future; it's about trust. These fulfillments show that God’s Word is reliable. That what He says, He does.
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Security outside of God is an illusion. If your life is built on your own success, network, image, or bank account—it can vanish. Fast.
One More Thing: God’s Sovereignty Over All Nations
We’ve been focusing a lot on Tyre here, and rightly so. But zoom out for a second.
Ezekiel, an Israelite prophet in Babylonian exile, is delivering prophecies about foreign nations. That tells us something huge: God isn’t just the God of Israel. He’s the God of everything. Every nation. Every city. Every ruler.
No kingdom is too distant. No city too fortified. No economy too big.
And that’s both comforting and terrifying, depending on where your heart is.
Some Final Reflections
Reading Ezekiel 26 is a bit like watching a once-great empire crumble before your eyes. And the reason it’s crumbling? Pride. Greed. Joy at someone else’s pain.
It’s a warning. But it’s also a wake-up call.
If you’ve been tempted to think you’re untouchable—because of your job, your influence, your savings, your skills—this chapter should shake you a little.
God sees. God acts. And when He speaks, it happens. Even if it takes 13 years. Or 250.
He doesn't forget.
But there’s hope in that, too.
Because just as God sees sin, He also sees repentance. Just as He tears down, He can rebuild. If He’s willing to go to such lengths to deal with Tyre’s pride, how much more will He honor humility?
So don’t let this chapter depress you. Let it sober you. Let it draw you closer to a holy, just, all-seeing God.
And maybe ask Him this:
“Lord, is there a little bit of Tyre in my heart?”
Let’s End With This
Ezekiel 26 may be ancient, but its message echoes through the centuries. It reminds us that God’s justice doesn’t stop at national borders. That pride leads to downfall. That gloating over someone else’s ruin is ugly. And that no empire, no matter how mighty, is outside the reach of God’s hand.
So yeah—it’s more than a history lesson. It’s a mirror.
Let’s stay humble. Let’s stay prayerful. Let’s build our lives not on trade routes and towers, but on the rock that can’t be scraped bare—Jesus Christ.
Because unlike Tyre, that foundation can never be shaken.
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