Ezekiel 26:14 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 26:14 mean?

Ezekiel 26:14 describes how the city of Tyre will be destroyed so completely that it will be left like the bare top of a rock, used only as a place for fishermen to spread their nets, and it will never be rebuilt. This is presented as a certain outcome because God Himself has declared it.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to announce judgment against the city of Tyre, a powerful and wealthy port city. The image of being made "like the top of a rock" means Tyre will be scraped clean of buildings and life, reduced to a barren, exposed place. The statement that Tyre will "be built no more" stresses the finality of its downfall, and the repeated mention that the LORD has spoken underscores the certainty and authority behind this prophecy.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 26:14

• "top" (צּ֫וּר, tsur): This word means "rock" or "cliff," and here it refers to the bare, exposed surface left after destruction. It emphasizes how nothing will remain of the city except a lifeless stone surface.
• "spread" (מִשְׁטַח, mishtach): This word means to "spread out," especially as fishermen would spread their nets to dry. It highlights that the only use for the ruined city will be a mundane, humble one, not its former glory.
• "built" (בָּנָה, banah): This word means "to build" or "rebuild." The verse uses it to stress that Tyre will never return to its former state; its destruction is permanent.
• "LORD" (יְהוָ֣ה, YHWH): The use of God’s personal name here underlines that this is not just a prediction, but a decree from the God of Israel, giving the prophecy weight and certainty.

Why Ezekiel 26:14 matters

• Ezekiel 26:14 clears up any idea that Tyre’s destruction would be temporary or partial; the language stresses total and lasting ruin.
• The verse connects to the wider passage where God is judging nations that opposed Israel, showing that even the mightiest cities are not beyond God’s reach.
• The vivid imagery of fishermen spreading nets on bare rock helps the reader picture just how complete the devastation will be, contrasting Tyre’s former wealth and influence with its future emptiness.