For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;
EZEKIEL 26:19KJVWhat does Ezekiel 26:19 mean?
Ezekiel 26:19 describes God’s warning that the city of Tyre will become completely deserted, like other ruined cities, and that it will be overwhelmed and covered by the sea. The verse uses the image of deep waters to show how total and unstoppable this destruction will be.
In this verse, God (called "the Lord GOD") is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to announce judgment against Tyre, a powerful port city. The situation is one of warning: Tyre’s pride and sense of security will not protect it from devastation. The language about “the deep” and “great waters” is symbolic, painting a picture of Tyre being swallowed up and erased, not just conquered but made empty and lifeless.
The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 26:19
- "Desolate" (חָרֵב, charev): This word means laid waste or ruined. It emphasizes that Tyre will not just be damaged but left empty and uninhabited.
- "Deep" (תְּהוֹם, tehom): This word often refers to the primeval ocean or depths. Here, it suggests overwhelming forces, as if the city will be swallowed by chaos or the sea itself.
- "Cover" (כָּסָה, kasah): This means to cover or conceal. The idea is that the destruction will be so complete that Tyre will disappear beneath the waters, hidden from view.
Why Ezekiel 26:19 matters
- This verse clarifies that Tyre’s downfall is not just military defeat but a total erasure, using the image of the sea to show how complete the judgment will be.
- The language ties Tyre’s fate to earlier biblical themes of chaos and judgment, like the flood, making the warning even more serious.
- Understanding the imagery helps readers see that the prophecy is about more than physical destruction; it is about the end of Tyre’s pride and influence in the world.