Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.

EZEKIEL 26:3KJV
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Ezekiel 26:3 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 26:3 mean?

Ezekiel 26:3 declares that God is against the city of Tyre and will bring many nations to attack it, comparing these invading nations to waves of the sea relentlessly crashing against the city. The verse uses the image of the sea’s waves to show that Tyre will face repeated and overwhelming attacks.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to announce judgment against Tyre, a wealthy and influential port city. The message is directed to the people of Tyre, warning them that their city will not fall to just one enemy, but to a series of nations coming one after another, just as waves keep coming onto the shore. This sets the stage for the rest of the chapter, where the destruction of Tyre is described in detail.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 26:3

  • "Tyrus" (צֹר, Tsor): This is the Hebrew name for Tyre, a major city on the coast of what is now Lebanon, known for its trade and fortifications. The use of the original name emphasizes the directness and seriousness of the prophecy.
  • "many" (רַבִּים, rabbim) and "nations" (גּוֹיִם, goyim): The Hebrew words stress that not just one, but a multitude of different peoples will come against Tyre. This highlights the scale and inevitability of the coming attacks.
  • "sea" (יָם, yam) and "waves" (גַּלִּים, gallim): The comparison to the sea’s waves in Hebrew paints a vivid picture of constant, unstoppable force, underlining that the attacks will be relentless and beyond Tyre’s control.

Why Ezekiel 26:3 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Tyre’s downfall would be a single event; instead, it would come through repeated invasions by various nations, making the judgment more severe and drawn out.
  • The wave imagery emphasizes how overwhelming and unstoppable the coming judgment would be, helping the reader grasp the seriousness of the warning.
  • Ezekiel 26:3 introduces a prophecy that is expanded in the following verses, setting the tone for the detailed description of Tyre’s destruction and showing how God’s judgment unfolds over time.

Where else these words appear

“waves” Hebrew H1530 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 31:46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
  • Job 38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
  • Isaiah 48:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

“Tyrus” Hebrew H6865 · used in 39 verses

  • Joshua 19:29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
  • Psalms 87:4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
  • Ezekiel 27:2 Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;