Question 1

What does Ezekiel 26:5 mean?

Accepted Answer

Ezekiel 26:5 says that the city of Tyre will be destroyed so completely that it will become a bare place in the sea, used only for spreading fishing nets, and that other nations will take its remains as plunder. This is presented as a certain outcome because God Himself has declared it. The prophet Ezekiel is speaking God’s message to the people about the fate of Tyre, a powerful and wealthy city on the coast. The verse uses the image of fishermen spreading their nets on the ruins to show how total the destruction will be—what was once a bustling city will become just a flat, empty spot by the water, useful only for simple daily tasks. The verse also stresses that this is not just a prediction, but a decree from God.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 26:5

Accepted Answer

"spreading" (מִשְׁטַח, mishtach): This word refers to a place that is spread out or laid flat, emphasizing that Tyre will be leveled and exposed, not rebuilt or inhabited. "nets" (חֶרֶם, cherem): While often meaning something devoted to destruction, here it refers to fishing nets, highlighting the ordinary use that will replace the city’s former glory. "midst" (תּוֹךְ, tokh): This word means "in the middle of," pointing to Tyre’s location surrounded by the sea, and that its ruins will be isolated and exposed. "spoil" (בַּז, baz): This word means plunder or loot, showing that Tyre’s wealth will be taken by other nations, not left for its own people.

Question 3

Why Ezekiel 26:5 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse clears up that the prophecy is not just about defeat in battle, but about a complete transformation of Tyre from a proud city to a place of no significance. The emphasis on God’s authority ("for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD") underlines that this is not just a human prediction, but a divine judgment. The image of fishermen using the site for their nets connects to the wider passage, where Tyre’s destruction is described in vivid, practical terms, making the prophecy concrete and memorable.

Ezekiel 26:5 (KJV)