He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.

EZEKIEL 26:8KJV
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Ezekiel 26:8 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 26:8 mean?

Ezekiel 26:8 describes how the conqueror will attack Tyre’s surrounding villages, killing their people in open country, and then lay siege to the main city using military tactics like building a fort, raising a mound, and using shields for protection. This verse paints a picture of a thorough and organized assault on Tyre and its nearby settlements.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to warn the city of Tyre about its coming destruction by a foreign invader, later identified as Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The verse uses concrete siege warfare terms to show that Tyre’s defeat will be both violent and systematic, affecting not just the city itself but also its “daughters”—the smaller towns and villages around it.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 26:8

  • "slay" (הָרַג, harag): This word means to kill or destroy, emphasizing the violence that will befall Tyre’s outlying communities.
  • "daughters" (בַּת, bat): In this context, “daughters” refers to the smaller towns and villages connected to Tyre, not literal daughters, showing the widespread nature of the attack.
  • "fort" (דָּיֵק, dayeq): This is a technical term for a siege wall or rampart, highlighting the methodical approach of the besieging army.
  • "mount" (סֹלְלָה, solelah): This word means a mound or ramp built up against city walls, used in ancient warfare to breach defenses.
  • "buckler" (צִנָּה, tsinnah): Refers to a large shield, showing the attackers’ use of protective gear as they advance on the city.

Why Ezekiel 26:8 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the judgment on Tyre would not only target the main city but also its dependent settlements, making the prophecy broader and more devastating than just a single siege.
  • The detailed mention of siege tactics shows that the destruction would be thorough and planned, not a random or sudden attack.
  • Understanding these terms helps connect Ezekiel’s prophecy to the historical methods used by ancient armies, grounding the warning in real-world military practices familiar to the original audience.

Where else these words appear

“fort” Hebrew H1785 · used in 6 verses

  • 2 Kings 25:1 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
  • Jeremiah 52:4 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.
  • Ezekiel 17:17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

“mount” Hebrew H5550 · used in 11 verses

  • 2 Samuel 20:15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
  • Jeremiah 6:6 For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
  • Ezekiel 4:2 And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.

“buckler” Hebrew H6793 · used in 20 verses

  • 1 Samuel 17:7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
  • 2 Chronicles 9:15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
  • Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

“cast” Hebrew H8210 · used in 111 verses

  • Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
  • Job 30:16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
  • Ezekiel 16:15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.