By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

EZEKIEL 28:5KJV
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Ezekiel 28:5 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 28:5 mean?

Ezekiel 28:5 describes how the ruler being addressed has grown wealthy through skillful wisdom and trade, and as a result, has become proud because of these riches. The verse points out that the increase in wealth has led to arrogance in the ruler's heart.

In this chapter, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the prince of Tyre, a powerful city known for its commerce. The verse highlights that the ruler’s wisdom and business dealings have brought him great riches, but these material gains have caused his heart to be "lifted up," meaning he has become proud or self-important. This sets the stage for God’s warning about the dangers of pride and misplaced trust in wealth.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 28:5

  • "Wisdom" (חָכְמָה, chokhmah): This word refers to practical skill or shrewdness, especially in business or governance. The verse credits the ruler’s prosperity to this kind of wisdom, not just luck or inheritance.
  • "Traffick" (רְכֻלָּה, rekullah): This word means trade or commerce. Tyre was famous for its trading empire, so the verse directly connects the city's wealth to its commercial activity.
  • "Heart" (לֵבָב, levav): In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of will and emotion. Saying the ruler’s heart is "lifted up" means his inner attitude has become proud.
  • "Lifted up" (גָּבַהּ, gavah): This word often means to be exalted or haughty. It shows that the problem is not the wealth itself, but the pride that comes from it.

Why Ezekiel 28:5 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the problem is not wisdom or wealth itself, but the pride that can result from them, especially when someone credits themselves rather than acknowledging God.
  • Ezekiel 28:5 connects the ruler’s pride directly to his own actions—his wisdom and trading—showing a cause-and-effect relationship that leads to his downfall in the following verses.
  • This verse helps set up the larger message of Ezekiel 28, where the pride of Tyre’s leader becomes a warning about the dangers of self-exaltation and misplaced security in material success.

Where else these words appear

“traffick” Hebrew H7404 · used in 4 verses

  • Ezekiel 26:12 And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.
  • Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
  • Ezekiel 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

“up” Hebrew H1361 · used in 33 verses

  • 1 Samuel 10:23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
  • Psalms 113:5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
  • Ezekiel 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

“wisdom” Hebrew H2451 · used in 141 verses

  • Exodus 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
  • Job 28:20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
  • Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

“great” Hebrew H7230 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 16:10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
  • 2 Chronicles 17:5 Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
  • Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.