Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;

EZEKIEL 28:6KJV
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Ezekiel 28:6 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 28:6 mean?

Ezekiel 28:6 records God declaring judgment because the ruler of Tyre has set his heart to be like the heart of God. The verse means that the leader has become proud, thinking of himself as equal to God, and so God is responding directly to this arrogance.

In this part of Ezekiel, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the prince of Tyre, a wealthy and influential city-state. The ruler is accused of extreme pride and self-exaltation, claiming a status or wisdom that belongs only to God. This verse is a turning point where God announces that such pride will bring consequences, setting the stage for the judgments described in the following verses.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 28:6

  • "Lord" (אֲדֹנָי, ʾadonai) and "GOD" (יְהוִה, YHWH): The double title emphasizes God's supreme authority and power, underlining that the message comes from the highest possible source.
  • "Set" (נָתַן, natan): This word means "to give" or "to set," and here it describes the ruler's deliberate choice to place his heart in a position of pride, not just a passing thought but a settled attitude.
  • "Heart" (לֵב, lev) and "heart" (לֵבָב, levav): Both words refer to the inner self, mind, or will. The repetition highlights the depth of the ruler's arrogance—it's not just outward behavior but an internal conviction.
  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים, elohim): This is the common Hebrew word for God, used here to show that the ruler is elevating himself to the level of the divine, which is a serious offense in the biblical worldview.

Why Ezekiel 28:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the core issue is not just political power or wealth, but a deep-seated pride that tries to rival God Himself.
  • The emphasis on the ruler's heart shows that God is concerned with inner attitudes, not just outward actions.
  • Ezekiel 28:6 connects to the broader theme in Ezekiel 28, where the downfall of Tyre's leader is directly linked to his arrogance and self-deification, making the coming judgment a response to this specific attitude.