King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 26:12 Mean?

Ezekiel 26:12 in the King James Version says “And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and ...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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. thy pleasant: Heb. houses of thy desire”

Ezekiel 26:12 · KJV

Context

10

By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach. as men: Heb. according to the enterings of a city broken up

11

With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground.

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. thy pleasant: Heb. houses of thy desire

13

And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.

14

And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Read Ezekiel 26 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise predicts plunder of Tyre's legendary wealth. And they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses continues the demolition. And they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water describes the remarkable detail that Tyre's rubble will end up in the sea. This was literally fulfilled when Alexander used mainland Tyre's ruins to build his causeway to the island (332 BC), dumping stones, timber, and dust into the water. Prophetic precision 250+ years before fulfillment could only come from God.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Alexander the Great's siege (332 BC) required building a causeway from mainland to island Tyre. His engineers dismantled the ruins of mainland Tyre (destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar 250+ years earlier) and cast the material into the sea, building a half-mile causeway. This unprecedented engineering feat precisely fulfilled Ezekiel's seemingly impossible prophecy about Tyre's stones and timber ending up in the water.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does precise fulfillment of seemingly impossible prophecies demonstrate God's sovereignty?
  2. What does it mean that even building materials will be cast into the sea?
  3. How should specific fulfilled prophecy strengthen our faith in general biblical promises?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וְשָׁלְל֣וּ1 of 15

“And they shall make a spoil”

H7997

to drop or strip; by implication, to plunder

חֵילֵ֗ךְ2 of 15

“of thy riches”

H2428

probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

וּבָֽזְזוּ֙3 of 15

“and make a prey”

H962

to plunder

רְכֻלָּתֵ֔ךְ4 of 15

“of thy merchandise”

H7404

trade (as peddled)

וְהָֽרְסוּ֙5 of 15

“and they shall break down”

H2040

to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy

חוֹמוֹתַ֔יִךְ6 of 15

“thy walls”

H2346

a wall of protection

וּבָתֵּ֥י7 of 15

“houses”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

חֶמְדָּתֵ֖ךְ8 of 15

“thy pleasant”

H2532

delight

יִתֹּ֑צוּ9 of 15

“and destroy”

H5422

to tear down

וַאֲבָנַ֤יִךְ10 of 15

“thy stones”

H68

a stone

וְעֵצַ֙יִךְ֙11 of 15

“and thy timber”

H6086

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

וַֽעֲפָרֵ֔ךְ12 of 15

“and thy dust”

H6083

dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud

בְּת֥וֹךְ13 of 15

“in the midst”

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

מַ֖יִם14 of 15

“of the water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

יָשִֽׂימוּ׃15 of 15

“and they shall lay”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 26:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 26:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 23:8Amos 5:112 Chronicles 32:27Zechariah 9:3-4Ezekiel 27:3-36Isaiah 23:17-18

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