King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 26:4 Mean?

Ezekiel 26:4 in the King James Version says “And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.”

Ezekiel 26:4 · KJV

Context

2

Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:

3

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.

4

And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.

5

It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.

6

And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Read Ezekiel 26 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers predicts military conquest. I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock uses striking imagery—God will scrape Tyre clean like scraping barnacles off a rock, leaving bare stone. This prophecy was fulfilled when Alexander used Tyre's mainland rubble to build his causeway to the island, literally scraping the site clean. Archaeological excavations show the mainland site was indeed scraped to bedrock, exactly as prophesied. Prophetic precision demonstrates supernatural foreknowledge—details fulfilled centuries later could only come from God.

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Historical & Cultural Context

When Alexander besieged island Tyre (332 BC), he constructed a massive causeway using rubble from mainland Tyre, which Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed. His engineers scraped the mainland site to bedrock gathering material, fulfilling Ezekiel's prophecy given 250+ years earlier. The causeway turned the island into a peninsula, still visible today.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does precise prophetic fulfillment authenticate Scripture's divine origin?
  2. What does it mean that God will leave Tyre like 'bare rock'?
  3. How should fulfilled prophecy affect our confidence in unfulfilled prophecies?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
וְשִׁחֲת֞וּ1 of 12

“And they shall destroy”

H7843

to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

חֹמ֣וֹת2 of 12

“the walls”

H2346

a wall of protection

צֹ֗ר3 of 12

“of Tyrus”

H6865

tsor, a place in palestine

וְהָֽרְסוּ֙4 of 12

“and break down”

H2040

to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy

מִגְדָּלֶ֔יהָ5 of 12

“her towers”

H4026

a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers

וְסִֽחֵיתִ֥י6 of 12

“I will also scrape”

H5500

to sweep away

עֲפָרָ֖הּ7 of 12

“her dust”

H6083

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

מִמֶּ֑נָּה8 of 12
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

וְנָתַתִּ֥י9 of 12

“from her and make”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אוֹתָ֖הּ10 of 12
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

לִצְחִ֥יחַ11 of 12

“her like the top”

H6706

glaring, i.e., exposed to the bright sun

סָֽלַע׃12 of 12

“of a rock”

H5553

a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)

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 26:4 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 26:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amos 1:10Isaiah 23:11Ezekiel 26:9Jeremiah 5:10Ezekiel 26:12Zechariah 9:3

Places in This Verse

TyreSettlement · Modern: Tyre · 33.27°N, 35.20°E64 verses across 19 books
View all places in Ezekiel 26 →

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