King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 28:8 Mean?

Ezekiel 28:8 in the King James Version says “They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.”

Ezekiel 28:8 · KJV

Context

6

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

7

Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.

8

They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.

9

Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. of him that slayeth: or, of him that woundeth

10

Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Read Ezekiel 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. The Hebrew bôr (בּוֹר, "pit") refers to Sheol, the realm of the dead—a dramatic reversal for one claiming divine status. This verse concludes God's judgment against the king of Tyre who declared "I am a God" (v. 2). The phrase "the deaths of them that are slain" (literally "deaths of the pierced," מְמוֹתֵי חָלָל) uses the plural intensive form, indicating violent, ignominious death rather than peaceful passing.

"In the midst of the seas" is bitterly ironic—Tyre's island fortress, source of her pride and commercial power, becomes the location of her destruction. The city that dominated Mediterranean trade through naval supremacy would find the sea not a protection but the scene of her slaughter. Historical fulfillment came through multiple sieges: Nebuchadnezzar's 13-year siege (585-572 BC) devastated mainland Tyre, and Alexander the Great's audacious causeway assault (332 BC) conquered the island city, with 8,000 Tyrians killed in battle and 30,000 sold into slavery.

This passage warns against the sin that caused Satan's fall—self-deification through pride in beauty, wealth, and power (vv. 12-17 shift to address the spiritual power behind Tyre's king). Human rulers who claim divine prerogatives invite divine judgment. The king who claimed immortality would experience violent mortality; the one who claimed deity would descend to the pit reserved for fallen humanity.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Tyre was a Phoenician coastal city-state, built partly on the mainland and partly on an offshore island, making it nearly impregnable. Her commercial empire extended throughout the Mediterranean, with colonies including Carthage. Ezekiel's prophecy (chapters 26-28) was delivered around 586 BC, shortly after Tyre rejoiced at Jerusalem's fall, hoping to profit from redirected trade routes. The Phoenicians practiced sacred kingship ideology where rulers claimed semi-divine status—a blasphemy against Yahweh's unique deity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do wealth, power, and security tempt us toward self-sufficiency that functionally denies dependence on God?
  2. What modern 'island fortresses' (technology, wealth, education, military might) do nations or individuals trust in rather than God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 7 words
לַשַּׁ֖חַת1 of 7

“to the pit”

H7845

a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction

יֽוֹרִד֑וּךָ2 of 7

“They shall bring thee down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

וָמַ֛תָּה3 of 7

“the deaths”

H4463

a mortal disease; concretely, a corpse

מְמוֹתֵ֥י4 of 7

“and thou shalt die”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

חָלָ֖ל5 of 7

“of them that are slain”

H2491

pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted

בְּלֵ֥ב6 of 7

“in the midst”

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

יַמִּֽים׃7 of 7

“of the seas”

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

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 28:8 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 28:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 27:34Ezekiel 27:26-27Proverbs 28:17Job 33:18Proverbs 1:12Ezekiel 32:18-30

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Ezekiel 28 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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