[1] The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: [3] Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: [4] With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: [5] By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: [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 art man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. [10] Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
Verses 1-2 Expanded Bible Comments
| The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| According to verse 1, who is speaking? | The LORD. |
| Unto whom is he speaking? | Son of Man. |
| To whom is Son of Man to deliver God's message? | "The Prince of Tyrus." |
| What is the heart condition of the "prince of Tyrus?" | "Thine heart is lifted up." He is filled with pride. – "Pride makes you stupid." – Sr. Ramona Hill. Psa. 12:3; Prov. 6:16-17; 8:13; 16:18; Isa. 13:11; James 4:6 |
| What does the prince of Tyrus say about himself? | "I am a God" "I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas." |
| What does God say about the prince of Tyrus? | "Thou art a man, and not God" "Though thou set thine heart as the heart of God." |
Verse 3 Expanded Bible Comments
| Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Was the prince of Tyrus really "wiser than Daniel?" | No. This is said ironically. |
| "There is no secret that they can hide from thee." Is this really true, and if so, how was this accomplished? | Yes it was true. Have you ever heard of a thing called "the confessional?" |
Verse 4 Expanded Bible Comments
| With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| How did the prince of Tyrus become rich? | "By his [worldly] wisdom and .. understanding." |
| What were some of his riches? | "gold and silver" |
| Were these "riches" literal or symbolic? | Yes! They amassed great literal wealth. They corrupted the symbolic vessels of gold and silver. Gold pictures the little flock, and/or the Divine promises. Silver pictures the great company and/or the Truth. |
Verse 5 Expanded Bible Comments
| By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| This verse gives two means by which this prince increased his wealth. What was the first one? | "By thy great [worldly] wisdom." |
| What was the second? | "By thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches." For more on this see Chapter 27. |
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| What effect did these riches have on his heart? | Increased his pride: "thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches." |
| Based upon the above, what are some of the characteristics which should help us to identify exactly who is "the prince of Tyrus?" | Filled with pride.
Claims to be a God. Claims to sit in the seat of God. Is very [worldly] wise. Knows how to get the secrets of others. Becomes very rich. Increases wealth by means of trade. |
| Do we find shuch a character on the pages of history? | Yes. "The man of sin." See Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 2 Study IX |
Verses 6-7 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| This not a question. It information for clarification only. It always helps to have the information available. | Just a quick note here for clarification. The wording here is "the Lord GOD." The two Hebrew words used together are explained by Professor Strong in the following definitions: [Lord H136] Strong's H136 - [God - H3069]אֲדֹנָי 'ădônây ad-o-noy' An emphatic form of H113; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only): - (my) Lord. Total KJV occurrences: 438 Strong's H3069 In this explanation we are told it is pronounced as H430 which is "el-o-heem'."
The name of God ("Jehovah") normally is Strong's H3068.יְהֹוִה yehôvih yeh-ho-vee' A variation of H3068 (used after H136, and pronounced by Jews as H430, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounce H3068 as H136): - God. Total KJV occurrences: 302 Strong's H3068
יְהֹוָה yehôvâh yeh-ho-vaw' From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050, H3069. Total KJV occurrences: 6521 This verse says: Therefore thus saith the JEHOVAH; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of el-o-heem' (this may refer to JEHOVAH or to another mighty spiritual being, the language does not require it to be referring to JEHOVAH.) |
| What reason does God give for taking action against the prince of Tyrus? | "Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God [el-o-heem']." |
| Who does God bring against the prince of Tyrus? | "Strangers.. the terrible of the nations." |
| What weapon do these "strangers" use? | "Their swords." |
| Against what are these weapons used? | "The beauty of thy wisdom" and "thy brightness." |
Verse 8 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| To where do these strangers bring Tyrus (Christendom?) | To the "pit." While it is true that Sheol is 3 times translated as "pit," this is not one of them. Strong's H7845 We may notice that Professor Strong says that the idea behind this "pit" is "especially a trap."שַׁחַת shachath shakh'-ath From H7743; a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively destruction: - corruption, destruction, ditch, grave, pit. Total KJV occurrences: 23 Can anyone say "secret treaties between Europen powers prior to WWI?" |
| What is meant by "thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain?" | 1) The first thing to notice is that this is clearly a death sentence. 2) Next we note that it is not a natural death" "them that are slain." 3) Lastly is the location, they are "slain in the midst of the seas," in the midst of the wrestless irreligious masses of mankind. [R498] |
Verse 9 Expanded Bible Comments
| Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou art man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Who is referred to as "him that slayeth thee?" | From the previous verse it would seem to be someone (individual or group) from the "sea" class. |
| Could this have reference to Napoleon? | Possibly. Certainly this is exactly what did happen as the Pope claimed that God had performed miracles against the French army (under Napoleon,) in an attempt to fool the people and cause them to rise up against Napoleon. – Our thought is, that is where the pope's downfall began, yet we do not think that is what is referred to here, because God's instruction here was to "Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus.." (verse 1.) That places the timing of this as at least beginning during the time of Pastor Russell's ministry. |
| What does "the Prince of Tyrus" (pope) want to say to his slayer? | "I am a God (el-o-heem')." – Just who do you think you are to oppose me? |
| What does God tell the prince of Tyrus about his (Tyrus') claim? | "Thou art a man." |
| What effect does this have on the slayer of Tyrus? | "Thou art man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee." |
Verse 10 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What is the significance of dying "the deaths of the uncircumcised?" | God gave to Israel through Abraham "the covenant of circumcision." Acts 7:8. If a man wanted to live with the Israelites and become a part of them it was required that he be circumcised. Exo. 12:48 To be uncircumcised was to be an enemy of God. |
| By whom was Tyrus (Christendom) to be slain? | "By the hand of strangers." |
| How certain are we that the prince of Tyrus is to be slain? | "For I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD." |
[11] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [12] Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. [13] Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. [14] Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. [15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. [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. [17] Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. [18] Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; 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. [19] All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Verses 11-12 Expanded Bible Comments
| Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [12] Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| (By now, stating the obvious) To whom does the word of the LORD come? | To "Son of man." |
| Upon whom does the "son of man" take up a lamentation? | "The king of Tyrus." |
| Which is of greater rank, a prince or a king? | A king. |
| Was this king wise? | "Full of wisdom." |
| Did he have beauty? | He was "perfect in beauty." |
| Does this sound familiar to another son of a King who rebelled against his father? And what was his end? | 2 Sam. 14:25; 2 Sam. 18:9-10; Deut. 21:22-23 |
Verse 13 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| In what famous location did we once find this king? | "In Eden the garden of God" |
| How did this king come into existence? | "Thou wast created." |
| Did this king have some kind of covering? | Yes, a covering of 10 precious stones. |
| Is there any significance to these particular stones? | In Exo. 28:18-20 we have the description of the 12 stones that made up the breastplate of the High-Priest. These were described as being in four rows (3 jewels per row.) We find that the stones that made up this king's covering were the same stones that made up rows 1, 2 and 4 of the breastplate of the High-Priest. None of the stones in row 3 were part of this King's covering. Further, the 10th stone was gold. While gold was not one of the stones of the breastplate of the High-Priest, yet all the stones were set in gold. |
| What might the above information suggest to us about this king's potential role in God's Plan? | |
| What are "tabrets?" | Tamborines. |
| What are "pipes?" | Hand-held wind instrument, like a flute. |
| What is indicated by "the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes?" | |
| Of what significance is "was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created?" | |
Verse 14 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Was this individual a man or some form of spirit being? | He was a spirit being, "the anointed cherub that covereth." |
| Where was he originally set? | "Upon the holy mountain of God" |
| Was this a reference to Mount Olympus? | Not quite. - Just making sure we are "on our toes." |
| What is meant by "thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire?" | |
Verse 15 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Was he created perfect or did he begin as a sinner? | He was perfect. "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created." |
| What changed? | "Iniquity was found in thee." |
Verse 16 Expanded Bible Comments
| 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. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| What happens to the king of Tyrus because of his sin? | "I will cast thee.. out of the mountain [kingdom] of God." |
| How else is the king of Tyrus described in this verse? | "O covering cherub." |
Verse 17 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
| Do we know the reason for his fall? | "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." |
| What is significant about God's declaration "I will lay thee before kings?" | Because this individual formerly ruled over kings. |
| Based upon the above, what are some of the characteristics which should help us to identify exactly who is "the king of Tyrus?" | Full of wisdom.
Perfect in beauty. In the garden of Eden. The anointed cherub that covereth. Originally set upon the mountain of God. Created perfect. Remained perfect until "iniquity was found in" him. He sinned and became filled with violence. His "heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." Used his wisdom in a very corrupt manner – "thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." John 8:44 Also consider Isa. 14:12-15. |
| Are we able now to identify "the king of Tyrus?" | Yes. He is "the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan." Rev. 20:2 |
Verse 18 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; 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. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
Verse 19 Expanded Bible Comments
| All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
[20] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [21] Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it, [22] And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her. [23] For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD. [24] And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Verse 20 Expanded Bible Comments
| Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
Verse 21 Expanded Bible Comments
| Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it, | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
Verse 22 Expanded Bible Comments
| And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
Verse 23 Expanded Bible Comments
| For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
Verse 24 Expanded Bible Comments
| And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
[25] Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. [26] And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.
Verse 25 Expanded Bible Comments
| Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |
Verse 26 Expanded Bible Comments
| And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God. | |
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| Question | Suggested Answer |