Ezekiel 28:2
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:
Ezekiel 28:2 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the prince of Tyrus, warning him against his pride and self-exaltation. The prince of Tyrus had become arrogant and delusional, believing himself to be a god and sitting in the seat of God. However, God reminds him that he is just a man and not divine, no matter how highly he thinks of himself. The prince's heart had become lifted up with pride, leading him to exalt himself above others and claim a status reserved only for God. This serves as a powerful reminder for all individuals to remain humble and remember that we are mere mortal beings, created by God and subject to His authority. The prince of Tyrus's downfall serves as a cautionary tale for those who let pride and self-importance lead them astray from the path of righteousness.
Theological Overview
In this verse, the prophet Ezekiel is delivering a message from the Lord GOD to the prince of Tyrus, rebuking him for his pride and arrogance. The theological interpretation of this passage highlights the dangers of human pride and the consequences of exalting oneself to the level of God. By declaring himself to be a god and claiming to sit in the seat of God, the prince of Tyrus is committing the sin of idolatry and blasphemy. The word study reveals that the term "Son of man" is a title used by God to address Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity in contrast to the divine nature of God. This language serves to remind both the prince of Tyrus and the readers of the passage that no matter how powerful or influential one may be, they are ultimately mortal and subject to the authority of the one true God.
Ezekiel 28:2 in other translations
American Standard Version
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyre, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because thy 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 man, and not God, though thou didst set thy heart as the heart of God;--
World English Bible
Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God—
Douay-Rheims
Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus saith the Lord God: Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said: I am God, and I sit in the chair of God in the heart of the sea: whereas thou art a man, and not God: and hast set thy heart as if it were the heart of God.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Sonne of man, say vnto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saieth the Lord God, Because thine heart is exalted, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God in ye mids of the sea, yet thou art but a man and not God, and though thou didest thinke in thine heart, that thou wast equall with God,