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Ezekiel 28:17

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 28:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I have cast thee to the ground; I have laid thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I have cast thee to the ground; I have laid thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Thou wast the anointed cherub that covereth: and I set thee, [so that] thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till unrighteousness was found in thee.
16By the abundance of thy traffic they filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore have I cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I have destroyed thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I have cast thee to the ground; I have laid thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18By the multitude of thine iniquities, in the unrighteousness of thy traffic, thou hast profaned thy sanctuaries; therefore have I brought forth a fire from the midst of thee; it hath devoured thee, and I have turned thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19All they that know thee among the peoples shall be astonished at thee: thou art become a terror, and thou shalt nevermore have any being.
20And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
← Ezekiel 28:16Ezekiel 28:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, &c.] Riches, wealth, power, and authority; (see <262805>Ezekiel 28:5), as the pope of Rome is, because of his dignity, the pomp and splendour of the Roman church, and the gaudy appearance it makes: thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness; outward lustre and glory, which dazzled his eyes so that he could not see things in a true light; but neglecting the word of God, and setting up his own infallibility, corrupted his doctrine and worship, and became foolish, stupid, and sottish: I will cast thee to the ground; from the throne and pinnacle of honour, to the lowest state and condition: and I will lay thee before kings:…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“brightness--thy splendor. lay thee before kings--as an example of God's wrath against presumptuous pride.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The dirge of the prince of Tyre, answering to the dirge of the state. The passage is ironical; its main purpose is to depict all the glory, real or assumed, of “the prince of Tyrus,” in order to show how deplorable should be his ruin. Ezekiel 28:12 To “seal the sum” is to make up the whole measure of perfection. Compare the Septuagint Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden - “Thou” wast etc. The prince of Tyrus is ironically described as the first of creation; but at the same time the parallel is to be maintained in his fall from glory. Like Adam in the enjoyment of paradise, he shall be like Adam in his fall. Every precious stone - All the stones here named are found in the High priest’s…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Corrupted - Depraved, or lost thy wisdom. Behold thee - That thou mayst be a spectacle, and warning to them. Ezekiel 28:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“heart: Eze 28:2, Eze 28:5, Eze 16:14, Eze 16:15, Eze 31:10; Pro 11:2, Pro 16:18; Luk 14:11; Jam 4:6 thou hast: Isa 19:11-13; Jer 8:9; Rom 1:22-25; Co1 1:19-21 I will cast: Job 40:11, Job 40:12; Psa 73:18, Psa 147:6 I will lay: Eze 16:41, Eze 23:48, Eze 32:10; Isa 14:9-11 Ezekiel 28:18”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 28 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification