Ezekiel 28:4
Ezekiel 28:4 in Multiple Translations
By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries.
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
by thy wisdom and by thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures;
By your wisdom and deep knowledge you have got power for yourself, and put silver and gold in your store-houses:
Yes, you have used your wisdom and cleverness to make yourself rich, collecting plenty of gold and silver for your treasury.
With thy wisedome and thine vnderstanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten golde and siluer into thy treasures.
By thy wisdom and by thine understanding Thou hast made for thee wealth, And makest gold and silver in thy treasuries.
By your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasuries.
With thy wisdom and with thy understanding thou hast gained for thee riches, and hast gained gold and silver into thy treasures:
In thy wisdom and thy understanding thou hast made thyself strong: and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures.
By being wise and understanding a lot, you have become very rich; you have acquired much gold and silver for your treasuries.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 28:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 28:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּ/חָכְמָֽתְ/ךָ֙
וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֣תְ/ךָ֔
עָשִׂ֥יתָ
לְּ/ךָ֖
חָ֑יִל
וַ/תַּ֛עַשׂ
זָהָ֥ב
וָ/כֶ֖סֶף
בְּ/אוֹצְרוֹתֶֽי/ךָ
בְּ/חָכְמָֽתְ/ךָ֙
chokmâh
H2451
wisdom
Prep | N-fs | Suff
וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֣תְ/ךָ֔
tâbûwn
H8394
understanding
Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff
עָשִׂ֥יתָ
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
לְּ/ךָ֖
Prep | Suff
חָ֑יִל
chayil
H2428
Helech
N-ms
וַ/תַּ֛עַשׂ
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms
זָהָ֥ב
zâhâb
H2091
gold
N-ms
וָ/כֶ֖סֶף
keçeph
H3701
silver
Conj | N-ms
בְּ/אוֹצְרוֹתֶֽי/ךָ
ʼôwtsâr
H214
treasure
Prep | N-mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 28:4
בְּ/חָכְמָֽתְ/ךָ֙
chokmâh
H2451
"wisdom"
Prep | N-fs | Suff
Wisdom refers to skill, prudence, or good judgment in areas like war, administration, or religion, as seen in the book of Proverbs.
Definition: 1) wisdom 1a) skill (in war) 1b) wisdom (in administration) 1c) shrewdness, wisdom 1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs) 1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)
Usage: Occurs in 141 OT verses. KJV: skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. See also: Exodus 28:3; Proverbs 5:1; Psalms 37:30.
וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֣תְ/ךָ֔
tâbûwn
H8394
"understanding"
Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff
Tabún means understanding or intelligence, implying skill or insight. It is translated as discretion, reason, or wisdom in the KJV Bible, referring to the act or faculty of understanding.
Definition: 1) understanding, intelligence 1a) the act of understanding 1a1) skill 1b) the faculty of understanding 1b1) intelligence, understanding, insight 1c) the object of knowledge 1d) teacher (personification)
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom. See also: Exodus 31:3; Proverbs 8:1; Psalms 49:4.
עָשִׂ֥יתָ
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
לְּ/ךָ֖
""
Prep | Suff
חָ֑יִל
chayil
H2428
"Helech"
N-ms
This word represents strength, might, or power, whether physical, financial, or military. In the Bible, it's used to describe the strength of God or the wealth of a nation, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:17-18.
Definition: § Helech = "your army" a place near Arvad and Gammad
Usage: Occurs in 221 OT verses. KJV: able, activity, ([phrase]) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, ([phrase]) valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war, worthy(-ily). See also: Genesis 34:29; 2 Chronicles 13:3; Psalms 18:33.
וַ/תַּ֛עַשׂ
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
זָהָ֥ב
zâhâb
H2091
"gold"
N-ms
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Definition: 1) gold 1a) as precious metal 1b) as a measure of weight 1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)
Usage: Occurs in 336 OT verses. KJV: gold(-en), fair weather. See also: Genesis 2:11; Numbers 7:26; 1 Chronicles 28:17.
וָ/כֶ֖סֶף
keçeph
H3701
"silver"
Conj | N-ms
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Definition: : money/payment/silver 1) silver, money 1a) silver 1a1) as metal 1a2) as ornament 1a3) as colour 1b) money, shekels, talents
Usage: Occurs in 343 OT verses. KJV: money, price, silver(-ling). See also: Genesis 13:2; Numbers 22:18; 2 Chronicles 1:17.
בְּ/אוֹצְרוֹתֶֽי/ךָ
ʼôwtsâr
H214
"treasure"
Prep | N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word for treasure refers to a storehouse or depository, like a treasure house or armory, as seen in 1 Kings 7:51.
Definition: 1) treasure, storehouse 1a) treasure (gold, silver, etc) 1b) store, supplies of food or drink 1c) treasure-house, treasury 1c1) treasure-house 1c2) storehouse, magazine 1c3) treasury 1c4) magazine of weapons (fig. of God's armoury) 1c5) storehouses (of God for rain, snow, hail, wind, sea)
Usage: Occurs in 70 OT verses. KJV: armory, cellar, garner, store(-house), treasure(-house) (-y). See also: Deuteronomy 28:12; Nehemiah 10:39; Psalms 33:7.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 28:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 28:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 28:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 28:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:4
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 28:4
- Sermons on Ezekiel 28:4
Context — A Prophecy against the Ruler of Tyre
2“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god.
3Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!
4By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries.
5By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it. 6Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you regard your heart as the heart of a god,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 8:17–18 | You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day. |
| 2 | Proverbs 23:4–5 | Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. |
| 3 | Proverbs 18:11 | A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 29:3 | Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’ |
| 5 | Ecclesiastes 9:11 | I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all. |
| 6 | Zechariah 9:2–4 | and also against Hamath, which borders it, as well as Tyre and Sidon, though they are very shrewd. Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. Behold, the Lord will impoverish her and cast her wealth into the sea, and she will be consumed by fire. |
| 7 | Habakkuk 1:16 | Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet and burns incense to his fishing net, for by these things his portion is sumptuous and his food is rich. |
Ezekiel 28:4 Summary
[Ezekiel 28:4 tells us that the ruler of Tyre became very wealthy because of his wisdom and understanding, but this success led to pride, as seen in the context of Ezekiel 28:2-3. This reminds us that our talents and abilities are gifts from God, and we should use them to honor Him, not just to get rich or powerful, as taught in Colossians 3:17 and 23. We need to stay humble and remember that God is the one who gives us the power to get wealth, as stated in Deuteronomy 8:18.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the ruler of Tyre's wisdom and understanding in Ezekiel 28:4?
The ruler of Tyre's wisdom and understanding are highlighted as the means by which he gained his wealth, as stated in Ezekiel 28:4, but this is also a warning, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:17-18, that wealth and success can lead to pride and forgetting God's role in our lives.
How does this verse relate to the concept of stewardship?
This verse, Ezekiel 28:4, shows that the ruler of Tyre used his wisdom and understanding to accumulate wealth, but it also implies a responsibility to use these gifts wisely, as taught in Matthew 25:14-30, where faithful stewardship is rewarded.
Is this verse suggesting that wealth is inherently bad?
No, Ezekiel 28:4 is not condemning wealth itself, but rather the pride and self-reliance that can come with it, as warned in Proverbs 28:20, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging God as the source of our success.
What is the spiritual danger faced by the ruler of Tyre according to this verse?
The spiritual danger is that his wisdom and understanding, which have brought him wealth, have led him to pride and a god-like attitude, as mentioned in Ezekiel 28:2, where he claims to be a god, forgetting his humanity and his dependence on God, similar to the warning in Romans 1:21-23 against exchanging the truth of God for a lie.
Reflection Questions
- How do I acknowledge God's role in my successes and accomplishments, and what are the dangers of attributing them solely to my own efforts?
- In what ways can I use my wisdom, understanding, and talents to serve God and others, rather than just accumulating wealth and power for myself?
- What are some signs in my life that I might be slipping into pride and self-reliance, and how can I humble myself before God?
- How can I balance the pursuit of wisdom and understanding with the recognition of God's sovereignty and grace in my life?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 28:4
With thy wisdom and with thy understanding thou hast gotten thee riches,.... Through skill in navigation and trade, for which the Tyrians and their princes were famous, they acquired great wealth: so
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 28:4
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: No JFB commentary on this verse.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:4
With thy wisdom; by thy policy in government, and by thy skill in trading, for he speaks of that kind of prudence to which these names are given. Gotten, or made, so the word. Riches; power and might, so the Hebrew, as well as wealth and riches, and so the Gallic version reads puissance; the princes of Tyre had been prudent, and so increased their power and interest. Into thy treasures; into both his own private purse, and into the public treasuries too.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:4
Ezekiel 28:4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:Ver. 4. With thy wisdom thou hast gotten thee riches.] Which yet is not every wise man’ s happiness. Aelian observeth that the wisest and best of the Grecians were very poor, as Socrates, Aristides, Phocion, Ephialtes, Epaminondas, Pelopidas, Lamachus, and others. Fortuna fere favet fatuis: nescio quomodo, bonae mentis soror, est paupertas, saith he in Petronius. Piety goeth oft yoked with poverty. Var. Hist., lib. ii. Eumolpus.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 28:4
1–10. The sin of the prince of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:1-5), and his destruction (Ezekiel 28:6-10) The prince of Tyre of the time was probably Ithobal II. It is not, however, any individual prince that the prophet threatens, but the ruler of Tyre, who is the embodiment of the spirit of the proud commercial city. The sin with which the prophet charges the prince is pride of heart and self-deification. The prince—who is but the impersonation of the spirit of the community—was very wise, wiser than Daniel (Ezekiel 28:3). His wisdom expressed itself and found scope in his commerce and manufactures and in his arts. These produced wealth and splendour, which led to ungodly arrogance (Ezekiel 28:4-5): the prince said, I am God, I dwell in the abode of God (Ezekiel 28:2). For this deifying of himself in his own mind he shall be brought down. Strangers, the most terrible of the nations, shall assail him, and he shall die the death of the uncircumcised—those whose bodies are unburied or unhonoured in their burial.
Sermons on Ezekiel 28:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Fear of God - Part 4 by Jerry Bridges | In this sermon, the speaker begins with a far-fetched illustration of a Christian leader who contemplates going to a topless dancer performance to "experience all of life." However |
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Ravi-Pride by Compilations | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the changing nature of ministry and the mindset of today's ministers. He contrasts the dedication and sacrifice of historical figures like H |
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Turning the Tide - Part 1 by Charles Stanley | This sermon emphasizes the importance of heeding God's warnings throughout history to avoid the consequences of disobedience. It reflects on the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden |
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(Proverbs) ch.22:12 - 23:35 by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of truth, integrity, and discipline in his sermon on Proverbs 22:12 - 23:35. He highlights that God stands with those who uphold truth and warn |
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Evangelizing the Western Mindset - Part 5 by Winkie Pratney | This sermon delves into the loss of absolutes in culture, leading to a search for wonder and the impact of materialism on society. It explores the existential questions arising fro |
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(Youth Bible School 2007) the Thorny Ground Hearer by Mose Stoltzfus | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the condition of our hearts, using the parable of the sower from Matthew chapter 13 as a reference. He emphasizes the importance of not allow |
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The Training of Children - an Address to Parents by Catherine Booth | Catherine Booth preaches about the importance of training children in the way they should go, emphasizing the responsibility of parents to nurture and guide their children for God' |