Ezekiel 28:5
Ezekiel 28:5 in Multiple Translations
By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has grown proud because of it.
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
by thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches;—
By your great wisdom and by your trade your power is increased, and your heart is lifted up because of your power:
You became wealthy through your superb trading skills, but your wealth only made you proud.
By thy great wisedome and by thine occupying hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted vp because of thy riches.
By the abundance of thy wisdom, Through thy merchandise, Thou hast multiplied thy wealth, And high is thy heart through thy wealth.
By your great wisdom and by your trading you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches—”
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
By the greatness of thy wisdom, and by thy traffic thou hast increased thy strength: and thy heart is lifted up with thy strength.
Yes, it is true that by trading wisely, you have been enabled to become very rich, and because you are rich, you have become very proud.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 28:5
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 28:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּ/רֹ֧ב
חָכְמָתְ/ךָ֛
בִּ/רְכֻלָּתְ/ךָ֖
הִרְבִּ֣יתָ
חֵילֶ֑/ךָ
וַ/יִּגְבַּ֥הּ
לְבָבְ/ךָ֖
בְּ/חֵילֶֽ/ךָ
בְּ/רֹ֧ב
rôb
H7230
abundance
Prep | N-cs
חָכְמָתְ/ךָ֛
chokmâh
H2451
wisdom
N-fs | Suff
בִּ/רְכֻלָּתְ/ךָ֖
rᵉkullâh
H7404
merchandise
Prep | N-fs | Suff
הִרְבִּ֣יתָ
râbâh
H7235
to multiply
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
חֵילֶ֑/ךָ
chayil
H2428
Helech
N-ms | Suff
וַ/יִּגְבַּ֥הּ
gâbahh
H1361
to exult
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
לְבָבְ/ךָ֖
lêbâb
H3824
heart
N-ms | Suff
בְּ/חֵילֶֽ/ךָ
chayil
H2428
Helech
Prep | N-ms | 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 28:5
בְּ/רֹ֧ב
rôb
H7230
"abundance"
Prep | N-cs
Describes abundance or greatness in the Bible, used to talk about God's power and creation in Psalms and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) multitude, abundance, greatness 1a) multitude 1a1) abundance, abundantly 1a2) numerous 1b) greatness
Usage: Occurs in 145 OT verses. KJV: abundance(-antly), all, [idiom] common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), [idiom] very (age). See also: Genesis 16:10; Job 32:7; Psalms 5:8.
חָכְמָתְ/ךָ֛
chokmâh
H2451
"wisdom"
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.
בִּ/רְכֻלָּתְ/ךָ֖
rᵉkullâh
H7404
"merchandise"
Prep | N-fs | Suff
Merchandise or trade refers to goods being bought and sold, as seen in the KJV Bible. This term is used to describe business or commerce. It involves the exchange of goods.
Definition: merchandise, traffic, trade
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: merchandise, traffic. See also: Ezekiel 26:12; Ezekiel 28:16; Ezekiel 28:18.
הִרְבִּ֣יתָ
râbâh
H7235
"to multiply"
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms
This word means to increase or grow, like a plant shooting up. It is used in the Bible to describe something getting bigger or more abundant. The KJV translates it as abundance or bring up.
Definition: 1) be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to become many, become numerous, multiply (of people, animals, things) 1a2) to be or grow great 1b) (Piel) to make large, enlarge, increase, become many 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to make much, make many, have many 1c1a) to multiply, increase 1c1b) to make much to do, do much in respect of, transgress greatly 1c1c) to increase greatly or exceedingly 1c2) to make great, enlarge, do much Aramaic equivalent: re.vah (רְבָה "to grow great" H7236)
Usage: Occurs in 215 OT verses. KJV: (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for H7232 (רָבַב)), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very. See also: Genesis 1:22; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Psalms 16:4.
חֵילֶ֑/ךָ
chayil
H2428
"Helech"
N-ms | Suff
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/יִּגְבַּ֥הּ
gâbahh
H1361
"to exult"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
To exult means to feel proud or haughty, like being lofty or high, as described in Psalms where God's ways are lofty and good.
Definition: 1) to be high, be exalted 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be high, lofty, tall 1a2) to be exalted 1a3) to be lofty 1a3a) to be lofty (of Jehovah's ways-good sense) 1a3b) to be haughty, be arrogant (bad sense) 1b) (Hiphil) to make high, exalt
Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: exalt, be haughty, be (make) high(-er), lift up, mount up, be proud, raise up great height, upward. See also: 1 Samuel 10:23; Isaiah 7:11; Psalms 103:11.
לְבָבְ/ךָ֖
lêbâb
H3824
"heart"
N-ms | Suff
The heart is the innermost part of a person, including their mind, will, and emotions. In the book of Psalms, David talks about his heart being heavy with sorrow, while in the book of Proverbs, it discusses the importance of guarding one's heart.
Definition: 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding 1a) inner part, midst 1a1) midst (of things) 1a2) heart (of man) 1a3) soul, heart (of man) 1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will) 1a6) conscience 1a7) heart (of moral character) 1a8) as seat of appetites 1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825)
Usage: Occurs in 230 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, [idiom] unawares, understanding. See also: Genesis 20:5; 1 Chronicles 17:2; Psalms 4:5.
בְּ/חֵילֶֽ/ךָ
chayil
H2428
"Helech"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
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.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 28:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 28:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 28:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 28:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:5
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:5
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 28:5
- Sermons on Ezekiel 28:5
Context — A Prophecy against the Ruler of Tyre
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, 7behold, I will bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and will defile your splendor.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 62:10 | Place no trust in extortion, or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. |
| 2 | Psalms 52:7 | “Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.” |
| 3 | Ezekiel 28:2 | “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. |
| 4 | Hosea 13:6 | When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me. |
| 5 | James 4:13–14 | Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. |
| 6 | Hosea 12:7–8 | A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands. And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.” |
| 7 | Proverbs 11:28 | He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage. |
| 8 | Job 31:24–25 | If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security, if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much, |
| 9 | 1 Timothy 6:17 | Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 8:13–14 | and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. |
Ezekiel 28:5 Summary
[This verse is saying that when we become very good at something, like trading or business, and we start to earn a lot of money, it's easy to start feeling proud of ourselves and to forget about God. As it says in Deuteronomy 8:17-18, we must remember that our success comes from God, not just our own efforts. We need to be careful not to let our pride get the best of us, and instead, we should stay humble and thankful for what God has given us, as seen in 1 Corinthians 4:7.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main issue with the person being addressed in Ezekiel 28:5?
The main issue is that their heart has grown proud because of their wealth and success, which is a warning seen elsewhere in Scripture, such as Proverbs 16:18, where it says that pride goes before destruction.
Is it wrong to be skilled in trading and to increase one's wealth?
No, it's not wrong to be skilled in trading or to increase one's wealth, as seen in Proverbs 10:4-5, but the problem arises when one's heart becomes proud because of it, leading to a lack of humility and dependence on God, as taught in Deuteronomy 8:17-18.
How does this verse relate to the idea of idolatry?
This verse relates to the idea of idolatry because when one's heart becomes proud due to their own accomplishments, they can begin to regard themselves as god-like, as seen in the next verse, Ezekiel 28:6, which is a form of idolatry, warned against in Exodus 20:3-5.
What is the consequence of allowing pride to grow in one's heart?
The consequence of allowing pride to grow in one's heart is that it can lead to a fall, as seen in Ezekiel 28:7, where God says He will bring foreigners against the proud person, and also in other parts of Scripture, such as Proverbs 29:23 and 1 Peter 5:6-7.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I have experienced success or increase, and how have I responded to these blessings?
- In what ways can I guard my heart against pride, and instead cultivate humility and dependence on God?
- How can I use my skills and resources to glorify God, rather than to elevate myself?
- What are some warning signs that I may be growing proud, and how can I seek accountability and correction from others?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 28:5
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic,.... Or, "by thy great wisdom in thy traffic" (i); through great skill in trade and commerce: hast thou increased thy riches; to a very great degree, a
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 28:5
By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: By thy great wisdom ... hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:5
Thy great wisdom: here the eminent degree of this prince’ s wisdom is owned. And by thy traffic: and might as well be spared, for as it is not in the Hebrew, so it rather obscures than clears the text; let it be read, By thy great wisdom in thy traffic, and it is very plain, and so the French reads it increased; made great or enlarged. Thy riches; thy power, as . Is lifted up; exalts itself, carrieth it loftily and proudly above thy neighbours, which is not good; above thyself, which is worse; and above God too, which is worst of all, as . Thy riches; thy puissance at home and abroad, by nature and art.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:5
Ezekiel 28:5 By thy great wisdom [and] by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:Ver. 5. Thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches.] Like as the higher the flood riseth, the higher also doth the boat that floateth thereon. A small blast will blow up a bubble, so will a few paltry pounds puff up a carnal heart. By thy great wisdom.] Here God did nothing. And such, for all the world, saith Oecolampadius, are our freewill men, with their ego feci, this I did. Such feci’ s I did it’ s are no better than faeces, dregs saith Luther; that is, dregs and dross.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 28:5
Verse 5. By thy great wisdom] He attributed every thing to himself; he did not acknowledge a Divine providence. As he got all by himself, so he believed he could keep all by himself, and had no need of any foreign help.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 28:5
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 28:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Transcendence of El Elyon by Aeron Morgan | Aeron Morgan emphasizes the transcendence and majesty of God, El Elyon, as revealed in Psalms 91. He highlights the security and refuge found in God for those who trust in Him, con |
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The Prodigal - 1 of 2 by David Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the parable of the prodigal son from Luke chapter 15. He emphasizes the character of the father in the story, highlighting his wealth, genero |
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On the Danger of Increasing Riches by John Wesley | John Wesley warns about the spiritual dangers associated with increasing wealth, emphasizing that riches can lead to a heart that is set on material possessions rather than on God. |
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Proverbs 13:7 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith explores the misconceptions surrounding wealth in his sermon 'The Poor Rich Man,' emphasizing that riches do not guarantee happiness or contentment. He highlights the c |
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The Constant Cry of the Rod by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that the rod of affliction serves as a powerful teacher, urging believers to detach their affections from worldly comforts and to recognize their ultimate |
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Luke 8:15 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the parable of the sower in Luke 8:15, illustrating how the Word of God is received by different types of hearts represented by four soils. He describes the |
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Of Well-Using Abundance by William Gouge | William Gouge emphasizes the importance of using worldly abundance wisely, drawing from the examples of patriarchs like Job, David, and Solomon. He provides both negative and affir |