Ezekiel 26:1-6 Meaning: The Missing Month
1In the eleventh year, in the first of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is broken! She who was the gateway of the peoples has been returned to me. I will be replenished, now that she is laid waste;’
3therefore the Lord Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I am against you, Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up.
4They will destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers. I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her a bare rock.
5She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the middle of the sea; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord Yahweh. ‘She will become plunder for the nations.
6Her daughters who are in the field will be slain with the sword. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’
1And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:
3Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.
4And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.
5It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.
6And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
1And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the firstdayof the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, because that Tyre hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gate of the peoples; she is turned unto me; I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste:
3therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I am against thee, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth its waves to come up.
4And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her a bare rock.
5She shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Jehovah; and she shall become a spoil to the nations.
6And her daughters that are in the field shall be slain with the sword: and they shall know that I am Jehovah.
1And it cometh to pass, in the eleventh year, in the first of the month, there hath been a word of Jehovah unto me, saying: `Son of man,
2Because that Tyre hath said of Jerusalem: Aha, she hath been broken, the doors of the peoples, She hath turned round unto me, I am filled--she hath been laid waste,
3Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am against thee, O Tyre, And have caused to come up against thee many nations, As the sea causeth its billows to come up.
4And they have destroyed the walls of Tyre, And they have broken down her towers, And I have scraped her dust from her, And made her for a clear place of a rock.
5A spreading place of nets she is in the midst of the sea, For I--I have spoken--an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, And she hath been for a spoil to nations.
6And her daughters who are in the field, by sword they are slain, And they have known that I am Jehovah,
1And it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first of the month, [that] the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
2Son of man, because Tyre hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken, the gate of the peoples! she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished [now] she is laid waste;
3therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth its waves to come up.
4And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers. And I will scrape her dust from her, and make her a bare rock.
5She shall be [a place] for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea; for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord Jehovah; and she shall become a spoil for the nations.
6And her daughters that are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I [am] Jehovah.
Meaning in one sentence
Why is the month omitted in Ezekiel 26:1? The prophecy rebukes Tyre for gloating over fallen Jerusalem and pronounces God's judgment.
Context
Ezekiel writes from exile in Babylon. The date in verse 1 is precise but unusual: the eleventh year of Jehoiachin's captivity, the same year Jerusalem was taken, but no month is named. Most likely this word came soon after the city fell. Tyre, a wealthy Phoenician port, had heard the news and gloated. Jerusalem had been a gateway for international trade; with her ruined, Tyre expected to gain everything. But God heard their boast. In these verses He declares that He is against Tyre. Wave after wave of nations will come against her. Her walls and towers will fall, her dust scraped away, leaving a bare rock where fishermen spread nets. Her dependent towns will also be destroyed. The purpose is not mere punishment: it is so that all know He is the Lord.
Key Words
Three phrases carry the weight of this passage. “Aha!” is the sound of gloating, a cruel delight in someone else's ruin. The Hebrew word captures a sneer of satisfaction. Tyre was not mourning Jerusalem; they were celebrating. God hears every smug whisper. The “gate of the peoples” describes Jerusalem as a hub where traders from many nations passed through. Tyre saw that gate broken and thought, Now the trade will come to me. But no blessing comes from rejoicing over another's fall. Then God says He will “scrape her dust” from Tyre, a vivid image of total demolition. The city built on a rock would be scraped clean, left as bare as when it began. No trace of its wealth, no remnant of its pride. All that confidence in profit would be reduced to a drying rack for fishermen's nets.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions read this prophecy with a common focus on God's justice. Many see it fulfilled historically through Nebuchadnezzar's siege and later through Alexander the Great, who scraped the rubble of mainland Tyre into the sea to build a causeway. Others read it as a warning against pride and the seduction of wealth, applying the pattern to any nation or person who builds their fortune on the suffering of others. All agree that the passage calls readers to recognise God's sovereignty over the proud and His care for those who are crushed. The ultimate purpose, “Then they will know that I am Yahweh”, points to a desire for all people to acknowledge Him, whether through mercy or through judgment.
A common misunderstanding
Some think this prophecy failed because Tyre was not immediately reduced to a bare rock by Nebuchadnezzar. In fact, the prophecy speaks of “many nations” coming against Tyre, unfolded over centuries. Nebuchadnezzar weakened the city; later invaders, especially Alexander the Great, completed the scraping. The slow fulfillment does not mean the word was empty. God's judgments often come in waves, not all at once.
Living This Out
This week you might watch someone's business struggle or hear that a rival stumbled. Before you say a word, pause. Is there even a flicker of satisfaction because their loss might mean your gain? The passage asks you to check that impulse. Instead of gloating, pray. Ask God to show you how to mourn with those who mourn, even if they compete with you. Trust that your needs are met by His hand, not by another's failure. Let the sight of a fallen city remind you that no kingdom built on someone else's ruin can stand. Then quietly do what you can to help.
Main takeaway: Rejoicing over another's downfall invites God's judgment, but He alone lifts up and brings low.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
It is never okay to be happy when someone else gets hurt or loses something. God sees our hearts and wants us to be kind instead.
For ages 9, 12
Tyre cheered when Jerusalem was destroyed because they thought they would get more business. But God saw their mean heart and punished them for it. When someone else fails, even if you gain from it, God calls you to be compassionate. There is nothing good that comes from celebrating another person's suffering. Instead, ask how you can help.
Questions People Ask
Why is the month missing in Ezekiel 26:1?
Scholars suggest the month is omitted because the prophecy came immediately after the news of Jerusalem's fall reached Tyre. The dating emphasizes the eleventh year, the year of Jerusalem's destruction, and the absence of a specific month may indicate the prophecy was delivered soon after that event, possibly in the fifth month.
Was Tyre literally scraped down to a bare rock?
Yes and no. Nebuchadnezzar's siege did not completely level the city, but later Alexander the Great used the rubble of mainland Tyre to build a causeway to the island city, literally scraping its dust and leaving it a bare rock. The prophecy speaks of many nations bringing waves of destruction, and that process took centuries.
Why did God punish Tyre for rejoicing over Jerusalem?
Tyre's gloating revealed a heart that celebrated suffering and sought profit from another's ruin. God condemns rejoicing over anyone's disaster, especially His own people. The judgment shows that He defends the afflicted and opposes the proud who build on others' ashes.
What does 'her daughters in the field' mean?
It refers to the smaller towns and villages on the mainland that were dependent on Tyre. They would share in the city's destruction. This phrase is common in the Old Testament for subordinate settlements.
How can I apply this passage today without being a nation or a city?
The heart issue is the same: do you secretly hope a competitor fails so you can gain? Do you feel relief when someone else loses? The passage calls you to examine your reactions to others' troubles and to trust God for your provision, not another person's loss.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study