Ezekiel 28:18

Ezekiel 28:18

Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

a. NLT: You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade.
So I brought fire out from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.

b. NIV: By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.

c. YLT: From the abundance of thy iniquity, By the perversity of thy traffic, Thou hast polluted thy sanctuaries, And I bring forth fire from thy midst, It hath devoured thee, And I make thee become ashes on the earth, Before the eyes of all beholding thee.

d. Amplified Bible: You have profaned your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities and the enormity of your guilt, by the unrighteousness of your trade. Therefore I have brought forth a fire from your midst; it has consumed you, and I have reduced you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who looked at you.

e. Septuagint: Because of the multitude of thy sins and the iniquities of thy merchandise, I have profaned thy sacred things; and I will bring fire out of the midst of thee, this shall devour thee; and I will make thee [to be] ashes upon thy land before all that see thee.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: By the multitude of your iniquities, by the dishonesty of your commerce. You desecrated your sanctuaries; so I drew out a fire from within you. It consumed you; thus I made you into ashes upon the earth in the eyes of all who see you.

1. “Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities…”

a. [Thou hast] defiled [Strong: 2490 chalal khaw-lal'; a primitive root (Compare 2470); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. (from 2485) to play (the flute):--begin (X men began), defile, X break, defile, X eat (as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof, X take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.]

b. [thy] sanctuaries [Strong: 4720 miqdash mik-dawsh' or miqqdash (Exod. 15:17) {mik-ked-awsh'}; sacred place, sanctuary, holy place, sanctuary, of the temple, of the tabernacle, of Ezekiel's temple, of Jehovah.]

1). Similar wording is used by Ezekiel in describing Jews coming into the Temple after they had just sacrificed children. These Jews defiled the temple by their presence because they were in rebellion by participating in unrepentant sin and then coming into the temple.

a). Ezekiel 23:37-39 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.

23:38 Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.

23:39 For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.

2). Here in Ezekiel 28:18 Lucifer defiled his sanctuaries by the multitude of his iniquities. Looking at the comparative text in Ezekiel 23 it may be that while he was carrying out his sacred duties for the Lord God he was also participating in a multitude of iniquity and as the rest of the verse reveals, spreading his rebellion by his music. 

c. [by the] multitude [Strong: 7230 rob robe; from 7231; abundance (in any respect):--abundance(- antly), all, X common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), X very (age).]

d. [of thine] iniquities [Strong: 5771 `avon aw-vone' or oavown; from 5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.]

1). All of the translations are in agreement that “sanctuaries” is plural. This could refer to the places his ministry took him or where he carried out or administered his responsibilities. There is a passage in Hebrews that I believe possibly touches on this. Notice the wording carefully.

a). Hebrews 9:22, 23 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 

9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

2). The patterns of the things in the heavens were purified with the blood of bulls and goats, but the heavenly things themselves were purified with the blood of Christ. The heavenly sanctuary from which the pattern, the blueprint of the earthly sanctuary was designed could only be purified by the blood of Christ. Lucifer defiled the sanctuary in heaven and perhaps others because the word is plural.    

2. “…by the iniquity of thy traffic…”

a. [by the] iniquity [Strong: 5766 `evel eh'-vel or lavel {aw'-vel}; and (feminine) lavlah {av-law'}; or owlah {o-law'}; or .olah {o-law'}; from 5765; (moral) evil:--iniquity, perverseness, unjust(-ly), unrighteousness(-ly); wicked(-ness).]

b. [of thy] traffic [Strong: 7404 rkullah rek-ool-law'; feminine passive participle of 7402; trade (as peddled):--merchandise, traffic.]

1). The Word says Lucifer defiled his sanctuaries by two things, “the multitude of thine iniquities”  and by “the iniquity of thy traffic”.

2). The RSV reads, “in the unrighteousness of your trade “; while the NIV reads, “dishonest trade”; The NKJV reads, “the iniquity of your trading”; In the word “traffic” I can’t help but call to mind the use of the word in present day America when someone is arrested for selling drugs, it is referred to as “drug trafficking”. 

3). Isaiah 14:9-15 is a companion passage to Ezekiel 28:11-19 in that it speaks about the fall of Lucifer. Notice closely in Isaiah 14:11 what it says about music, “the noise of thy viols.”

a). Isaiah 14:9-15 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 

14:10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 

14:11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

b). Isaiah 14:11 not only ties music to Lucifer, it ties music to the fall of Lucifer. The Hebrew definitions reveal this.

(1) noise [Strong: 1998 hemyah hem-yaw'; from 1993; sound:--noise.] [Gesenius: sound of musical instruments.]

(2) viols [Strong: 5035 ebel neh'-bel or nebel {nay'-bel}; from 5034; a skin-bag for liquids (from collapsing when empty); hence, a vase (as similar in shape when full); also a lyre (as having a body of like form):--bottle, pitcher, psaltery, vessel, viol.]

2). Combine the Isaiah passage with Ezekiel 28:13. In the school of thought that holds to “pipes” being a musical instrument, we see all three musical instrument families represented, percussion-tabrets, stringed-viols, and wind-pipes. If not, at least there is no doubt about tabrets and viols as being musical. My conclusion is music was incorporated into his creation and ministry and music was involved in his fall, and music was used to spread his rebellion among the angels that sided with him.

 3. “…therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee…”

a. therefore I will bring forth [Strong:3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'; a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any time, X to (and fro), utter.]

1). The meaning of this phrase could be about the creation of hell. There is a verse in Deuteronomy that seemingly speaks about hell.

a). Deuteronomy 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

2). Scripture is clear about why hell was created, it certainly was not created for man, it was created for the devil and his followers.

a). Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 

3). In light of that, the meaning of this phrase in Ezekiel 28:18 could be referring to the creation of not only hell but also “the lake of fire” which will be the final destination of the devil. 

a). Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

b. a fire [Strong: 784 'esh aysh; a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):-- burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.]

c. from the midst of thee [Strong: 8432 tavek taw'-vek; from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre:--among(-st), X between, half, X (there- ,where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), X out (of), X through, X with(-in).]

d. it shall devour thee [Strong: 398 'akal aw-kal'; a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, X quite.]

4. “…and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.”

a. I will bring thee [Strong: 5414 nathan naw-than'; a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander, strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.]

b. to ashes [Strong: 665 'epher ay'-fer; from an unused root meaning to bestrew; ashes:--ashes.]

1). Ashes in Scripture signify humility as in the case of Job after his severe trial and the city of Nineveh after they repented.

a). Job 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

b). Jonah 3:5, 6 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

2). But it also refers to judgment upon the enemies of God.

a). Malachi 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

c. upon the earth [Strong: 776 'erets eh'-rets; from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

d. in the sight [Strong: 5869 `ayin ah'-yin; probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).]

e. of all them that behold thee [Strong: 7200 ra'ah raw-aw'; a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.