Ezekiel 26:20
“then I will bring you down with those who descend into the pit, to the people of old time, and will make you dwell in the lower parts of the earth, in the places that are desolate of old, with those who go down to the pit, that you be not inhabited; and I will set glory in the land of the living.”
What does Ezekiel 26:20 mean?
Ezekiel is speaking God's judgment against the proud city of Tyre, which had grown wealthy and arrogant through trade. This verse uses the language of descent and darkness to show what happens when a nation built on greed and self-worship falls away from God, joining the forgotten empires of history in obscurity and ruin. But notice where the verse pivots, because there's hope even in judgment. The final phrase shifts focus: "I will set glory in the land of the living." This means that while pride and self-centeredness lead to emptiness and death, God's purpose is to establish true glory, beauty, and life among those who turn toward him. It's a reminder that God's judgment isn't random punishment but a call back toward what actually makes life worth living. If you're facing a season where something in your life feels like it's crumbling, this verse suggests that loss sometimes clears away what was never meant to last, making room for what God considers truly glorious: humility, connection to him, and life that endures.