Ezekiel Chapter 27 — The Lament for Tyre
Ezekiel records a lamentation for the city of Tyre, depicting it as a glorious merchant ship that eventually sinks into the depths of the sea.
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Notable Verses
Ezekiel 27:3
“and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord GOD says: Your borders are in the heart of the seas.’”
This verse establishes Tyre's identity as a preeminent center for international trade and maritime influence.
Ezekiel 27:26
“Your rowers have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas.”
This verse uses the ship metaphor to signal the beginning of the city's tragic and sudden downfall.
Chapter Summary
In Ezekiel 27, the prophet is commanded to take up a lament for the maritime city of Tyre. The chapter uses the metaphor of a magnificent ship to describe Tyre's wealth, beauty, and international influence. It details the premium materials used in its construction—cypress from Senir, oaks from Bashan, and fine linen from Egypt. A vast list of trading partners is provided, including Tarshish, Javan, Syria, Judah, and Arabia, highlighting the city's role as a global commercial hub during this period. However, the narrative shifts as Tyre is brought into great waters where it is broken by the east wind. The chapter concludes with the description of a sudden shipwreck and the intense mourning of the surrounding nations, pilots, and merchants who are astonished by its total and tragic collapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary metaphor used is that of a grand merchant ship. The city of Tyre is described as being built with the finest materials and manned by skilled crews, representing its economic and maritime strength before its destruction.
Ezekiel 27 lists an extensive network including Tarshish, Javan, Syria, Judah, Israel, Damascus, and Arabia. These nations provided diverse goods like silver, bronze, wheat, honey, oil, wine, and precious stones.
The lament ends with a description of a catastrophic shipwreck. As the metaphorical ship of Tyre sinks, the pilots, rowers, and merchants from other nations mourn loudly, expressing shock and fear at the city's sudden disappearance.
Study Note
The detailed list of trade goods and geographical locations in this chapter provides historians with significant insight into Mediterranean commerce during the 6th century BCE.
Related Chapters
Ezekiel 26
The previous chapter introduces the prophecy of judgment against Tyre.
Ezekiel 28
The following chapter continues the judgment on Tyre, focusing on the pride of its ruler.
Revelation 18
This New Testament passage uses similar imagery of fallen merchants and lost luxury to describe the fall of Babylon.
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