Ezekiel 27
Ezekiel 27 is a poetic lamentation over the city of Tyre, a powerful and prosperous port city renowned for its wealth, trade, and influence. Through a detailed description of its wealth, resources, and international trade, the chapter illustrates Tyre's splendor and the magnitude of its eventual downfall. The prophecy highlights the city's reliance on its own strength and alliances, ultimately pointing to the consequences of pride and overconfidence.
Ezekiel 27:1-3 (NKJV)
1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,
2 “Now, son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyre,
3 and say to Tyre, ‘You who are situated at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coastlands, thus says the Lord God: “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’
God instructs Ezekiel to deliver a lamentation for Tyre, a city known for its strategic location and its role as a major hub of trade across many coastlands. Tyre's claim to “perfect beauty” reflects its pride in its prosperity and influence, setting the tone for the judgment to come.
Ezekiel 27:4-7 (NKJV)
4 Your borders are in the midst of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty.
5 They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make you a mast.
6 Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; the company of Ashurites have inlaid your planks with ivory from the coasts of Cyprus.
7 Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was what you spread for your sail; blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was what covered you.
Ezekiel describes Tyre’s construction with materials from various places, symbolizing its global connections and the richness of its resources. The luxurious woods and fine linens signify the city’s economic strength and its dependence on foreign resources for its wealth.
Ezekiel 27:8-9 (NKJV)
8 “Inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen; your wise men, O Tyre, were in you; they became your pilots.
9 Elders of Gebal and its wise men were in you to caulk your seams; all the ships of the sea and their oarsmen were in you to market your merchandise.
Tyre’s crew was drawn from surrounding cities, showing its influence and the reliance on skilled labor from neighboring regions. By employing experts from Sidon, Arvad, and Gebal, Tyre ensured its ships' quality, reinforcing its reputation as a powerful trading center.
Ezekiel 27:10-11 (NKJV)
10 “Those from Persia, Lydia, and Libya were in your army as men of war; they hung shield and helmet in you; they gave splendor to you.
11 Men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and the men of Gammad were in your towers; they hung their shields on your walls all around; they made your beauty perfect.
The city’s defense included soldiers from Persia, Lydia, and Libya, suggesting Tyre's influence extended even to foreign military alliances. Tyre’s use of these mercenaries highlights its reliance on external strength, which added to its reputation but ultimately could not save it.
Ezekiel 27:12-13 (NKJV)
12 “Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods.
13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They bartered human lives and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.
Tyre’s trade with distant lands like Tarshish, Javan, Tubal, and Meshech indicates the extent of its economic reach. However, the mention of trading “human lives” underscores a darker side to its commerce, hinting at the ethical decay underlying its success.
Ezekiel 27:14-18 (NKJV)
14 Those from the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, steeds, and mules.
15 The men of Dedan were your traders; many isles were the market of your hand. They brought you ivory tusks and ebony as payment.
16 Syria was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made. They gave you emeralds, purple, embroidery, fine linen, corals, and rubies for your wares.
17 Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and balm.
18 Damascus was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made, because of your many luxury items, with the wine of Helbon and with white wool.
The variety of goods traded with Tyre reflects its economic diversity, with each partner providing unique resources. From luxury items like ivory and precious stones to essential provisions like wheat, Tyre’s wealth depended on these exchanges. The mention of Judah and Israel indicates Tyre’s reach even into lands of covenant, though this connection would not shield it from divine judgment.
Ezekiel 27:19-24 (NKJV)
19 Dan and Javan paid for your wares, traversing back and forth. Wrought iron, cassia, and cane were among your merchandise.
20 Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.
21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your regular merchants. They traded with you in lambs, rams, and goats.
22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah were your merchants. They traded for your wares the choicest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold.
23 Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad were your merchants.
24 These were your merchants in choice items—in purple clothes, in embroidered garments, in chests of multicolored apparel, in sturdy woven cords, which were in your marketplace.
The vast network of trading partners—from Arabia and Sheba to Assyria—reveals Tyre’s position as a global hub for commerce. The luxury items reflect Tyre’s prosperity and elevated status, yet these alliances ultimately could not protect it, serving as a reminder that material wealth is transient.
Ezekiel 27:25-27 (NKJV)
25 “The ships of Tarshish were carriers of your merchandise. You were filled and very glorious in the midst of the seas.
26 Your oarsmen brought you into many waters, but the east wind broke you in the midst of the seas.
27 “Your riches, wares, and merchandise, your mariners and pilots, your caulkers and merchandisers, all your men of war who are in you, and the entire company which is in your midst, will fall into the midst of the seas on the day of your ruin.
Though Tyre was “glorious in the midst of the seas,” the metaphor of the “east wind” suggests divine judgment. This once-thriving city, with all its wealth and defenders, would meet an abrupt end, illustrating the futility of pride in material achievements.
Ezekiel 27:28-36 (NKJV)
28 The common-land will shake at the sound of the cry of your pilots.
29 “All who handle the oar, the mariners, all the pilots of the sea will come down from their ships and stand on the shore.
30 They will make their voice heard because of you; they will cry bitterly and cast dust on their heads; they will roll about in ashes;
31 They will shave themselves completely bald because of you, gird themselves with sackcloth, and weep for you with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.
32 In their wailing for you they will take up a lamentation, and lament for you: ‘What city is like Tyre, destroyed in the midst of the sea?
33 ‘When your wares went out by sea, you satisfied many people; you enriched the kings of the earth with your many luxury goods and your merchandise.
34 But you are broken by the seas in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and the entire company will fall in your midst.
35 All the inhabitants of the isles will be astonished at you; their kings will be greatly afraid, and their countenance will be troubled.
36 The merchants among the peoples will hiss at you; you will become a horror, and be no more forever.’”
The reaction of Tyre’s neighbors and trading partners reflects the shock and mourning over its downfall. Once admired and envied, Tyre’s sudden end serves as a warning to other nations, highlighting that trust in wealth, influence, and alliances ultimately leads to ruin when it lacks divine favor.