Read · Listen · Study

Ezekiel 27 · Berean Standard Bible

Playback speed

¹Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ²“Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre. ³Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says: You have said, O Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’ ⁴Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty. ⁵They constructed all your planking with cypress from Senir. They took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you. ⁶Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, inlaid with ivory. ⁷Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning. ⁸The men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen. Your men of skill, O Tyre, were there as your captains. ⁹The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights, repairing your leaks. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to barter for your merchandise. ¹⁰Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put served as warriors in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls; they gave you splendor. ¹¹Men of Arvad and Helech manned your walls all around, and the men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they perfected your beauty. ¹²Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares. ¹³Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise. ¹⁴The men of Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares. ¹⁵The men of Dedan were your clients; many coastlands were your market; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony. ¹⁶Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares. ¹⁷Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise. ¹⁸Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar, ¹⁹and casks of wine from Izal for your wares. Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were exchanged for your merchandise. ²⁰Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding. ²¹Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats. ²²The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones. ²³Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you, and so did the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad. ²⁴In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted. ²⁵The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea. ²⁶Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea. ²⁷Your wealth, wares, and merchandise, your sailors, captains, and shipwrights, your merchants and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall. ²⁸The countryside will shake when your sailors cry out. ²⁹All who handle the oars will abandon their ships. The sailors and all the captains of the sea will stand on the shore. ³⁰They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes. ³¹They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning. ³²As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament for you: ‘Who was ever like Tyre, silenced in the middle of the sea? ³³When your wares went out to sea, you satisfied many nations. You enriched the kings of the earth with your abundant wealth and merchandise. ³⁴Now you are shattered by the seas in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and the people among you have gone down with you. ³⁵All the people of the coastlands are appalled over you. Their kings shudder with fear; their faces are contorted. ³⁶Those who trade among the nations hiss at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’ ”

Berean Standard Bible · public domain. More versions and languages in the Reading Plan.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 27

The Lament of Tyre: The Fall of the Glorious Merchant Ship

✦

Objective

To proclaim the sovereign judgment of God upon Tyre, a city exalted for its wealth and maritime power, revealing the consequences of pride and reliance on worldly riches and alliances.

Overview

Ezekiel 27 presents a poetic lamentation over Tyre, depicted as a magnificent merchant ship whose beauty and strength come from diverse nations and resources. The chapter catalogs the extensive trade partnerships and the wealth that made Tyre renowned. Yet, this glory is destined to collapse violently, as the city is shattered by the east wind and swallowed by the sea. The lament mourns the loss of Tyre’s riches, its people, and its influence, emphasizing the certainty of divine judgment against prideful self-exaltation.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel, commanding him to raise a lamentation for Tyre, a city situated at the entry of the sea, renowned as a merchant among many islands. Tyre declares itself to be of perfect beauty, confident in its own splendor and strength.

Central Themes

Divine initiative in judgment

the call to mourn a proud city

self-exaltation as a prelude to downfall.

Cultural & Historical Context

Tyre was a prominent Phoenician city-state, a maritime power controlling trade routes and known for its craftsmanship and wealth. Its pride in beauty and strength reflects a common ancient Near Eastern motif of city-states boasting of their might and glory (cf. Isaiah 23; Jeremiah 25:22).

Key Verse

Ezekiel 27:3

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

The Summons to Lament for Tyre (Verses 1–3)

A solitary prophet stands on a rocky shore at dawn, the vast sea behind him. The city of Tyre rises proudly on an island, its walls gleaming in the morning light, yet a shadow of impending doom looms over it like a gathering storm.

The Splendor of Tyre’s Construction and Resources (Verses 4–11)

A majestic ship crafted from the finest cedars and firs, its sails richly embroidered in blue and purple, adorned with ivory benches. Skilled artisans and mariners from many nations work in harmony, their faces determined, as the ship prepares to sail into the wide ocean.

The Vast Trade Network of Tyre (Verses 12–25)

A bustling marketplace filled with exotic goods: silver and gold gleaming, spices perfuming the air, vibrant textiles fluttering, horses and chariots ready to depart. Merchants from distant lands exchange goods and stories, their voices mingling in a symphony of commerce.

The Coming Destruction and Lamentation (Verses 26–36)

A violent east wind tears through the sea, breaking the great ship of Tyre into pieces. Mariners and warriors stand on the shore, faces streaked with tears, dust on their heads, garments torn, as they wail over the ruins. The once-glorious city lies in shattered silence beneath a darkened sky.

Song

Ezekiel 27 Song

Verse 1

O Tyre, you boast in perfect beauty, Your walls rise high above the sea, Crafted with cedar, fir, and ivory, A merchant proud, your glory free.

Verse 2

From many lands your treasures flow, Silver, spices, cloths that glow, Kings enriched by your fair trade, Yet none can stand when God’s hand’s made.

Chorus

But pride will fall like crashing waves, The east wind breaks your mighty sails, All your riches, all your halls, Will sink beneath the ocean’s calls.

Bridge

Mariners weep upon the shore, Dust and ashes mark their core, What city stands like Tyre no more? The sea has claimed her as before.

Final Chorus

Pride will fall like crashing waves, The east wind breaks your mighty sails, All your riches, all your halls, Will sink beneath the ocean’s calls. O Tyre, O Tyre, your glory fades, In God’s great judgment, none evade.

Practical Application

Personal Life

Recognize the danger of pride in personal achievements and possessions.

Trust not in worldly wealth or status but in God’s sustaining grace.

Cultivate humility, remembering that all blessings come from the Lord.

Community & Society

Guard against reliance on economic power or alliances as ultimate security.

Encourage communities to place God’s justice and mercy above material success.

Mourn with those who suffer loss and support restoration grounded in faith.

Global Perspective

Understand the fragility of global commerce and political alliances apart from God’s sovereignty.

Pray for nations to seek God’s wisdom rather than prideful self-reliance.

Promote justice and humility in international relations, remembering God’s judgment on the proud.

Conclusion

Ezekiel 27 stands as a solemn oracle against Tyre, a city exalted for its wealth, craftsmanship, and alliances. Its portrayal as a magnificent ship reveals the interconnectedness of nations and the allure of worldly glory. Yet, the chapter warns that pride and self-sufficiency apart from God lead to inevitable ruin. The lamentation calls all to recognize the sovereignty of God over nations and to place trust in Him alone, embracing humility and dependence rather than boasting in transient riches.