Ezekiel 27

The LORD’s word came again to me, saying,

“You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;

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: “You, Tyre, have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

Your borders are in the heart of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty.

They have made all your planks of cypress trees from Senir. They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

They have made your oars of the oaks of Bashan. They have made your benches of ivory inlaid in cypress wood from the islands of Kittim.

Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, that it might be to you for a banner. Blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.

The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers. Your wise men, Tyre, were in you. They were your pilots.

The old men of Gebal and its wise men were your repairers of ship seams in you. All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to deal in your merchandise.

“‘“Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you. They showed your beauty.

The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and valiant men were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around. They have perfected your beauty.

“‘“Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.

“‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.

“‘“They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules.

“‘“The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange.

“‘“Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.

“‘“Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise.

“‘“Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.

“‘“Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were among your merchandise.

“‘“Dedan was your merchant in precious saddle blankets for riding.

“‘“Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favorite dealers in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.

“‘“The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your traders. They traded for your wares with the best of all spices, all precious stones, and gold.

“‘“Haran, Canneh, Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traders.

These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in cedar chests of rich clothing bound with cords, among your merchandise.

“‘“The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise. You were replenished and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.

Your rowers have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas.

Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war who are in you, with all your company which is among you, will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin.

At the sound of the cry of your pilots, the pasture lands will shake.

All who handle the oars, the mariners and all the pilots of the sea, will come down from their ships. They will stand on the land,

and will cause their voice to be heard over you, and will cry bitterly. They will cast up dust on their heads. They will wallow in the ashes.

They will make themselves bald for you, and clothe themselves with sackcloth. They will weep for you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning.

In their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you, and lament over you, saying, ‘Who is there like Tyre, like her who is brought to silence in the middle of the sea?’

When your wares came from the seas, you filled many peoples. You enriched the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise.

In the time that you were broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company fell within you.

All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at you, and their kings are horribly afraid. They are troubled in their face.

The merchants among the peoples hiss at you. You have come to a terrible end, and you will be no more.”’”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter records a lamentation for Tyre, a powerful maritime city famed for its wealth, beauty, and extensive trade networks. The Lord commands Ezekiel to mourn its impending fall, not as a victim of mere political rivalry, but as a judgment for its pride and self-exaltation. The poetic structure portrays Tyre as a magnificent ship adorned with the finest materials from across the ancient world, yet destined to be shattered by divine judgment when the east wind of destruction strikes it in the heart of the seas.

Flow.

The chapter opens with God instructing Ezekiel to deliver a dirge over Tyre, addressing its self-proclaimed perfection in beauty (vv. 1–3).
The prophet then details the city’s grandeur, symbolized by a lavishly constructed ship built from the best woods, cloths, and craftsmen drawn from across the known world (vv. 4–9).
A comprehensive list of trading partners highlights the extent of Tyre’s commercial influence, stretching from Tarshish to Arabia and beyond, all contributing to its wealth and power (vv. 12–24).
The tone shifts abruptly as the Lord declares that the east wind will wreck this proud vessel, causing all its riches, crew, and traders to sink in the deep, prompting universal lament and astonishment (vv. 25–36).

Connections. Following chapter 26, which prophesied the siege and desolation of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar, this lament deepens the theme of divine judgment against Gentile commerce rooted in pride. It prepares the way for chapter 28, which shifts focus to the king of Tyre, exposing not only national arrogance but also a spiritual rebellion that echoes Edenic pride (cf. WCF 6.1 on the fall of man), thereby linking commercial hubris with deeper moral and cosmic corruption.

What it teaches. The passage unfolds the principle that human glory founded on wealth and self-exaltation is fragile and subject to God’s sovereign reversal. Tyre’s pride in its security and beauty (Ezek. 27:3) is met with a divine reckoning that strips away its prosperity and leaves it a byword (cf. WCF 5.7 on God’s providence in ordering judgment). The universal mourning at its fall reflects the city’s global significance, yet underscores that no nation, no matter how adorned or interconnected, escapes God’s moral governance. Its destruction serves as a testimony to God’s holiness and the vanity of earthly majesty apart from Him (cf. HC LD 1, Q&A 1: “What is your only comfort in life and death?”).

Apply. The collapse of a once-unshakable city reminds us that trust placed in commerce, connections, or craftsmanship will ultimately founder on the deep.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.