Ezekiel 27:32 · Bible study
Ezekiel 27:32 Commentary: The Lament Over Tyre's Destruction
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the lament over Tyre's unique destruction in Ezekiel 27:32 and its prophetic link to Revelation's Babylon.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Tyre's destruction is so complete that it becomes a unique object of lament, unmatched in its fall.
- Key words: Lamentation (formal dirge), brought to silence (literally 'cut off' or 'destroyed'), in the midst of the sea (the island setting becomes a tomb).
- Main debate: Whether the lament is solely about historical Tyre or also prefigures the eschatological judgment on Babylon (Revelation 18).
- Theological theme: God judges pride and economic exploitation; human glory is fleeting when set against divine sovereignty.
- Best use: A sobering warning against trusting in wealth and a call to humility before God.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
As 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?
WEB World English Bible 2000
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?’
KJV King James Version 1769
And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, Who is there like Tyre, like her that is brought to silence in the midst of the sea?
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And lifted up for thee have their sons a lamentation, And they have lamented over thee, who is as Tyre? As the cut-off one in the midst of the sea?
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, [saying,] Who is like Tyre, like her that is destroyed in the midst of the sea?
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And they shall take up a mournful song for thee, and shall lament thee: What city is like Tyre, which is become silent in the midst of the sea?
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y levantarán sobre ti endechas en sus lamentaciones, y endecharán sobre ti diciendo: ¿ Quién como Tiro, como la destruída en medio de la mar?
E levantarão lamentação sobre em seu pranto, e lamentarão sobre ti dizendo: Quem foi como Tiro, como a que agora está silenciada no meio do mar?
Dans leur douleur, ils diront une complainte sur toi,
Es werden auch ihre Kinder über dich wehklagen: Ach! wer ist jemals auf dem Meer so still geworden wie du, Tyrus?
En zij zullen in hun gekerm een klaaglied over u opheffen, en over u weeklagen, zeggende: Wie is geweest als Tyrus, als de uitgeroeide in het midden der zee?
e, nella loro angoscia, pronunzieranno su di te una lamentazione, e si lamenteranno così riguardo a te: Chi fu mai come Tiro, come questa città, ora muta in mezzo al mare?
Uczynią, mówię, nad tobą lament żałośny, a będą narzekali nad tobą, mówiąc: Któreż miasto podobne jest Tyrowi, wyciętemu w pośrodku morza?
и в сетовании своем поднимут плачевную песнь о тебе, и так зарыдают о тебе: "кто как Тир, так разрушенный посреди моря!
他們哀號的時候，為你 作起 哀歌 哀哭，說：有何城 如泰爾？有何城如他在海 中 成為寂寞的呢？
And in their weeping they will make a song of grief for you, sorrowing over you and saying, Who is like Tyre, who has come to an end in the deep sea?
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Ezekiel 27:32 functions as a funeral lament for Tyre, likening its fall to a once-great city now 'brought to silence' in the sea. Gill notes that Tyre, formerly renowned for riches and splendor, becomes unmatched in its ruin, 'as there was none like it a few years ago for riches, so now there is none like it for misery.' Keil and Delitzsch observe that the lament employs an elegiac tone, with the Hebrew term for 'wailing' (a contracted form of nehi) pointing to a formal dirge. The Cambridge Bible suggests the line is in elegiac metre, emphasizing the stark contrast between Tyre's past glory and its present desolation. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown highlight that 'the destroyed' literally means 'one brought to death's stillness,' fitting the imagery of the island city overwhelmed by the sea. This lament directly anticipates the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18:18, where the cry 'What is like the great city?' echoes Tyre's question. The consensus is clear: Tyre's catastrophe is a unique act of divine judgment on worldly pride and economic power, serving as a warning for all nations.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The lament describes Tyre's unique destruction as a sobering act of divine judgment on pride and economic power.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Historical fulfillment vs. eschatological type | All traditions agree that Ezekiel 27 addresses the literal fall of Tyre to Nebuchadnezzar and later Alexander the Great. | Some Protestant interpreters see Tyre as a type of the world's economic system that will be judged at the end of history, while more historicist readings limit it to the ancient city. |
| Meaning of 'brought to silence' | Most agree it indicates death-like stillness, as opposed to the bustle of commerce. | Whether this represents literal destruction (complete annihilation) or a figurative silence (loss of influence) varies; Calvin leans toward symbolic silence of pride. |
| Connection to Revelation 18 | Nearly all Christian commentators see a parallel between Tyre and Babylon in Revelation. | The strength of the connection: some say direct prophecy, others argue typological reapplication without direct predictive link. |
| Appropriateness of lament | The lament is sincere, not mocking; it reflects the tragic nature of judgment. | Whether the lament is offered by Tyre's allies out of genuine grief or merely as a rhetorical device of the prophet; Keil & Delitzsch favor the latter. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The city of Tyre was located on the Mediterranean coast, with a wealthy island fortress that dominated maritime trade. By the time of Ezekiel's prophecy (around 588, 586 BC), Tyre had flourished for centuries, becoming a hub of commerce that enriched kings and nations. Ezekiel 27 uses an extended allegory of Tyre as a magnificent ship, built from the finest materials and manned by skilled sailors from many lands (Ezekiel 27:4, 9). Its 'perfect beauty' (Ezekiel 27:3) and pride in its economic might are central themes. The lament in verse 32 is part of a larger dirge (Ezekiel 27:1, 36) that mourns the city's destruction, which would be carried out by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Ezekiel 26:7, 12). The east wind, a symbol of divine judgment in Palestinian context (cf. Psalm 48:8, Ezekiel 27:26), breaks the ship of Tyre 'in the heart of the seas.' Wesley captures the irony: 'Alas! what was once her safeguard, is now her grave.' The surrounding verses depict mariners and pilots weeping, casting dust on their heads, and shaving themselves bald, traditional expressions of mourning (Ezekiel 27:29, 31). The historical context underscores that Tyre's destruction was not merely political but theological: God judged the city for its hubris and exploitation of other nations.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for Ezekiel 27:32. The main issue is the interpretation of the Hebrew phrase 'like the destroyed' (כְּמָה הַנִּדְמְתָה). The Cambridge Bible calls it 'very obscure,' but no alternative reading is proposed. The translations uniformly render it as 'destroyed' or 'brought to silence.'
Reception History
Throughout church history, Ezekiel 27:32 has been read as a vivid illustration of divine judgment on human pride. Early Christian writers, such as Jerome, saw Tyre as a symbol of worldly commerce deserving punishment. During the Reformation, commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry applied the lament to the fall of any nation that trusts in wealth rather than God. The image of Tyre 'silenced in the midst of the sea' has been used in hymns and sermons to warn against the fleeting nature of economic empires. In modern scholarship, the passage is often studied as a precursor to the apocalyptic language of Revelation 18, where the fall of Babylon evokes the same cry: 'What is like the great city?'
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Unique Fall of Pride: Tyre was unmatched in its glory, and now it is unmatched in its ruin. The question 'Who is there like Tyre?' contrasts the city's former boasts with its total desolation.
- The Universality of Lament: The sailors, kings, and merchants all join the mourning. Sin's consequences affect more than the sinner, entire economies and communities are shaken.
- The Echo in Revelation: Tyre's fall prefigures the destruction of Babylon in Revelation 18. God's judgment on economic pride is consistent from the Old Testament to the New.
Five-point outline
- The Lamentation: A formal dirge issued by those who once benefited from Tyre's trade.
- The Question: 'Who is like Tyre?', an ironic exclamation that underscores the city's solitary ruin.
- The Description: 'Brought to silence in the middle of the sea', the bustling port becomes a silent grave.
- The Judgment: God brings down the proud city through natural forces (the east wind) and human agency (Babylon).
- The Warning: Economic empires built on pride and injustice will not stand.
Illustration hooks
- The Corporation Collapse: A major corporation that once dominated its industry goes bankrupt overnight, leaving employees, suppliers and communities devastated. The news coverage mirrors Tyre's lament.
- The Island Resort: A luxurious island resort that once attracted the wealthy becomes abandoned after a hurricane, its silence a stark contrast to its former festivity.
- The Debt Crisis: A nation that borrowed heavily becomes silenced when its economy collapses; the international community wrings its hands in lament and fear.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God judged Tyre for its wealth, is it wrong for Christians to pursue success and prosperity?
- How do we discern the difference between enjoying God's blessings and trusting in riches?
- Does this passage have any relevance for modern economic systems or nations?
Leading a Discussion
This passage depicts the stark reversal of Tyre's fortunes. Where the city once boasted of its beauty and trade, it now lies silenced in the sea. As you read Ezekiel 27:32 in its context (Ezekiel 27:26, 36), consider how the lament reflects God's response to pride and injustice.
Discussion questions
- What made Tyre so remarkable in its prime, according to Ezekiel 27? (See verses 3, 9, 12, 25)
- How does the imagery of Tyre as a ship help us understand both its glory and its fall? (Ezekiel 27:26)
- Why do you think the lament emphasizes that Tyre is destroyed 'in the middle of the sea'?
- The mourners include sailors, kings, and merchants. What does their grief suggest about the interconnectedness of sin and suffering?
- Read Revelation 18:9, 19. How does John's lament over Babylon echo Ezekiel's lament over Tyre?
- In what ways do nations or individuals today place their trust in economic power rather than in God?
- What practical steps can we take to ensure our work and resources honor God rather than feed pride?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Lamentations 1:12 | “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look, and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which is brought on me, with which Yahweh has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. |
| Lamentations 2:13 | What shall I testify to you? What shall I liken to you, daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to you, that I may comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is as big as the sea. Who can heal you? |
| Ezekiel 26:4 | They will destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers. I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her a bare rock. |
| Ezekiel 26:5 | She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the middle of the sea; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord Yahweh. ‘She will become plunder for the nations. |
| Ezekiel 26:17 | They will take up a lamentation over you, and tell you, “How you are destroyed, who were inhabited by seafaring men, the renowned city, who was strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, who caused their terror to be on all who lived there!” |
| Ezekiel 27:2 | “You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; |
| Ezekiel 27:26 | Your rowers have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas. |
| Revelation of John 18:18 | and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’ |
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
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What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the rhetorical question about Tyre introduces what follows as the proper lamentation. In his view, from this point to the chapter's end the text shifts into a formal mourning song over the city's fall.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the lament over Tyre uses an elegiac meter and that the word for "wailing" is a contracted form. He also suggests the phrase "what city" should likely read "who is like Tyre," though the expression "like the destroyed" remains obscure and no better reading has been found.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight a bitter irony: Tyre, once proud of its island security, is now mourned as the city utterly destroyed in the very sea that made it seem invincible. The lament emphasizes that no other city met such complete ruin in such a setting.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the bitter irony in the lament over Tyre: the city once unequalled in wealth and glory is now unequalled in ruin and silence. Where joyful voices once filled the air, nothing is heard anymore. The very sea that brought her riches now witnesses her destruction.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights the contrast between Tyre's former bustling commerce and its new state of deathlike stillness. The word "destroyed" literally means one brought to death's stillness, while the phrase "in the midst of the sea" points to insular Tyre, the island city.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasize that the allegory of Tyre as a magnificent merchant ship is deliberately shattered by the violent east wind, starkly contrasting its former glory with total loss. They note the careful repetition of wording to show that every person and possession—sailors, merchants, soldiers, and cargo—sinks together, and the lamentation includes rival traders hissing in malicious joy.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads Tyre's lamentation as an allegory of a state-ship, every detail of its construction and crew drawn from the nations with which it traded. The point is that Tyre's perfect beauty, self-praised in the heart of the sea, becomes the very place of its shipwreck and ruin.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights the bitter irony of the Egyptians' fate: the same sea that had been their pathway of pursuit and a wall of protection for Israel became their grave. What once safeguarded them now swallowed them.