And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:
And shall cause their voice {H6963} to be heard {H8085} against thee, and shall cry {H2199} bitterly {H4751}, and shall cast up {H5927} dust {H6083} upon their heads {H7218}, they shall wallow {H6428} themselves in the ashes {H665}:
mourning aloud at your fate, crying bitterly, throwing dust on their heads, rolling in the ashes,
They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
and shall cause their voice to be heard over thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads; they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:
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Jeremiah 6:26
O daughter of my people, gird [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. -
Lamentations 2:10
¶ The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, [and] keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. -
2 Samuel 1:2
It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and [so] it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. -
Isaiah 23:1
¶ The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. -
Isaiah 23:6
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. -
Ezekiel 26:17
And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, [that wast] inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror [to be] on all that haunt it! -
1 Samuel 4:12
¶ And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
Ezekiel 27:30 vividly describes the profound sorrow and despair of those who witness the ultimate downfall of Tyre, a once-mighty maritime city. This verse is part of a prophetic lamentation, or dirge, that details the magnificent rise and tragic collapse of Tyre due to its immense pride and reliance on worldly wealth.
Context of Ezekiel 27:30
Ezekiel chapter 27 paints a detailed, almost poetic, picture of Tyre as a splendid ship, built with the finest materials and manned by skilled mariners from various nations, symbolizing its vast commercial empire and global influence. The chapter, delivered by the prophet Ezekiel, is a powerful prophecy against Tyre, foretelling its complete destruction. Verse 30 specifically depicts the reaction of the "kings of the earth" and the merchants, mariners, and traders who had prospered through their association with Tyre. Their actions—crying bitterly, casting dust on their heads, and wallowing in ashes—are ancient expressions of intense grief and desolation, signifying the catastrophic loss of their commercial hub and the source of their prosperity.
Meaning of Ezekiel 27:30
This verse graphically illustrates the depth of mourning among those economically tied to Tyre. The phrase "shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly" speaks to a loud, public lamentation, a wailing that signifies utter hopelessness. The acts of "casting up dust upon their heads" and "wallowing themselves in the ashes" are powerful, well-documented ancient Near Eastern mourning customs. Casting dust on one's head symbolized deep humility, defilement, and despair, while wallowing in ashes (often accompanied by sackcloth) was a sign of extreme sorrow, penitence, and profound loss. Together, these actions underscore the complete devastation and the irreversible nature of Tyre's fall, which also led to the ruin of those who depended on its trade.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew terms behind "cast up dust upon their heads" ('aphar - dust) and "wallow themselves in the ashes" ('epher - ashes) are common in biblical descriptions of mourning. These actions were not merely symbolic but were deeply ingrained cultural practices to express profound sorrow, humiliation, and even self-abasement in the face of tragedy. This physical expression of grief emphasized the complete and devastating impact of Tyre's destruction on its dependents.
Reflection and Application
Ezekiel 27:30 offers timeless lessons for a general audience. It is a powerful reminder that reliance on worldly systems, material prosperity, or human achievements apart from God is ultimately futile. The despair of Tyre's trading partners serves as a warning against placing ultimate trust in transient earthly resources. Instead, it encourages believers to seek security and hope in God alone, whose kingdom is eternal and unshakeable. This prophecy also affirms God's justice and His ultimate control over the rise and fall of nations, reminding us that all human endeavors are subject to His divine plan, as seen in other warnings against pride and materialism (e.g., Proverbs 16:18).