Ezekiel 27:34

In the time [when] thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.

In the time {H6256} when thou shalt be broken {H7665} by the seas {H3220} in the depths {H4615} of the waters {H4325} thy merchandise {H4627} and all thy company {H6951} in the midst {H8432} of thee shall fall {H5307}.

But now you have been wrecked by the waves, sunk in the watery depths; your merchandise and all your people have gone down with you.

Now you are shattered by the seas in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and the people among you have gone down with you.

In the time that thou wast broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, thy merchandise and all thy company did fall in the midst of thee.

Commentary

Ezekiel 27:34 vividly depicts the catastrophic downfall of Tyre, a once-mighty maritime trading city, using the powerful imagery of a ship sinking into the ocean's depths. This verse marks the culmination of the lamentation over Tyre, emphasizing the complete loss of its vast wealth and its entire population.

Context of Ezekiel 27:34

Chapter 27 of Ezekiel is an elaborate funeral dirge, or lamentation, for the city of Tyre. Known throughout the ancient world for its unparalleled commercial prowess and naval strength, Tyre is personified as a magnificent ship built from the finest materials and manned by a crew from diverse nations. The preceding verses detail Tyre's immense prosperity, its extensive trade routes, and the many peoples who contributed to its wealth and power. This verse serves as the tragic climax, portraying the ultimate destruction of this seemingly invincible city, which was foretold to be broken by forces likened to "seas" and "depths of the waters." Historically, this judgment would largely come through the siege by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, followed by later destructions.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Pride and Fall: Tyre's downfall is often presented as a consequence of its immense pride and self-sufficiency, believing its wealth and strategic position made it impregnable. This serves as a timeless warning against human arrogance.
  • Divine Judgment: The destruction of Tyre underscores God's sovereign control over nations and economies. It demonstrates that even the most powerful earthly kingdoms are subject to His ultimate judgment when they defy His righteousness or become consumed by their own glory.
  • Transience of Earthly Riches: The verse powerfully illustrates the impermanence of material wealth and human power. "Thy merchandise and all thy company" falling into the depths highlights that all that Tyre valued and relied upon would be utterly lost. This theme resonates with the New Testament teachings on storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.
  • Complete Destruction: The imagery of being "broken by the seas in the depths of the waters" signifies a thorough and inescapable annihilation, leaving nothing behind.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "broken" (ืฉึธืื‘ึทืจ, shavar) implies a violent shattering or crushing, not just a gentle breaking. This emphasizes the severity and totality of the destruction that would befall Tyre. The phrase "depths of the waters" (ืžึทืขึฒืžึทืงึผึตื™ ืžึทื™ึดื, ma'amaqqei mayim) further accentuates the idea of being completely submerged, lost, and beyond recovery, symbolizing the finality of its ruin.

Reflection and Application

Ezekiel 27:34 serves as a profound reminder that earthly power, wealth, and influence are fleeting. For believers today, it encourages us to:

  • Cultivate Humility: Recognize that all blessings come from God and avoid the pride that can lead to spiritual and physical downfall.
  • Prioritize Eternal Values: Shift focus from accumulating temporary riches to investing in eternal values and spiritual growth, as Colossians 3:2 encourages us to set our affection on things above.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Find peace in the knowledge that God is sovereign over all nations and circumstances, and His justice will ultimately prevail. The lament over Tyre shares thematic parallels with the lament over Babylon in Revelation 18:17, where a great trading city also falls in a single hour, highlighting a recurring biblical pattern of judgment on arrogant earthly powers.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 27:26

    ยถ Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.

  • Ezekiel 27:27

    Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that [are] in thee, and in all thy company which [is] in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin.

  • Zechariah 9:3

    And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

  • Zechariah 9:4

    Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

  • Ezekiel 26:19

    For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;

  • Ezekiel 26:21

    I will make thee a terror, and thou [shalt be] no [more]: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Ezekiel 26:12

    And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.
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