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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Ezekiel 27:26–36.
We have seen Tyre flourishing; here we have Tyre falling, and great is the fall of it, so much the greater for its having made such a figure in the world. Note, The most mighty and magnificent kingdoms and states, sooner or later, have their day to come down. They have their period; and, when they are in their zenith, they will begin to decline. But the destruction of Tyre was sudden. Her sun went down at noon. And all her wealth and grandeur, pomp and power, did but aggravate her ruin, and make it the more grievous to herself and astonishing to all about her. Now observe here, 1. How the ruin of Tyrus will be brought about, Eze 27:26. She is as a great ship richly laden, that is split or sunk by the indiscretion of her steersmen: Thy rowers have themselves brought thee into great and dangerous waters; the governors of the city, and those that had the management of their public affairs, by some mismanagement or other involved them in that war with the Chaldeans which was the ruin of their state. By their insolence, by some affront given to the Chaldeans or some attempt made upon them, in confidence of their own ability to contend with them, they provoked Nebuchadnezzar to make a descent upon them, and, by their obstinacy in standing it out to the last, enraged him to such a degree that he determined on the ruin of their state, and, like an east wind, broke them in the midst of the seas. Note, It is ill with a people when those that sit at the stern, instead of putting them into the harbour, run them aground. 2. How great and general the ruin will be. All her wealth shall be buried with her, her riches, her fairs, and her merchandise (Eze 27:27); all that had any dependence upon her, and dealings with her, in trade, in war, in conversation, shall ball with her into the midst of the seas, in the day of her ruin. Note, Those who make creatures their confidence, place their happiness in their interest in them and rest their hopes upon them, will of course fall with them; happy therefore are those that have the God of Jacob for their help, and whose hope is in the Lord their God, who lives for ever. 3. What sad lamentation would be made for the destruction of Tyre. The pilots, her princes and governors, when they see how wretchedly they have mismanaged and how much they have contributed to their own ruin, shall cry out so loud as to make even the suburbs shake (Eze 27:28), such a vexation shall it be to them to reflect upon their own bad conduct. The inferior officers, that were as the mariners of the state, shall be forced to come down from their respective posts (Eze 27:29), and they shall cry out against thee, as having deceived them, in not proving so well able to hold out as they thought thou hadst been; they shall cry bitterly for the common ruin, and their own share in it. They shall use all the most solemn expressions of grief; they shall cast dust on their heads, in indignation against themselves, shall wallow themselves in ashes, as having bid a final farewell to all ease and pleasure; they shall make themselves bald (Eze 27:31), with tearing their hair; and, according to the custom of great mourners, those shall gird themselves with sackcloth who used to wear find linen, and, instead of merry songs, they shall weep with bitterness of heart. Note, Losses and crosses are very grievous, and hard to be borne, to those that have long been wallowing in pleasure and sleeping in carnal security. 4. How Tyre should be upbraided with her former honour and prosperity (Eze 27:32, Eze 27:33); she that was Tyrus the renowned shall now be called Tyrus the destroyed in the midst of the sea. "What city is like Tyre? Did ever any city come down from such a height of prosperity to such a depth of adversity? Time was when thy wares, those of thy own making and those that passed through thy hands, went forth out of the seas, and were exported to all parts of the world; then thou filledst many people, and didst enrich the kings of the earth and their kingdoms." The Tyrians, though they bore such a sway in trade, were yet, it seems, fair merchants, and let their neighbours not only live, but thrive by them. All that dealt with them were gainers; they did not cheat or oppress the people, but did enrich them with the multitude of their merchandise. "But now those that used to be enriched by thee shall be ruined with thee" (as is usual in trade); "when thou shalt be broken, and all thou hast is seized on, all thy company shall fall too," Eze 27:34. There is an end of Tyre, that made such a noise and bustle in the world. This great blaze goes out in a snuff. 5. How the fall of Tyre should be matter of terror to some and laughter to others, according as they were differently interested and affected. Some shall be sorely afraid, and shall be troubled (Eze 27:35), concluding it will be their own turn to fall next. Others shall hiss at her (Eze 27:36), shall ridicule her pride, and vanity, and bad management, and think her ruin just. She triumphed in Jerusalem's fall, and there are those that will triumph in hers. When God casts his judgments on the sinner men also shall clap their hands at him and shall hiss him out of his place, Job 27:22, Job 27:23. Is this the city which men called the perfection of beauty?
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
3 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
(Verse 35, 36, and following) And I will bring you into a desert of peoples, and there I will judge you face to face. Just as I contended with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, says the Lord. And I will subject you to my scepter, and I will bring you into the bonds of the covenant, and I will choose from among you the transgressors and the wicked: from their place of residence I will bring them out, and they will not enter the land of Israel, and you will know that I am the Lord. Thus says the Lord: I will do for you who are in Babylon, and now serve idols, what I did for your ancestors in Egypt. I will lead you into the desert of the peoples, and there I will judge you face to face, just as I contended with them in judgment when they came out of Egypt. And after I have judged you, I will subject you to my scepter and rule, and I will make a covenant with you and bring you into your land with the bonds of love, so that bound by my love, you will never be able to depart from me. But I will choose from among you the transgressors and the wicked, who persist in the hardness of their hearts in evil deeds, not for possession, but for rejection. And I will indeed bring them out of the land of their dwelling, so that when they are brought out, they will not enter the land of Israel; but they will perish in various regions. And by the distinction between good and evil, you shall know that I am the Lord, who judges all things. The rest of the discourse hastens, and we briefly go through each point, in order to provide only the meaning to the readers.
(Verse 33 and following) What is like Tyre, that has become silent (or has been silenced) in the middle of the sea? (Which is not found in the Septuagint.) Who, in the outcome of your dealings (or what reward you received) from the sea, enriched many peoples? In the abundance of your wealth, and with the multitude of your people, you made many kings wealthy. Now you are broken by the sea (or in the sea) in the depths of the waters, your wealth (or your trading) and all your multitude, which was in your midst, have fallen. All the inhabitants of the islands were astonished (or crushed) over you, and all their kings were struck (or turned mad) by the tempest, they changed their countenance (or wept). The merchants of the nations (or peoples) hissed at you, you were brought down to nothingness (or made into ruins), and you will no longer exist (Vulg. remains silent) forever (or for eternity). Captains, sailors, helmsmen, and passengers, in the mourning of Tyre, will remember these things, which so silenced other cities that they had no confidence to speak; and they heard that Gospel saying, Be silent, and be dumb (Mark 4:39). And concerning the Psalms: But to the sinner God said, Why do you declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth? (Ps. XLVI, 16) How rich has Tyre become with so many goods! And why have you sought so much with such great labor, that you gather perishable things through days and nights of shipwreck? Indeed, you have filled many peoples and enriched kings with your wealth, of whom it is written: The kings of the earth stood, and the princes met together against the Lord and against his Christ (Psalm II, 2). But now you are crushed in the sea, and in the depths of the waters, just as it is written about Pharaoh: The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he has cast into the sea (Exodus XV, 4). He was submerged in the deep like a stone, and he could say: I have come into the deep of the sea, and the tempest has submerged me (Psalm XIV, 4). All the islands, or the inhabitants of the islands, that are battered by the waves of this world, will be astonished at you, and their kings, struck by the storm, will sense their own demise. They will imitate the voice of the snake, hissing and saying: You have been reduced to nothing, or you have been made into destruction; so that you have not had the nature of destruction, but the will. And you will not be. But if he had said this until now, a great question would arise, how it was not, which we now see as built. But from what follows, 'Forever', it shows the time of one age, which is reckoned to be around 70 years in the circle of a man's life. Whether you will not be to God, as the Apostle says: 'He calls things that are not as though they were' (Rom. 4:17). And the prophet Isaiah: 'Behold, they shall be confounded and ashamed, all your adversaries.' (Isaiah 41:11). For they will be as if they were not (Isa. XLI, 11): And Esther according to the Seventy Interpreters: Do not give your scepter to those who are not (Esther XIV, 11). And in the psalm: Let me be refreshed before I go away, and I shall be no more (Ps. XXXV, 14). We have already mentioned in what sense these testimonies should be understood. However, all these things can be referred to the person of heretics, who, in the contrition of Tyre and the shipwreck, feel their error and, placed in the midst of the sea, desire to free their souls and mourn the ill-gotten riches, with which they have enriched many kings, namely their patriarchs, and the common people, whose wealth will be destroyed in the midst of the sea. The inhabitants of all the islands (if, however, we want to interpret what has been said in a positive way) will also be astonished at the destruction of Tyre, and the kings of all the islands, being as it were struck by a storm, will change their faces, or at least show the grief of their hearts with weeping and tears, and they will testify to the magnitude of their astonishment with wonder and hissing, declaring how she has become nothing and perished, she who promised salvation to many nations. And furthermore, it will not be, at any certain time, that we interpret αἰῶνα as meaning 'age'; but forever, because the same word signifies both.
(Verse 27, 29 onwards) Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them: Thus says the Lord God: Moreover, your fathers have blasphemed against me and have treated me with contempt, even as they spurned me. And I brought them into the land that I had lifted my hand to give them ((Vulgate adds: that land)): they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered their sacrifices and presented there the irritation of their offerings, and they placed there the fragrance of their sweetness, and they poured out their ((Vulgate is silent on this)) libations there. And I said to them, 'What is the high place to which you are going?' And its name was called the High Place until this day. Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: As for your fathers, they have provoked Me to anger by their iniquities, by the fact that they have fallen away from Me. So I brought them into the land that I had lifted My hand in an oath to give them.' They saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered their sacrifices. They also presented there the provocation of their gifts, and they set there their pleasing aroma, and they poured out there their drink offerings. And I said to them: What is abbana, because you enter there? And they called its name abbana until this day. I wanted, he said, to scatter them in the wilderness, and to give them not good precepts, so that they would sacrifice to idols what they should have offered to me, and consecrate all their first-fruits to them by fire, so that I might kill them and destroy them. But when he says, I wanted, he shows that he did not do what he wanted. And that which follows: 'And they shall know that I am the Lord,' is not found in the Septuagint. For it did not seem fitting to them to know after their destruction that he himself is the Lord. But you, son of man, speak again to them, that is, to the elders of the house of Israel, who have come to inquire of you: Your fathers, from whom you have descended, have also blasphemed against me and held me in contempt; after I brought them into the land which I had given them to possess, they turned against me to provoke me. For when they saw every high hill and leafy tree, they would sacrifice on the mountains and in the groves and thickets, and offer victims to the idols, and pour out libations. And when I saw this, I said to them: What is this, Bama? for it is called high: or why do you enter into such a place which you have chosen for yourselves in all the hills, so that even today these places are called Bamoth, and the ancient error retains its original name? Regarding Bama, which we translate as excelsum, there is an error in the Septuagint edition, where it is written as ἀββανὰ, which does not resonate in the Hebrew language. Bama can mean 'in which' if the two syllables are divided into two words, but in the present context, that sense does not fit. However, wherever it is written in the Books of Kings and Chronicles: 'The people still sacrificed and offered incense on the high places,' Bama in the singular and Bamoth in the plural mean 'high places.'
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Summary
Ezekiel 27:36 delivers the climactic and devastating pronouncement of judgment against the once-glorious maritime city of Tyre, concluding a detailed prophetic lament. It foretells a future where the very merchants who once profited from Tyre's vast trade networks will react with scorn and dismay at its utter desolation. The city itself, once a symbol of immense power and wealth, will become a terrifying spectacle, a permanent monument to divine judgment, its former glory and influence vanished forever.
Context
Literary Context
This verse serves as the solemn and conclusive statement of the elaborate dirge over Tyre in Ezekiel 27. The preceding verses meticulously describe Tyre as a magnificent ship, built with the finest materials and manned by skilled mariners and traders from numerous nations, illustrating its unparalleled wealth, extensive trade routes, and widespread influence. This detailed depiction of its former splendor intensifies the shock and finality of its prophesied downfall. Ezekiel 26 had already pronounced judgment against Tyre, focusing on its physical destruction, while Ezekiel 27 elaborates on the economic and social ramifications, culminating in this verse's declaration of absolute cessation of its former status.
Historical & Cultural Context
Tyre was a prominent Phoenician city-state, renowned for its maritime trade and formidable defenses, including its island fortress. At the time of Ezekiel's prophecy (early 6th century BCE), Tyre was a dominant economic power in the ancient Near East, engaging in extensive commerce across the Mediterranean and beyond. Its wealth and strategic position fostered a deep sense of pride and self-sufficiency, which the prophets often condemned as an affront to God's sovereignty. The "merchants among the people" refer to those who benefited directly from Tyre's vast commercial empire, and their "hissing" is a culturally understood expression of astonishment, derision, or dismay at a catastrophic downfall, often accompanied by a shaking of the head. This reaction underscores the sheer disbelief at the collapse of such an apparently unassailable power.
Key Themes
Ezekiel 27 and this concluding verse powerfully articulate several core theological and narrative themes. Firstly, it highlights Divine Judgment and Sovereignty, demonstrating God's ultimate authority over all nations, regardless of their perceived strength or wealth. The fall of Tyre serves as a stark reminder that no human empire can withstand the divine will, a truth echoed in passages like Daniel 4:35. Secondly, the passage emphasizes The Fall of Pride, portraying Tyre's downfall as a direct consequence of its arrogance, which stemmed from its immense prosperity and strategic dominance. This theme resonates with the biblical principle that "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall," as stated in Proverbs 16:18. Thirdly, the phrase "never [shalt be] any more" underscores the Finality of Destruction concerning Tyre's former glory and influence, signifying a permanent cessation of its status as a leading maritime power. Lastly, the lament serves as a poignant warning about the Fleeting Nature of Worldly Power and Riches, revealing the insecurity of placing ultimate trust in material wealth and human strength, as those who once profited from Tyre's trade are now left to "hiss" in shock and derision.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From the primitive root H5503, meaning "to travel round (specifically as a pedlar); intensively, to palpitate; go about, merchant(-man), occupy with, pant, trade, traffick." This word specifically refers to those engaged in extensive trade and commerce, highlighting the economic relationships Tyre had forged and the self-serving nature of these alliances. Their reaction underscores the self-interest inherent in worldly partnerships, as they lament the loss of their own profit rather than Tyre's suffering.
From the primitive root H8319, meaning "to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn)." In this context, "hiss" conveys a multifaceted reaction: it can denote scorn and derision, expressing contempt for a fallen foe; astonishment and dismay, reflecting disbelief at the utter collapse of such a mighty power; or even a sound of lamentation, mourning the loss of a profitable trading partner. It's a visceral, audible expression of the world's reaction to Tyre's humiliation.
Derived from a root meaning "to alarm; hence, destruction; terror, trouble." This word describes the state Tyre will be reduced to. It will not merely be destroyed, but will become an object lesson, a terrifying spectacle that instills dread and awe in all who witness or hear of its fate. Its former glory will be replaced by a reputation for utter ruin, serving as a warning to other proud nations.
Verse Breakdown
"The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee"
This clause highlights the global impact of Tyre's fall. The "merchants among the people" represent the vast network of nations and individuals who benefited from Tyre's extensive trade. Their "hissing" is a powerful image of their reaction, signifying not only scorn or derision but also shock and dismay at the sudden and complete collapse of a major economic hub from which they profited. It underscores the transactional nature of worldly alliances, where concern is primarily for lost gain rather than for the fallen entity itself.
"thou shalt be a terror"
This phrase declares that Tyre, once a source of admiration and envy, will become an object of dread and a cautionary tale. Its destruction will be so complete and spectacular that it will serve as a terrifying example of divine judgment, instilling fear in any who might consider emulating its pride or challenging God's sovereignty. The city itself, or its ruins, will embody destruction and ruin.
"and never [shalt be] any more"
This final, emphatic declaration signifies the absolute and permanent cessation of Tyre's former status, power, and glory. While the city of Tyre was indeed rebuilt and continued to exist in some form throughout history, this prophetic statement refers to the complete and irreversible end of its preeminent position as the unchallenged "queen of the seas" and a global economic powerhouse. It speaks to the finality of God's judgment against its pride and self-sufficiency, ensuring that its unparalleled influence would never be restored to its previous magnitude.
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent Literary Devices to convey its message of ultimate judgment. The entire chapter, culminating in this verse, is a Lament or Dirge, a funeral song mourning the death of a great entity, which lends a somber, mournful tone to the prophecy. Personification is evident throughout Ezekiel 27, where Tyre is depicted as a magnificent ship, and in this verse, the city itself becomes an object of scorn and terror, capable of evoking reactions from others. There is profound Irony in the merchants' reaction: those who once lauded and profited from Tyre's prosperity now "hiss" in derision, highlighting the fickle nature of worldly allegiances and the self-serving motives that often underpin them. Finally, the phrase "never [shalt be] any more" uses Hyperbole to emphasize the completeness and permanence of Tyre's fall from its former glory. While the city might physically persist, its unparalleled status and influence are irrevocably gone, underscoring the absolute nature of God's judgment.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Ezekiel 27:36 profoundly underscores the transient nature of all human glory, wealth, and power when confronted with the sovereign will of God. It serves as a stark reminder that even the most formidable and prosperous human endeavors are ultimately subject to divine judgment. The "hissing" of the merchants and the declaration that Tyre will become a "terror" speak to the public and undeniable humiliation that awaits those who elevate themselves in pride and forget their dependence on the Almighty. This passage affirms God's justice, demonstrating that He holds nations accountable for their arrogance, exploitation, and disregard for His ways, even if their downfall seems economically or politically improbable. It is a powerful testament to the truth that true security and lasting significance are found not in accumulated riches or strategic advantage, but in humble submission to the Creator.
Reflection and Application
Ezekiel 27:36 offers timeless lessons for individuals and societies navigating the complexities of success, wealth, and power. It challenges us to critically examine the foundations upon which we build our lives and derive our security. The fate of Tyre is a powerful warning against the insidious nature of pride, which can blind us to our true vulnerabilities and lead us to believe we are self-sufficient, independent of God. It compels us to consider where our ultimate trust lies: in fleeting material possessions, human achievements, or the unchanging character of God. In a world that often measures worth by accumulation and influence, this verse calls us to humility, reminding us that all earthly glory is temporary and can vanish in an instant. Our ultimate hope and security should be anchored in the eternal, not the temporal, recognizing that true flourishing comes from aligning our lives with God's righteous standards and acknowledging His supreme sovereignty over all things.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Did Tyre truly "never" exist again after this prophecy?
The phrase "never [shalt be] any more" (Hebrew: ʻad ʻôwlâm) in Ezekiel 27:36 signifies the complete and permanent cessation of Tyre's former glory, influence, and status as the preeminent maritime power, rather than its absolute physical disappearance from the map. While Tyre was indeed besieged by Nebuchadnezzar for 13 years (586-573 BC), which significantly weakened it, and later completely destroyed by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, the city was eventually rebuilt and continued to exist as a port. However, it never regained the unparalleled commercial dominance and global influence described in Ezekiel 27. The prophecy emphasizes the irreversible end of its golden age and its role as a proud, self-sufficient empire, making it a "terror" or object lesson for all time.
What is the significance of the "hissing" of the merchants?
The "hissing" (Hebrew: shâraq) of the merchants in Ezekiel 27:36 is a powerful and multi-layered expression. Culturally, hissing could signify scorn, derision, astonishment, or dismay. In this context, it conveys the shock and disbelief of those who once benefited from Tyre's vast wealth and trade, now witnessing its utter ruin. It highlights the transactional and self-serving nature of worldly alliances; the merchants are not mourning Tyre out of genuine sorrow for its people, but out of dismay for their lost profits and the collapse of a system from which they gained. It underscores the fleeting and unreliable nature of worldly support when judgment falls.
How does Tyre's fate relate to modern nations or individuals?
The prophetic judgment against Tyre in Ezekiel 27, culminating in Ezekiel 27:36, serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of excessive pride, self-sufficiency, and placing ultimate trust in material wealth and worldly power. For nations, it cautions against economic exploitation, moral decay, and forgetting divine sovereignty in the pursuit of global dominance. For individuals, it reminds us that all earthly possessions, achievements, and even relationships founded on self-interest are temporary and can be lost. It calls us to cultivate humility, seek justice, and place our ultimate hope and security in God, whose kingdom and righteousness endure forever, unlike the fleeting empires of this world.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
The dramatic downfall of Tyre, from a pinnacle of worldly glory to an object of terror and a forgotten power, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the stark contrast between the fleeting nature of earthly kingdoms and the eternal, unshakable Kingdom of God established by Jesus Christ. Tyre's pride and self-sufficiency, which led to its ruin, stand in opposition to Christ's radical humility, who, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:6-7). The "hissing" merchants and the city becoming a "terror" foreshadow the world's ultimate judgment, a theme powerfully depicted in Revelation 18, where the merchants of the earth mourn the fall of "Babylon the Great," a spiritual archetype of worldly systems built on pride and opposition to God. Christ's triumph on the cross and His resurrection demonstrate that true power is found not in earthly might or accumulated riches, but in sacrificial love and obedience to God. He is the true "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16), whose dominion is not of this world (John 18:36) and whose Kingdom "will never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44). Unlike Tyre, which was reduced to "never [being] any more" in its former glory, Christ offers an eternal inheritance and a secure future for those who trust in Him, where "neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20). The judgment on Tyre serves as a powerful prophetic warning, pointing to the ultimate and final judgment of all human systems that reject God, and simultaneously highlighting the enduring, unshakeable hope found only in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the one true source of lasting security and eternal glory.