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Ezekiel 27:28

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The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.

The suburbs {H4054} shall shake {H7493} at the sound {H6963} of the cry {H2201} of thy pilots {H2259}.

When they hear the cries of your pilots, the mainland coasts will tremble.

The countryside will shake when your sailors cry out.

At the sound of the cry of thy pilots the suburbs shall shake.

Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 27:28

Ezekiel 27:28 is part of a powerful and elaborate lamentation (a dirge or funeral song) over the ancient city of Tyre, found in Ezekiel chapters 26-28. In this prophetic passage, Tyre, a dominant Phoenician maritime power, is personified as a magnificent ship, built with exquisite materials and manned by the most skilled mariners. The entire chapter details its vast wealth, extensive trade networks, and impressive crew. This specific verse, however, shifts from describing Tyre's grandeur to foretelling its catastrophic and sudden downfall, depicting the widespread panic that will accompany its destruction.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Widespread Impact of Judgment: The phrase "the suburbs shall shake" emphasizes that the calamity befalling Tyre will not be confined to its immediate urban center. The impact of its collapse will ripple outwards, affecting surrounding areas, dependencies, and all who relied on its prosperity. This highlights the far-reaching consequences of divine judgment.
  • Despair of the Leaders: The "cry of thy pilots" signifies the utter despair and helplessness of Tyre's leaders and skilled navigators (metaphorically, those who steered its success). Their cries indicate that all their expertise, wealth, and strategic planning will be utterly useless in the face of God's judgment.
  • The Fragility of Earthly Power: This verse powerfully underscores the transient nature of even the most formidable worldly powers and commercial empires. Tyre, despite its seemingly unassailable position and immense wealth, is shown to be vulnerable to divine decree, serving as a potent warning against pride and self-reliance. This theme is echoed in other prophetic laments, such as the lament over Babylon's fall in Revelation 18.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "suburbs" is migrash (מִגְרָשׁ), which typically refers to open spaces, pasturelands, or common grounds surrounding a city. Its use here indicates that the terror and devastation of Tyre's fall would extend beyond its fortified walls, impacting even its agricultural lands and outlying communities. The "pilots" are from the Hebrew chobelim (חֹבְלִים), literally meaning 'shipmasters' or 'navigators'. Their "cry" (tza'aqah, צַעֲקָה) is a loud, distressed wail, signifying extreme anguish and alarm, a stark contrast to their former confident command.

Reflection and Practical Application

Ezekiel 27:28 serves as a timeless reminder that all earthly achievements, wealth, and power are ultimately ephemeral. It challenges us to consider where our ultimate trust lies. For believers, it reinforces the call to build upon an enduring foundation rather than fleeting worldly success. The verse also illustrates that judgment, when it comes for a system built on pride and unrighteousness, can have widespread and devastating effects, causing even those who once thrived to experience profound despair. It encourages humility and a recognition of God's ultimate sovereignty over all nations and enterprises. You can explore more about Ezekiel's prophecy against Tyre to understand the full scope of this judgment.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 26:10 (3 votes)

    By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.

  • Ezekiel 26:15 (2 votes)

    ¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?

  • Ezekiel 26:18 (2 votes)

    Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that [are] in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure.

  • Nahum 2:3 (2 votes)

    The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men [are] in scarlet: the chariots [shall be] with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.

  • Exodus 15:14 (2 votes)

    The people shall hear, [and] be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

  • Ezekiel 27:35 (2 votes)

    All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in [their] countenance.

  • Ezekiel 31:16 (2 votes)

    I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.