Exposition of Ezekiel 27 Tyre's Lament

Ezekiel 27 presents a detailed lamentation over the city of Tyre, portraying its former glory, extensive commerce, and eventual downfall. The prophet is commanded, "You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre" ^[1]. This chapter functions as a funeral dirge, eulogizing Tyre's great attributes to highlight the stark contrast with its predicted ruin ^[12].

The lamentation begins by picturing Tyre's magnificence, including its strategic location and architectural beauty, before detailing its vast commercial network ^[9]. Tyre was renowned for its beauty, wealth, and extensive trade, described as "the crowning city" and "the joyous city" ^[7]. The prophet is instructed to lament Tyre even while it is still prosperous, because its prosperity is seen as a snare, leading to pride and security that will make its fall more grievous ^[11].

The chapter describes Tyre as a magnificent ship, built with exquisite materials and manned by skilled mariners from various nations. Its planks were made of fir trees from Senir, its mast from a cedar of Lebanon, and its oars from oaks of Bashan. The ship's deck was inlaid with ivory from the coasts of Cyprus, and its sail was made of fine embroidered linen from Egypt ^[8]. The city's insular position is noted in other biblical texts, reinforcing its maritime identity ^[7].

Ezekiel 27 then meticulously lists Tyre's trading partners and the goods exchanged, painting a vivid picture of its economic power. Merchants from Tarshish traded silver, iron, tin, and lead. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech brought slaves and bronze vessels. Beth-togarmah supplied horses and mules. Dedan traded ivory tusks and ebony. Syria offered emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies. Judah and the land of Israel provided wheat, olives, early figs, honey, oil, and balm ^[8]. This extensive list underscores Tyre's role as a central hub of ancient commerce, with its imports and exports detailed as meticulously as in a custom-house record ^[15].

The lamentation transitions from a description of Tyre's splendor to a prediction of its catastrophic ruin. The city's downfall is depicted as a shipwreck, with its vast wealth and commercial network collapsing into the sea ^[9]. The "Treasury of Scripture Knowledge" cross-references Ezekiel 27:32 with Lamentations 1:12 and 2:13, highlighting the depth of sorrow associated with such destruction ^[2]. Other cross-references connect Tyre's fate to broader themes of desolation and divine judgment found in Lamentations and other prophetic books ^{[3, 4, 5, 6]}.

The chapter concludes with a depiction of the widespread consternation among Tyre's former trading partners and occupants ^[10]. They are shown lamenting the city's demise, recognizing that its destruction signifies the end of a way of life ^[13]. The fall of Tyre serves as a powerful illustration of the transient nature of worldly wealth and pride, intended to "stain the pride of all worldly glory" ^[14]. The lament over Tyre thus functions not only as a prophecy of judgment but also as a theological statement about the ultimate futility of trust in material prosperity apart from God.

Sources

Ezekiel “You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; -- Ezekiel 27:2”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ezekiel 27:32 cross-references: Lamentations 1:12, Lamentations 2:13, Ezekiel 26:4, Ezekiel 26:17, Ezekiel 27:2, Ezekiel 27:26, Revelation 18:18”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Lamentations 4:17 cross-references: 2 Kings 24:7, Isaiah 20:5, Isaiah 28:18, Isaiah 30:1, Isaiah 31:1, Jeremiah 2:18, Jeremiah 2:36, Jeremiah 2:37, Jeremiah 8:20, Jeremiah 37:7, Lamentations 1:7, Lamentations 1:19, Lamentations 5:6, Ezekiel 29:6, Ezekiel 29:16”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ezekiel 24:21 cross-references: 1 Kings 9:7, Psalms 27:4, Psalms 74:7, Psalms 79:1, Psalms 84:1, Psalms 84:3, Psalms 96:6, Psalms 105:4, Psalms 132:8, Isaiah 65:11, Jeremiah 6:11, Jeremiah 7:14, Jeremiah 9:21, Jeremiah 16:3, Lamentations 1:10, Lamentations 2:1, Lamentations 2:6, Lamentations 2:21, Ezekiel 7:20, Ezekiel 7:22, Ezekiel 9:7, Ezekiel 23:25, Ezekiel 23:47, Ezekiel 24:16, Daniel 11:31, Acts 6:13”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ezekiel 32:31 cross-references: Lamentations 2:13, Ezekiel 14:22, Ezekiel 31:16”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ezekiel 23:32 cross-references: Deuteronomy 28:37, 1 Kings 9:7, Psalms 60:3, Psalms 79:3, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:9, Jeremiah 25:15, Jeremiah 48:26, Lamentations 2:15, Lamentations 2:16, Ezekiel 22:4, Ezekiel 25:6, Ezekiel 26:2, Ezekiel 35:15, Ezekiel 36:3, Micah 7:8, Matthew 20:22, Revelation 16:19, Revelation 18:6”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Tyre — Antiquity of -- Isa 23:7; Jos 19:29. Called The daughter of Zidon. -- Isa 23:12. The daughter of Tarshish. -- Isa 23:10. The joyous city. -- Isa 23:7. The crowning city. -- Isa 23:8. The renowned city. -- Eze 26:17. Insular position of -- Eze 26:17; 27:4,25. Strongly fortified -- Jos 19:29; 2Sa 24:7; Eze 26:17; Zec 9:3. Governed by kings -- 1Ki 5:1; Jer 25:22. Celebrated for Its beauty. -- Eze 27:3,4. Its commerce. -- Isa 23:2,3; Eze 27:3,12-25. Its wealth. -- Eze 27:33; 28:4,5; Zec 9:3. Strength and beauty of its ships. -- Eze 27:5-7. Soldiers of, supplied by”
Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 27 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 27 This chapter contains a lamentation on Tyre; setting forth her former grandeur, riches, and commerce; her ruin and destruction; and the concern of others on that account. The prophet is bid to take up his lamentation concerning it, Eze 27:1, observing her situation and magnificence, of which she boasted, Eze 27:3, describing the excellency of her shipping and naval stores, Eze 27:5, declaring who were her mariners, pilots, and caulkers, Eze 27:8, her military men, Eze 27:10 her several merchants, and the things they traded in”
Ezekiel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Ezekiel 27:1: The lamentation commences with a picture of the glory of the city of Tyre, its situation, its architectural beauty, its military strength and defences (Eze 27:3-11), and its wide-spread commercial relations (Eze 27:12-25); and then passes into mournful lamentation over the ruin of all this glory (Eze 27:26-36). Introduction and description of the glory and might of Tyre. - Eze 27:1. And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Eze 27:2. And do thou, O son of man, raise a lamentation over Tyre, Eze 27:3. And say to Tyre, Thou who dwellest at the approaches of th”
Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 27:36: 27:36 Tyre’s former occupants and her former trading partners join the lament for her lost way of life. This panel, like the previous one, ends with the statement that Tyre has come to a horrible end and will exist no more (cp. 26:21).”
Ezekiel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 27:1: Here, I. The prophet is ordered to take up a lamentation for Tyrus, Eze 27:2. It was yet in the height of its prosperity, and there appeared not the least symptom of its decay; yet the prophet must lament it, because its prosperity is its snare, is the cause of its pride and security, which will make its fall the more grievous. Even those that live at ease are to be lamented if they be not preparing for trouble. He must lament it because its ruin is hastening on apace; it is sure, it is near; and though the prophet foretel it, and justify God in it, yet he must l”
Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 27 (introduction): TYRE'S FORMER GREATNESS, SUGGESTING A LAMENTATION OVER HER SAD DOWNFALL. (Eze. 27:1-36) lamentation--a funeral dirge, eulogizing her great attributes, to make the contrast the greater between her former and her latter state.”
Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 27:36: 27:36 Tyre’s former occupants and her former trading partners join the lament for her lost way of life. This panel, like the previous one, ends with the statement that Tyre has come to a horrible end and will exist no more (cp. 26:21).”
Ezekiel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 27 (introduction): Still we are attending the funeral of Tyre and the lamentations made for the fall of that renowned city. In this chapter we have, I. A large account of the dignity, wealth, and splendour of Tyre, while it was in its strength, the vast trade it drove, and the interest it had among the nations (v. 1-25), which is designed to make its ruin the more lamentable. II. A prediction of its fall and ruin, and the confusion and consternation which all its neighbours shall thereby be put into (Eze 27:26-36). And this is intended to stain the pride of all worldly”
Ezekiel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 27:2: Take up a lamentation for Tyrus - This is a singular and curious chapter. It gives a very circumstantial account of the trade of Tyre with different parts of the world, and the different sorts of merchandise in which she trafficked. The places and the imports are as regularly entered here as they could have been in a European custom-house.”

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