What is the meaning of Ezekiel 27:2?

Now you

• The directive “Now” signals urgency—God’s word is never theoretical; it arrives at a moment that demands response (cf. “Today, if you hear His voice…” Hebrews 3:7).

• “You” pinpoints Ezekiel as God’s chosen messenger, reminding us that divine assignments are personal (Ezekiel 2:3–4).

• We too are individually accountable when God’s Spirit presses truth upon us (James 4:17).

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son of man

• This title, used for Ezekiel over ninety times (Ezekiel 3:1, 17), underscores his humanity in contrast to the sovereign LORD who speaks.

• It reinforces that the message originates with God and not with a self-appointed prophet (2 Peter 1:21).

• The phrase foreshadows the ultimate “Son of Man,” Jesus, who also pronounced judgment yet offered salvation (John 5:27).

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take up

• “Take up” points to active obedience; Ezekiel must lift this lament like a burden and carry it to his audience (Ezekiel 19:1; 32:2).

• Prophetic ministry involves more than hearing—it requires voicing God’s heart, even when the content is heavy (Acts 20:26–27).

• The wording reminds believers that stewardship of God’s message includes courage and clarity (Jeremiah 1:17).

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a lament

• A lament is a funeral dirge—solemn, mournful, and public (2 Samuel 1:17; Jeremiah 9:17).

• God commands lament because sin’s consequences are tragic, not trivial (Romans 6:23).

• Lamentation expresses both God’s justice and His grief over the downfall of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23).

• The form prepares listeners for irreversible loss, driving them to sober reflection rather than casual indifference (Lamentations 2:19).

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for Tyre

• Tyre, the famed Phoenician port, epitomized commercial success and coastal splendor (Ezekiel 26:3–4).

• Its wealth bred pride (Isaiah 23:8–9), leading to a false sense of security (Amos 1:9–10).

• God’s lament over Tyre warns every culture that exalts material power above the LORD (Revelation 18:11–19).

• The city’s impending fall illustrates that no economy, alliance, or fortification can shield against divine judgment (Psalm 33:10–11).

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summary

Ezekiel 27:2 charges a very human prophet to raise a funeral song over a proud, prosperous city. The verse teaches immediacy in obedience (“Now you”), humility in service (“son of man”), active proclamation (“take up”), heartfelt grief over sin’s cost (“a lament”), and a sobering reminder that even the mightiest centers of commerce (“for Tyre”) stand accountable to God.