Ezekiel 26:17
Then they will lament for you, saying, "How you have perished, O city of renown inhabited by seafaring men--she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people, who imposed terror on all peoples!
Then they will lament for you, saying,

The nations affected by Tyre’s commerce and influence would mourn her ruin. Her fall would be so great that even those who had benefited from her trade would recognize the loss.

Ezk 27:32 As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament:…
Isa 23:1 This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish,…

“How you have perished,

Tyre’s destruction brought an end to the security and prosperity she had long enjoyed. Though protected by wealth, fortifications, and the sea, she could not escape God’s judgment.

Ezk 28:19 All the nations who know you are appalled over you.…
Rev 18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a stone…

O city of renown

Tyre was widely known throughout the Mediterranean world for its commercial success, skilled craftsmen, and extensive trading network. Her prominence made her collapse all the more striking.

Isa 23:8 Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns…
Ezk 27:3 Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea,…

inhabited by seafaring men—

Tyre’s people were experienced sailors, merchants, and shipbuilders. Their fleets connected distant lands and made the city a leading maritime power.

Isa 23:2 Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon…
Ezk 27:9 The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights,…

she who was powerful on the sea,

Her island stronghold and naval strength gave Tyre influence over coastal trade and made her appear difficult to conquer. Yet her power on the sea could not preserve her.

Isa 23:11 The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea;…
Ezk 28:2 Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that the Lord GOD says…

along with her people,

The judgment fell not merely on buildings and ports but on the population whose labor, wealth, and ambitions had sustained the city’s greatness.

Ezk 27:8 The men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen.…
Ezk 27:27 Your wealth, wares, and merchandise, your sailors,…

who imposed terror on all peoples!

Tyre had inspired fear among surrounding peoples through her economic reach and military strength. Her overthrow showed that even a city feared by many nations was subject to the Lord’s judgment.

Jos 2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given……
Deu 11:25 No man will be able to stand against you;…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet of God who ministered to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. He conveyed God's messages, including prophecies of judgment and restoration.

2. Tyre
An ancient and prosperous Phoenician city known for its strong maritime trade and influence. It was renowned for its wealth and strategic location on the Mediterranean Sea.

3. Seafaring Men
The inhabitants of Tyre, known for their skills in navigation and trade across the Mediterranean, contributing to the city's wealth and power.

4. Lament
A traditional expression of mourning or sorrow, often used in the Bible to express grief over the fall of a city or nation.

5. Judgment
The event of God's judgment upon Tyre, as prophesied by Ezekiel, due to its pride and opposition to God's people.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Pride
Tyre's downfall serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance. Despite its strength and renown, it could not withstand God's judgment.

The Sovereignty of God
God's control over nations and history is evident. He raises and brings down kingdoms according to His purposes.

The Transience of Earthly Power
The lament over Tyre reminds us that worldly power and wealth are temporary and should not be our ultimate pursuit.

The Call to Humility
Believers are encouraged to live humbly, recognizing that all we have is from God and should be used for His glory.

The Importance of Repentance
The judgment on Tyre underscores the need for repentance and turning back to God to avoid similar consequences.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the fall of Tyre illustrate the consequences of pride and self-reliance? Can you identify areas in your life where you might be relying too much on your own strength?

2. In what ways does the prophecy against Tyre demonstrate God's sovereignty over nations? How can this understanding impact your view of current world events?

3. How does the lament for Tyre compare to the lament for Babylon in Revelation 18? What lessons can we learn about the fate of worldly powers?

4. Reflect on the transient nature of earthly power and wealth. How can this perspective influence your priorities and decisions?

5. Considering the call to humility and repentance, what steps can you take to ensure that you are living in alignment with God's will and purposes?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 23
This chapter also contains a prophecy against Tyre, highlighting its downfall and the reasons for God's judgment.

Revelation 18
The fall of Babylon in Revelation echoes the lament over Tyre, symbolizing the ultimate judgment of worldly powers that oppose God.

Jeremiah 25:22
Jeremiah's prophecy includes Tyre among the nations that will face God's judgment, reinforcing the theme of divine retribution.
The Sin and Doom of TyreW. Jones Ezekiel 26:1-21
A Lamentation Over Fallen GreatnessW. Jones Ezekiel 26:15-18
Glory DepartedJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 26:15-21
National Disaster Becomes a Public LessonJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 26:15-21
People
Ezekiel, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar
Places
Babylon, Edom, Jerusalem, Tyre
Topics
Cause, Caused, Causing, Citizens, Cut, Destroyed, Destruction, Dry, Dwell, Dwelt, Fear, Grief, Hast, Haunt, Imposed, Inhabit, Inhabitants, Inhabited, Lamentation, Lifted, Mainland, Mighty, Noted, O, Peopled, Perished, Power, Praised, Raise, Renown, Renowned, Seafaring, Sea-faring, Seas, Song, Strong, Terror, Therein, Town, Vanished, Wast
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 26:15-18

     4248   islands

Ezekiel 26:17-18

     5899   lament
     7963   song

Library
Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Ezekiel 26:17 NIV
Ezekiel 26:17 NLT
Ezekiel 26:17 ESV
Ezekiel 26:17 NASB
Ezekiel 26:17 KJV

Ezekiel 26:17 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Ezekiel 26:16
Top of Page
Top of Page