Ezekiel 26 16

Ezekiel 26:16 kjv

Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.

Ezekiel 26:16 nkjv

Then all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones, lay aside their robes, and take off their embroidered garments; they will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground, tremble every moment, and be astonished at you.

Ezekiel 26:16 niv

Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you.

Ezekiel 26:16 esv

Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground and tremble every moment and be appalled at you.

Ezekiel 26:16 nlt

All the seaport rulers will step down from their thrones and take off their royal robes and beautiful clothing. They will sit on the ground trembling with horror at your destruction.

Ezekiel 26 verses

Ezekiel 26 16 Meaning

Ezekiel 26:16 depicts a dramatic scene where the leaders of other maritime nations react to the destruction of Tyre. Stripped of their regal and luxurious attire, these "princes of the sea" abandon their thrones, donning clothes of fear and terror. They humble themselves to the ground, trembling incessantly, utterly astonished and appalled by the swift and comprehensive downfall of mighty Tyre, a prominent global trading power. The verse emphasizes the shock, fear, and lamentation that will grip those who witness God's judgment on pride and worldly security.

Ezekiel 26 16 Context

Ezekiel chapter 26 is a divine prophecy specifically aimed at the powerful maritime city of Tyre, a major trading hub located on the Mediterranean coast. This verse (Ezek 26:16) comes after God has pronounced a series of judgments against Tyre, stating that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, will lead an army against it, overthrowing its walls, plundering its wealth, and eventually rendering it a bare rock where fishermen spread their nets. The preceding verses (Ezek 26:7-14) detail the brutal destruction and desolation.

The historical context is significant. Tyre, known for its immense wealth, trade, naval power, and impressive fortifications (an island city), was considered almost impregnable. Its leaders and people were proud and even gloated over the fall of Jerusalem (Ezek 26:2), seeing it as an opportunity to gain more trade. This chapter delivers a direct polemic against Tyre's pride, self-sufficiency, and reliance on material wealth and strategic position, asserting that no city, however powerful, can withstand the judgment of the Sovereign Lord. Verse 16 shifts from Tyre's destruction to the reaction of the other "princes of the sea"—leaders of neighboring trading cities or maritime powers—underscoring the widespread shock and fear that Tyre's fate would inspire throughout the ancient world.

Ezekiel 26 16 Word analysis

• Then all the princes of the sea:

  • Then (וְכֹל wəḵōl): Signals a consequence or subsequent event directly resulting from Tyre's destruction described previously.
  • all (כֹּל kōl): Emphasizes totality; no maritime leader would be untouched by this fear.
  • princes (נְשִׂיאֵי nəśî’ê): Hebrew nasi typically denotes a chieftain, leader, or prince, often with tribal or royal authority. Here, it refers to the rulers of other sea-faring nations, likely other Phoenician cities or powers with vested interests in Mediterranean trade.
  • of the sea (הַיָּם hayyām): Specifically identifies their domain and interest; they are leaders of naval or coastal powers, indicating a global (within the known world) impact. This term contrasts Tyre's maritime might with the divine power.

• shall come down from their thrones:

  • shall come down (יֵרְדוּ yērədû): Literal descent, but also a potent symbol of demotion, degradation, or loss of status and power. They descend from their elevated seats of authority.
  • from their thrones (מִכִּסְאוֹתֵיהֶם mikkiss'ôṯêhem): Kiss’ot (thrones) are symbols of regal authority, security, and stability. Leaving them signifies a loss of dignity, stability, and the ability to rule or project power. It is an act of forced humility and fear, not voluntary homage.

• and lay away their robes, and put off their embroidered garments:

  • lay away (וְהִפְשִׁיטוּ wəhiphšîṭû): To strip off, remove, or lay aside. A deliberate act of divesting themselves.
  • their robes (אֶדֶרֶתָם ’ăderetām): Aderet refers to a long, majestic mantle or cloak, a garment of honor and high status (e.g., Elijah’s mantle, a king's robe).
  • put off (יִפְשְׁטוּ yip̄šṭû): A synonymous action to "lay away," reinforcing the complete divestment.
  • their embroidered garments (בִּגְדֵי רִקְמָתָם biḡḏê riqmāṯām): Luxurious, intricately woven garments, often denoting great wealth, sophistication, and power. These clothes represent their prosperity and worldly glory, which are now abandoned in shame and fear.

• they shall clothe themselves with trembling:

  • clothe themselves (וְיִלְבְּשׁוּ wəyilbəšû): They will put on. This is metaphorical, but powerfully illustrates that terror will become their defining characteristic, enveloping them entirely.
  • with trembling (רְעָדוֹת rə‘aḏôṯ): R'adot signifies severe fear, horror, or convulsive shaking. Their internal state of terror becomes their outward appearance. This is a dramatic contrast to their previous robes of splendor.

• they shall sit on the ground, and tremble every moment, and be astonished at you:

  • sit on the ground (וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ יֵשֵׁבוּ wə‘al-hā’āreṣ yēšēḇû): A posture of deep mourning, humiliation, helplessness, and lament (Job 2:13, Lam 2:10). They go from thrones to dust.
  • tremble every moment (וְיֶחְרְדוּ לְרְגָעִים wəyeḥreḏû lərĕḡā‘îm): Yəḥarədû (tremble) from ḥārad, denotes a deep, disturbing fear. Lərəḡā‘îm means "in moments," implying continuous, persistent, non-stop trembling and fear, unable to find peace.
  • be astonished at you (וְשָׁמְמוּ עָלֶיךָ wəšāməmû ‘āleyḵā): Shamem (astonished/appalled/desolate) means to be utterly shocked and dismayed by something terrifying and overwhelming. The "you" refers to Tyre, meaning they are aghast at the completeness of Tyre's destruction.

Ezekiel 26 16 Bonus section

The "princes of the sea" are not merely local dignitaries but representatives of a complex ancient maritime trade network that intertwined many economies. Tyre's fall would send shockwaves far beyond its immediate neighbors, affecting trade routes, supply chains, and political stability across the Mediterranean and even extending into more distant regions like Tarshish (modern-day Spain, mentioned in Isa 23). The collective lament and trembling signify a universal acknowledgment of a power greater than any earthly kingdom, an admission of the futility of relying solely on human endeavors and riches. This imagery of powerful rulers humbling themselves echoes through later apocalyptic literature, such as Revelation 18, where kings and merchants weep over the destruction of "Babylon" – a symbolic city embodying the epitome of corrupt world systems and material obsession. The phrase "clothe themselves with trembling" captures a deeply personal and internal terror becoming an inescapable external reality.

Ezekiel 26 16 Commentary

Ezekiel 26:16 vividly portrays the psychological and emotional impact of Tyre's destruction on the broader world order. It serves as a universal object lesson concerning divine judgment against pride, wealth, and self-reliance. The transition from thrones and luxurious garments to sitting on the ground, cloaked in terror, symbolizes a profound humbling of human power. The leaders' astonished reaction signifies that Tyre's fate was unprecedented and unimaginable in its severity, reinforcing God's supreme sovereignty over all nations, regardless of their perceived strength or commercial success. The verse acts as a strong polemic against the idea that wealth and military might can offer ultimate security against divine decrees. It cautions against relying on fleeting worldly power instead of the eternal Lord, foreshadowing similar judgments against future defiant entities.