Ezekiel 27:26 kjv
Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.
Ezekiel 27:26 nkjv
Your oarsmen brought you into many waters, But the east wind broke you in the midst of the seas.
Ezekiel 27:26 niv
Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces far out at sea.
Ezekiel 27:26 esv
"Your rowers have brought you out into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.
Ezekiel 27:26 nlt
"But look! Your oarsmen
have taken you into stormy seas!
A mighty eastern gale
has wrecked you in the heart of the sea!
Ezekiel 27 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 27:35 | You who dwell among the peoples… you are no more. | Ezekiel 27 - Destruction of Tyre |
| Eze 28:11-19 | Lamentation over the King of Tyre, his pride and fall. | Ezekiel 28 - Pride of Tyre |
| Isa 23:1 | Oracle concerning Tyre, her destruction. | Isaiah 23 - Destruction of Tyre |
| Jer 25:22 | Judgment on the nations, including Tyre. | Jeremiah 25 - Judgment on Nations |
| Jer 47:4 | God’s judgment against the Philistines, also touching coastal cities. | Jeremiah 47 - Judgment on Philistines |
| Amos 1:9-10 | Judgment on Tyre for breaking brotherhood and selling slaves. | Amos 1 - Judgment on Nations |
| Zech 9:3-4 | Tyre’s wealth and vulnerability, foretelling its downfall. | Zechariah 9 - Judgment on Nations |
| Rev 18:10, 17 | Fall of Babylon, paralleling the fall of proud, commercial cities. | Revelation 18 - Fall of Babylon |
| Psa 107:23-28 | God controls the seas, bringing calm and storms, able to destroy ships. | Psalms 107 - God's Power over Sea |
| Job 2:11-13 | Friends come to mourn, sharing in the deep sorrow of loss. | Job 2 - Friends Mourn Job |
| Job 7:12-16 | Job’s deep despair and sense of being trapped by God. | Job 7 - Job's Plea |
| Job 30:1-2 | Job feels utterly abandoned and humiliated. | Job 30 - Job's Affliction |
| Jer 51:32, 57 | Babylon’s towers fall, becoming desolate places. | Jeremiah 51 - Fall of Babylon |
| Isa 14:12-15 | Fall of Lucifer, highlighting pride leading to destruction. | Isaiah 14 - Fall of Lucifer |
| Eze 38:13 | Tarshish and its merchants questioning the attack on God’s people. | Ezekiel 38 - Gog’s Invasion |
| Prov 18:12 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Proverbs 18 - Pride and Fall |
| Nahum 3:7 | Nineveh's desolation and the terror it will face. | Nahum 3 - Fall of Nineveh |
| Joel 2:2 | Day of the Lord described with widespread desolation and mourning. | Joel 2 - Day of the Lord |
| Hab 2:6-8 | Judgment on those who greedily take what is not theirs. | Habakkuk 2 - Woe to the Oppressors |
| Eze 31:14 | Lebanon's destruction for its pride. | Ezekiel 31 - Pride of Egypt |
| Eze 43:3 | God’s glory returning, a contrast to destruction. | Ezekiel 43 - Glory of God returns |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. | 1 Timothy 6 - Warnings about Wealth |
Ezekiel 27 verses
Ezekiel 27 26 Meaning
This verse speaks of the ultimate downfall and demise of a powerful entity, likely referring to the city of Tyre, a renowned trading hub. It signifies the end of its dominion, influence, and wealth. The "ships of Tarshish" represent its vast fleet and maritime power, now broken and ruined. The verse anticipates a time of complete destruction and silence, where its former glory and might will be no more. It also hints at a natural, yet catastrophic, event causing this destruction, likely a reference to the powerful forces of nature unleashed by God's judgment.
Ezekiel 27 26 Context
Ezekiel 27 is a rich lamentation, an oracle pronounced against Tyre. Tyre was a Phoenician city-state renowned for its immense wealth, extensive trade networks, and powerful navy. It was known as the "mart of nations" due to its commercial prowess. The chapter meticulously details Tyre’s prosperity, its vast trade routes connecting with various nations, and its highly skilled populace, from sailors to artisans. This chapter serves as a prophetic announcement of Tyre's utter destruction, depicting it as a magnificent ship that will ultimately founder. The reason for this judgment is Tyre's arrogance and exploitation derived from its prosperity. The verse in question, Ezekiel 27:26, falls within this detailed description of Tyre's impending doom, focusing on the obliteration of its seafaring strength.
Ezekiel 27 26 Word Analysis
- “Your rowers”: (Hebrew: מְשַׁטֵּךְ - meshāṭṭeḵ – your rowers; related to the root שָׁטַט - shāṭaṭ, to move swiftly or to row) This refers to the skilled individuals who propelled the ships, a vital component of naval power.
- “have brought you”: (Hebrew: הֵבִיא – heḇî – they brought) This active verb signifies the capability and the agency of the rowers in moving the great ships.
- “to great waters”: (Hebrew: מַיִּם רַבִּים – mayim rabbîm – great waters; often referring to the sea or vast expanses of water) This denotes the extensive maritime reach and deep-sea voyages that Tyre undertook, reaching far and wide.
- “Eastern”: (Hebrew: קֶדֶם – qeḏem – east, ancient, eastward) This points to the direction from which they sailed, often associated with ancient routes and origins.
- “Your oar blades”: (Hebrew: מְשׁוֹט – meshoṭ – oar, paddle) Refers to the tools used by the rowers.
- “are of”: (Hebrew: מֵ – mē – from, out of) Indicates the material or origin.
- “Mahogany”: (Hebrew: אַלְגוּמִּים – algummîm – algum trees, often translated as sandalwood or redwood, precious woods used for construction and ornamentation) This highlights the quality and luxury associated with Tyre’s vessels, indicating their substantial construction and possibly adornment. The use of such valuable wood suggests the ship’s robustness and the owner's wealth.
- “men of Sidon”: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי צִידוֹן – bənê Ṣîḏôn – sons of Sidon) Sidon was another major Phoenician port city, often closely allied with Tyre, and renowned for its skilled mariners and shipwrights. Their involvement emphasizes the high level of craftsmanship and maritime expertise invested in Tyre's fleet.
- “and the skilled”: (Hebrew: וְחַכְמֵי – wəḥaḵmê – and the wise/skilled) This refers to the intelligent and adept craftsmen and sailors responsible for the fleet’s construction and operation.
- “have made your planks”: (Hebrew: תִּקְרֹות – tiqərot – decks, planks) These are the essential structural components of the ships.
Group Analysis
The phrase "Your rowers have brought you to great waters; Your oar blades are of mahogany; the men of Sidon and the skilled have made your planks" collectively paints a picture of Tyre’s impressive maritime capacity. It emphasizes:
- Skilled Labor: The rowers and craftsmen from Tyre and Sidon represent human ingenuity and effort directed towards seafaring.
- Superior Materials: The use of "mahogany" (or similar precious woods) signifies the quality and wealth invested in their vessels, making them advanced and powerful.
- Vast Reach: "Great waters" illustrates the extensive distances and routes they traveled, establishing Tyre's dominance in maritime trade.
- Intricacy of Design: The specific mention of "oar blades" and "planks" highlights the detailed and sophisticated construction of their ships, reflecting their advanced shipbuilding technology.
This imagery contrasts sharply with the verse's inevitable conclusion: destruction. The very means of their prosperity and dominance—their skilled sailors, their well-built ships—become instruments of their downfall, broken by divine judgment.
Ezekiel 27 26 Bonus Section
The imagery of Tyre's ships being destroyed evokes earlier pronouncements of judgment against maritime powers, such as in Isaiah 23. The concept of valuable woods being used in ship construction speaks to the luxury and decadence that often accompany unchecked prosperity. This can be seen as a metaphor for how human skill and resources, when not aligned with God's will and coupled with pride, lead to ruin rather than enduring strength. The ultimate consequence, implied by the context of Ezekiel's prophecies, is a loss of identity and presence, being brought to nothing by God's hand. This also resonates with the judgment of commercial powers described in the New Testament, such as the fall of Babylon in Revelation, emphasizing themes of economic hubris and divine retribution.
Ezekiel 27 26 Commentary
This verse vividly portrays the power and sophistication of Tyre's maritime fleet, built with skilled labor and fine materials. The reference to "mahogany" (precious woods) underscores the immense wealth invested in these vessels. The "men of Sidon" were renowned sailors and shipbuilders, highlighting the expertise that fueled Tyre's dominance. This verse anticipates the complete shattering of this might. The "great waters" to which they are brought are not just seas but symbolize the vast reach of their enterprise and, ultimately, the scope of their judgment. The broken "oar blades" and ruined "planks" represent the utter dismantling of their naval power, signifying total defeat and destruction. It serves as a stark reminder that earthly power and wealth, however impressive, are temporary and subject to divine authority.