Ezekiel 27 28

Ezekiel 27:28 kjv

The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.

Ezekiel 27:28 nkjv

The common-land will shake at the sound of the cry of your pilots.

Ezekiel 27:28 niv

The shorelands will quake when your sailors cry out.

Ezekiel 27:28 esv

At the sound of the cry of your pilots the countryside shakes,

Ezekiel 27:28 nlt

Your cities by the sea tremble
as your pilots cry out in terror.

Ezekiel 27 verses

Ezekiel 27 28 Meaning

Ezekiel 27:28 describes the profound and far-reaching impact of Tyre's destruction. It pictures the terrifying cries of Tyre's skilled mariners – the "pilots" or "helmsmen" – as their great "ship" (Tyre itself) goes down. The sound of their desperate wailing and the unfolding catastrophe will be so immense and dreadful that it will cause the "shorelands," or surrounding coastal regions and trading partners, to tremble with fear and shock. This verse underscores the complete and utter devastation that will befall the once-mighty commercial empire, sending shockwaves of panic and despair across the entire Mediterranean world dependent on Tyre's trade.

Ezekiel 27 28 Context

Ezekiel chapter 27 is a dramatic lament, a funeral dirge for the city of Tyre, presented metaphorically as a magnificent, well-equipped merchant ship. God, through Ezekiel, describes Tyre's unparalleled beauty, wealth, and commercial power, detailing its international trade network and its exquisite construction using materials and skilled labor from across the known world. This elegy paints a vivid picture of Tyre's former glory, setting the stage for the catastrophic fall depicted towards the chapter's end. Verse 28, therefore, marks a pivotal moment within this lament. It is no longer just a description of a proud vessel, but the audible sign of its destruction, a direct consequence of its overweening pride and self-sufficiency, which challenged God's sovereignty. Historically, Tyre was a dominant Phoenician city-state, an island fortress known for its vast maritime trade empire and significant influence over surrounding coastal regions. The prophecy speaks to its eventual subjugation and destruction by invaders, which began with Nebuchadnezzar and culminated with Alexander the Great. The collapse of such a global power would undoubtedly send reverberations of fear and economic panic throughout the ancient world.

Ezekiel 27 28 Word analysis

• At the sound of: (מִקּוֹל miqqōl) This opening phrase emphasizes the immediate, jarring auditory impact of the event. It is not just the sight of the destruction but the horrifying sound that spreads terror, demonstrating how the chaos of Tyre’s downfall would resonate far beyond its immediate location.
• the cry: (צְוָחַת ṣe-wā-ḥaṯ) The Hebrew word here suggests a vehement, desperate shout or wail. It implies utter panic, distress, and helplessness, rather than a mere shout. This is not a battle cry, but a cry of pure anguish from those who are drowning.
• of your pilots: (חֹבְלַיִךְ ḥōḇ-layiḵ) These are the skilled, experienced navigators and steersmen of Tyre's ships. The fact that even these seasoned professionals, accustomed to the perils of the sea, are crying out in terror signifies the overwhelming and unprecedented nature of the catastrophe. Their cries highlight the absolute failure of human skill and pride in the face of divine judgment. This emphasizes that if those most capable are in despair, then all hope is lost.
• the shorelands: (מִגְרָשׁוֹת mig-rā-šō-wṯ) While migrash can refer to common pasture lands around a city, in this context of Tyre as a global maritime power, it signifies the adjacent coastal regions, client states, and trading partners who witnessed or were intimately connected to Tyre's maritime activities. The term indicates the far-reaching influence of Tyre's fall beyond its direct boundaries.
• will quake: (יִרְעֲשׁוּ yir-‘ă-šū) This Hebrew word denotes a strong tremor or shaking, often associated with fear, divine manifestation, or massive destruction (e.g., an earthquake). Here, it portrays a profound, visceral reaction of terror and instability, illustrating that Tyre's collapse is not just local but profoundly destabilizes the entire interconnected region. It's not just metaphorical trembling; it suggests deep societal and economic disruption stemming from sheer panic.

Words-group analysis

• "At the sound of the cry of your pilots": This phrase captures the immediate, terrifying auditory input that heralds Tyre's doom. The 'cry' of the experienced 'pilots' signals that all human expertise and self-reliance have failed, leaving only desperate screams. This vocal expression of complete breakdown propagates the terror, emphasizing that the crisis is beyond human control.
• "the shorelands will quake": This phrase powerfully describes the broad impact of Tyre's fall. The physical "shaking" of the "shorelands" symbolizes the socio-economic and psychological disruption that will ripple across all nations linked to Tyre's vast commercial empire. It's a vivid image of instability, showing that the economic and political stability of dependent regions is fundamentally shattered by the loss of the central maritime power.

Ezekiel 27 28 Bonus section

The imagery of a ship being destroyed at sea, leading to cries of mariners and shaking of coastlands, is deeply embedded in ancient Near Eastern cosmology and prophetic tradition. The sea often symbolized chaotic, unruly forces, and mastery over it, like Tyre’s naval prowess, represented peak human achievement. Its destruction, therefore, indicates the triumph of divine order over human ambition and chaos. The lament here functions as a polemic against Tyre’s arrogance (often described as playing god, Ezek 28), asserting that its ultimate downfall comes not from another human empire alone, but from the judgment of the one true God, Yahweh. The dramatic sounds of the mariners' cries echo the ancient lament genre, where loud public wailing and self-affliction were integral parts of mourning and expressing utter desolation. The "shorelands" trembling indicates not just sympathetic sadness, but a stark warning to all nations observing this collapse, implying a shared fate if they pursue similar paths of self-sufficiency and defiance.

Ezekiel 27 28 Commentary

Ezekiel 27:28 paints a chilling auditory picture of Tyre’s ultimate downfall, highlighting not just its physical destruction, but its far-reaching consequences. The frantic "cry" of the "pilots" – those most skilled and resilient – signifies the absolute end of Tyre's reign and its hubris. When the most competent figures aboard the "ship" of Tyre are crying out in sheer terror, it communicates an irretrievable collapse, a crisis beyond any human capacity to manage or contain. This is a dramatic soundbite of utter despair. The reverberations are immediate and universal, causing the surrounding "shorelands" – all nations that relied on Tyre's trade and power – to "quake" with fear. This trembling isn't just an emotional response; it signifies real economic and political destabilization, illustrating how the fall of one proud, self-sufficient empire can send shockwaves throughout an interconnected world. The verse underscores God’s judgment against pride and material reliance, demonstrating that all human endeavors, no matter how magnificent or seemingly impregnable, are ultimately fragile before divine sovereignty. The lament functions as a warning to all nations that trust in their wealth and power more than in God.