“And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!”
My Notes
What Does Ezekiel 26:17 Mean?
The allied kings sing a funeral song for Tyre: "How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea." The lamentation focuses on what Tyre was: a city of sailors, renowned across the world, strong in the sea. Every description is past tense. What she was, she is no more.
The phrase "which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it" describes Tyre's former reputation: she terrified everyone who interacted with her. Her naval power, her commercial dominance, her strategic position — all produced fear in those who encountered her. The city that terrified is now the city mourned.
The question "how art thou destroyed?" expresses disbelief. The word "how" (eik) is the Hebrew lamentation word — the same word that opens the book of Lamentations. It means: this shouldn't be possible. How? The strongest city in the sea, destroyed? How?
Reflection Questions
- 1.What in your world seems too strong, too established, too central to ever fall?
- 2.Have you witnessed the fall of something 'impossible' to destroy? What was that like?
- 3.How does the allied kings' grief differ from the mockery of enemies?
- 4.What does the answer 'God spoke against it' mean for the things you consider permanent?
Devotional
How? How is this possible? The city that ruled the sea. The city that terrified every port. The city that was synonymous with naval power and commercial dominance. Destroyed. How?
The lament of the allied kings is genuine — these aren't enemies celebrating. These are partners grieving. They depended on Tyre. They benefited from Tyre. Their own prosperity was tied to Tyre's existence. And now they're singing a funeral song over an impossibility.
The word "how" carries the full weight of disbelief. This wasn't supposed to happen. This was the strongest city in the sea. She terrified everyone. She was renowned, powerful, feared. The question "how?" isn't asking for a military explanation. It's asking: how can something this strong be gone?
Every generation has its Tyre — the institution, the company, the power structure that seems too strong, too established, too central to the world's functioning to ever fall. And every generation watches something like it collapse and asks: how?
The answer, in Ezekiel, is always the same: God spoke against it. The how isn't military — it's theological. The strongest city in the sea fell because the God above the sea decided it would. Human strength has no defense against divine purpose.
What seems too strong to fall in your world? The 'how' question is coming for everything that isn't anchored in God.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say unto thee,.... The following mournful song:
how art thou…
The effect of the fall of Tyre. Eze 26:16 Clothe themselves with trembling - Mourners change their bright robes for sad…
Wast strong in the sea - The strength of Tyre was so great, that Alexander despaired of being able to reduce it unless…
The utter ruin of Tyre is here represented in very strong and lively figures, which are exceedingly affecting.
1. See…
Cross References
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