Ezekiel 27:34 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 27:34 mean?

Ezekiel 27:34 describes the downfall of the city of Tyre, saying that when Tyre is destroyed by the sea, all its goods and people will be lost. The verse paints a picture of total ruin, with Tyre’s wealth and community sinking together into the depths.

In this verse, the prophet Ezekiel is speaking God’s message to Tyre, a wealthy trading city on the coast. The setting is a lament for Tyre’s coming destruction, using the image of a shipwreck to show how its riches and people will be swallowed up by the sea. The verse emphasizes the complete collapse of everything Tyre depended on.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 27:34

• "Broken" (שָׁבַר, shavar): This word often means shattered or smashed, not just damaged. Here, it highlights the total and violent nature of Tyre’s fall.
• "Seas" (יָם, yam): Refers to the literal sea, but in this context, it also represents the forces that overwhelm Tyre, fitting the city’s identity as a maritime power.
• "Depths" (מְצוּלָה, metzulah): This word means the deepest parts of the sea, stressing that Tyre’s destruction is not just visible loss but a sinking beyond recovery.
• "Merchandise" (מַעֲרָב, ma’arav): This term points to Tyre’s trade goods, the source of its wealth, showing that even its prized possessions are lost in the disaster.
• "Company" (קָהָל, qahal): This word means an assembly or gathering, here referring to the people and allies of Tyre, underlining that the loss is both material and communal.

Why Ezekiel 27:34 matters

• Ezekiel 27:34 makes clear that Tyre’s destruction is not just about losing wealth but about the complete collapse of its society and influence.
• The verse uses vivid maritime imagery that fits Tyre’s identity as a trading city, making the warning more personal and striking for its audience.
• This verse ties into the larger lament in Ezekiel 27, which mourns the fall of a once-great city and warns other nations about the danger of pride and misplaced security.