Ezekiel 26:16

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

וְֽיָרְד֞וּ shall come down H3381
וְֽיָרְד֞וּ shall come down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 1 of 22
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מֵעַ֣ל H5921
מֵעַ֣ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 2 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כִּסְאוֹתָ֗ם from their thrones H3678
כִּסְאוֹתָ֗ם from their thrones
Strong's: H3678
Word #: 3 of 22
properly, covered, i.e., a throne (as canopied)
כֹּ֚ל H3605
כֹּ֚ל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 4 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
נְשִׂיאֵ֣י Then all the princes H5387
נְשִׂיאֵ֣י Then all the princes
Strong's: H5387
Word #: 5 of 22
properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist
הַיָּ֔ם of the sea H3220
הַיָּ֔ם of the sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 6 of 22
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וְהֵסִ֙ירוּ֙ and lay away H5493
וְהֵסִ֙ירוּ֙ and lay away
Strong's: H5493
Word #: 7 of 22
to turn off (literally or figuratively)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 8 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מְעִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם their robes H4598
מְעִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם their robes
Strong's: H4598
Word #: 9 of 22
a robe (i.e., upper and outer garment)
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 10 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בִּגְדֵ֥י garments H899
בִּגְדֵ֥י garments
Strong's: H899
Word #: 11 of 22
a covering, i.e., clothing
רִקְמָתָ֖ם their broidered H7553
רִקְמָתָ֖ם their broidered
Strong's: H7553
Word #: 12 of 22
variegation of color; specifically, embroidery
יִפְשֹׁ֑טוּ and put off H6584
יִפְשֹׁ֑טוּ and put off
Strong's: H6584
Word #: 13 of 22
to spread out (i.e., deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)
חֲרָד֤וֹת׀ themselves with trembling H2731
חֲרָד֤וֹת׀ themselves with trembling
Strong's: H2731
Word #: 14 of 22
fear, anxiety
יִלְבָּ֙שׁוּ֙ they shall clothe H3847
יִלְבָּ֙שׁוּ֙ they shall clothe
Strong's: H3847
Word #: 15 of 22
properly, wrap around, i.e., (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 16 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָאָ֣רֶץ upon the ground H776
הָאָ֣רֶץ upon the ground
Strong's: H776
Word #: 17 of 22
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
יֵשֵׁ֔בוּ they shall sit H3427
יֵשֵׁ֔בוּ they shall sit
Strong's: H3427
Word #: 18 of 22
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וְחָֽרְדוּ֙ and shall tremble H2729
וְחָֽרְדוּ֙ and shall tremble
Strong's: H2729
Word #: 19 of 22
to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety)
לִרְגָעִ֔ים at every moment H7281
לִרְגָעִ֔ים at every moment
Strong's: H7281
Word #: 20 of 22
a wink (of the eyes), i.e., a very short space of time
וְשָׁמְמ֖וּ and be astonished H8074
וְשָׁמְמ֖וּ and be astonished
Strong's: H8074
Word #: 21 of 22
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
עָלָֽיִךְ׃ H5921
עָלָֽיִךְ׃
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 22 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

Analysis & Commentary

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—The "princes of the sea" (Hebrew nesiey hayam, נְשִׂיאֵי הַיָּם) are rulers of maritime city-states in Tyre's commercial network. Their descending from thrones signals abdication of authority and dignity. Laying aside royal robes and embroidered garments (Hebrew riqmah, רִקְמָה—expensive woven fabrics Tyre specialized in) symbolizes mourning and terror.

Most striking: "they shall clothe themselves with trembling" (Hebrew charadot yilbashu, חֲרָדוֹת יִלְבָּשׁוּ). Trembling becomes their garment—terror so pervasive it defines them. "They shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment"—sitting on the ground (Hebrew al-ha'aretz yeshevu, עַל־הָאָרֶץ יֵשֵׁבוּ) is mourning posture (Job 2:13, Lamentations 2:10). The phrase "tremble at every moment" (Hebrew charad lirgaim, חָרְדוּ לִרְגָעִים) means constant, unrelenting terror. These merchant princes who once dominated global trade now sit paralyzed with fear. Economic collapse produces not just poverty but psychological devastation.

Historical Context

This describes the reaction of Phoenician colonies and trading partners when Tyre fell. Cities like Sidon, Byblos, Arvad, and distant colonies like Carthage and Tartessus (Spain) depended on Tyre's commercial network. When Alexander destroyed Tyre in 332 BC, the entire Phoenician civilization collapsed. The purple dye industry (made from murex shells, Tyre's monopoly) ceased. Banking networks failed. Maritime trade routes became unsafe. The 'princes' are city rulers who derived wealth and authority from Tyrian commerce—when the hub collapsed, the spokes disintegrated. This prophesied the end of Phoenician civilization as a world power.

Questions for Reflection

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