Ezekiel 27:26
Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.
Original Language Analysis
בְּמַ֤יִם
waters
H4325
בְּמַ֤יִם
waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
1 of 10
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
רַבִּים֙
thee into great
H7227
רַבִּים֙
thee into great
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
2 of 10
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
הֱבִא֔וּךְ
have brought
H935
הֱבִא֔וּךְ
have brought
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
3 of 10
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הַשָּׁטִ֖ים
Thy rowers
H7751
הַשָּׁטִ֖ים
Thy rowers
Strong's:
H7751
Word #:
4 of 10
properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e., (the sea with oars) to row; by implication, to travel
אֹתָ֑ךְ
H853
אֹתָ֑ךְ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
ר֚וּחַ
wind
H7307
ר֚וּחַ
wind
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
6 of 10
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
הַקָּדִ֔ים
the east
H6921
הַקָּדִ֔ים
the east
Strong's:
H6921
Word #:
7 of 10
the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the east (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
Cross References
Psalms 48:7Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.Acts 27:14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.Jeremiah 18:17I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.Ezekiel 26:19For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;
Historical Context
Tyre's island location provided security for centuries. Yet this same maritime position became her vulnerability when Alexander built his causeway across the water. What seemed an impregnable defense became the site of conquest. The waters that enriched Tyre couldn't ultimately protect her from divinely appointed judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- How do our strengths become weaknesses when God opposes us?
- What securities are we trusting that might become instruments of judgment?
- Why can't natural advantages save us from divine decree?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters shifts from celebration to judgment. The east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas introduces catastrophe. East wind represents divine judgment (compare Exodus 14:21; Jonah 4:8). Great waters that seemed to provide security now become the context for destruction. The sea that made Tyre rich will destroy her. Our strengths become our weaknesses when God opposes us. What we trusted for security becomes the instrument of our destruction. The very thing Tyre dominated—maritime trade—becomes the context for her doom.