Ezekiel 26:17

17 And they shall take up a lamentation for thee and say to thee, How didst thou perish, that wast inhabited in the seas? The renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, who caused their terror to be on all those that dwell therein.

Ezekiel 26:17 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 26:17

And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say unto
thee
The following mournful song: how art thou destroyed that wast inhabited of seafaring men;
or, "of the seas": by men who used the seas, and traded by sea to different parts of the world; and was frequented by persons that came by sea thither, by the great ocean, by the Red sea, the Mediterranean sea, and others; or, which was surrounded by the sea. So the Targum,

``that dwellest in the midst of the sea:''

"the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea"; fortified by the sea, and against it; strong in shipping and naval stores; so as to be formidable to others, and mistress of the sea. The Targum is,

``which dwell in the strength of the sea;''

and had the strength and riches of it brought unto it; and so was famous all the world over for its commerce, wealth, and power; but now ruined and undone: she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that
haunt it!
the sea; on all that used the seas; or on all the inhabitants of the islands of the sea; who all stood in fear of Tyre and her inhabitants, and were obliged to strike their sails to their ships.

Ezekiel 26:17 In-Context

15 Thus hath the Lord GOD said to Tyre: Certainly the isles shall shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded shall cry, when the slaughter shall be made in the midst of thee.

16 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.

17 And they shall take up a lamentation for thee and say to thee, How didst thou perish, that wast inhabited in the seas? The renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, who caused their terror to be on all those that dwell therein.

18 Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be terrorized at thy end.

19 For thus hath the Lord GOD said: I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; I shall cause the abyss to come up over thee and the many waters shall cover thee.