Ezekiel 27:30
They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly.
This phrase reflects the intense mourning and lamentation over the fall of Tyre, a powerful and wealthy city-state known for its trade and influence in the ancient world. The raising of voices and bitter crying is a common expression of grief in the Bible, seen in other passages such as Jeremiah 48:38 and Lamentations 2:18. The lamentation is not just a personal sorrow but a communal expression, indicating the widespread impact of Tyre's downfall. The bitterness of the cry underscores the depth of loss and the recognition of Tyre's significant role in the region's economy and culture.

They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
Throwing dust on one's head and rolling in ashes are traditional signs of mourning and repentance in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel. This practice is seen in other biblical accounts, such as Job 2:12 and Joshua 7:6, symbolizing humility, grief, and a return to the earth. The imagery of dust and ashes conveys a sense of desolation and ruin, fitting for the context of Tyre's destruction. It also serves as a physical manifestation of inner sorrow and contrition, often associated with repentance and seeking divine mercy. This act connects to the broader biblical theme of recognizing human frailty and the need for God's intervention.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Tyre
An ancient and wealthy city-state located on the Mediterranean coast, known for its trade and commerce. In Ezekiel 27, Tyre is depicted as a magnificent ship that ultimately faces destruction.

2. Merchants and Mariners
These are the people who conducted trade with Tyre and are now mourning its downfall. They represent the economic partners and allies of Tyre.

3. Ezekiel
A prophet of God who conveyed messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. He uses vivid imagery to communicate God's messages.

4. Babylonian Exile
The period during which the Israelites were exiled to Babylon, a context that influences Ezekiel's prophecies.

5. Lamentation Rituals
The actions of sprinkling dust and rolling in ashes are traditional expressions of mourning and lamentation in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
Teaching Points
The Fleeting Nature of Earthly Wealth
Tyre's downfall serves as a reminder that material wealth and earthly success are temporary and can be lost suddenly. Christians are encouraged to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

The Impact of Sin and Pride
Tyre's pride and self-reliance led to its downfall. Believers are warned against the dangers of pride and are encouraged to remain humble and dependent on God.

Expressions of Genuine Mourning
The rituals of mourning in ancient times were outward expressions of deep sorrow. Christians are called to express genuine compassion and empathy for those who suffer.

God's Sovereignty Over Nations
The prophecy against Tyre demonstrates God's control over the rise and fall of nations. Believers can trust in God's ultimate plan and justice.

The Call to Repentance
The lament over Tyre serves as a call to repentance for those who have turned away from God. It is a reminder of the need for personal and communal repentance.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the fall of Tyre in Ezekiel 27:30 illustrate the temporary nature of worldly wealth and success? Can you think of modern examples where this is evident?

2. In what ways does pride lead to downfall, as seen in the account of Tyre? How can we guard against pride in our own lives?

3. How do the mourning rituals described in Ezekiel 27:30 compare to expressions of grief in other parts of the Bible, such as in the book of Job?

4. What does the lament over Tyre teach us about God's sovereignty and justice? How can this understanding impact our view of current world events?

5. How can the call to repentance in the account of Tyre be applied to our personal lives and communities today? What steps can we take to turn back to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Lamentations
The book of Lamentations also uses vivid imagery to express mourning over Jerusalem's destruction, similar to the lament over Tyre.

Revelation 18
The fall of Babylon in Revelation echoes the fall of Tyre, with merchants mourning the loss of a great economic power.

Job 2:12
Job's friends sprinkle dust on their heads as a sign of mourning, paralleling the actions described in Ezekiel 27:30.
A Celebration of Remarkable ProsperityW. Jones Ezekiel 27:1-36
A Proud CityW. Greenhill, M. A.Ezekiel 27:1-36
God's Observation of Our Business HoursEzekiel 27:1-36
Responsibility of City RulersT. De Witt Talmage.Ezekiel 27:1-36
The Fate of TyreJ. Parker, D. D.Ezekiel 27:1-36
The Position of Tyre on Land and SeaT. De Witt Talmage.Ezekiel 27:1-36
The Sin of TyreJohn Skinner, M. A.Ezekiel 27:1-36
Wreck of a Stately ShipJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 27:1-36
The Bewailing of the CityJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 27:28-36
People
Aram, Ashurites, Dan, Dedan, Elishah, Ezekiel, Haran, Javan, Kedar, Kittim, Kittites, Lud, Lydia, Meshech, Phut, Tarshish, Togarmah, Tubal, Uzal, Zidon
Places
Arabia, Arvad, Asshur, Bashan, Canneh, Chilmad, Cyprus, Damascus, Dedan, Egypt, Elishah, Gamad, Gebal, Haran, Helbon, Helech, Javan, Kedar, Lebanon, Lud, Meshech, Minnith, Persia, Put, Sahar, Senir, Sheba, Sidon, Syria, Tarshish, Tigris-Euphrates Region, Tubal, Tyre, Uzal
Topics
Aloud, Ashes, Bitterly, Cast, Cause, Cry, Crying, Dust, Heads, Roll, Rolling, Sounded, Sounding, Sprinkle, Themselves, Voice, Voices, Wail, Wallow
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 27:30

     4050   dust
     5196   voice
     5952   sorrow
     7454   sprinkling

Ezekiel 27:1-36

     5587   trade

Ezekiel 27:2-36

     5899   lament

Ezekiel 27:25-36

     5517   seafaring

Ezekiel 27:30-31

     5157   head

Ezekiel 27:30-32

     5419   mourning

Library
Third Circuit of Galilee. The Twelve Instructed and Sent Forth.
^A Matt. IX. 35-38; X. 1, 5-42; XI. 1; ^B Mark VI. 6-13; ^C Luke IX. 1-6. ^b 6 And he ^a Jesus ^b went about ^a all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner sickness and all manner of sickness. [In the first circuit of Galilee some of the twelve accompanied Jesus as disciples (see [3]Section XXXIII.); in the second the twelve were with him as apostles; in the third they, too, are sent forth as evangelists to supplement
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Humility is the Root of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. ...
Humility is the root of charity, and meekness the fruit of both. There is no solid and pure ground of love to others, except the rubbish of self-love be first cast out of the soul; and when that superfluity of naughtiness is cast out, then charity hath a solid and deep foundation: "The end of the command is charity out of a pure heart," 1 Tim. i. 5. It is only such a purified heart, cleansed from that poison and contagion of pride and self-estimation, that can send out such a sweet and wholesome
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision F. Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. ^C Luke XVI. 19-31. [The parable we are about to study is a direct advance upon the thoughts in the previous section. We may say generally that if the parable of the unjust steward teaches how riches are to be used, this parable sets forth the terrible consequences of a failure to so use them. Each point of the previous discourse is covered in detail, as will be shown by the references in the discussion of the parable.]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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