Ezekiel 27:31
They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.
They will shave their heads for you
Shaving the head was a common expression of mourning and lamentation in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel (Job 1:20, Isaiah 15:2). It symbolized deep grief and loss. In the context of Ezekiel 27, this act signifies the profound sorrow of the surrounding nations over the fall of Tyre, a major trading hub. The shaving of heads also indicates a public display of mourning, showing the impact of Tyre's downfall on its allies and trading partners.

and wrap themselves in sackcloth.
Sackcloth, a coarse material made from goat's hair, was traditionally worn during periods of mourning and repentance (Genesis 37:34, Jonah 3:5-6). It served as a physical manifestation of inner sorrow and humility. The use of sackcloth in this passage underscores the severity of Tyre's destruction and the widespread grief it caused. This imagery is consistent with other biblical accounts where sackcloth is used to express deep distress and contrition.

They will weep over you with anguish of soul
Weeping with "anguish of soul" conveys an intense emotional response, reflecting the deep personal and communal impact of Tyre's demise. This phrase highlights the emotional depth of the lamentation, suggesting that the fall of Tyre was not only an economic loss but also a relational and cultural one. The phrase "anguish of soul" is reminiscent of other biblical expressions of profound grief, such as David's lament for Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:26).

and bitter mourning.
"Bitter mourning" emphasizes the intensity and acuteness of the sorrow experienced. This type of mourning is often associated with irreversible loss and tragedy. In the biblical context, bitterness in mourning can also imply a sense of injustice or the harshness of the situation (Ruth 1:20, Lamentations 3:15). The fall of Tyre, a city known for its wealth and influence, would have been a shocking event, leading to widespread lamentation among those who depended on its prosperity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Tyre
A prominent ancient Phoenician city known for its wealth and trade. In Ezekiel 27, Tyre is depicted as a magnificent ship that ultimately faces destruction.

2. Mourners
The people who lament Tyre's downfall. Their actions of shaving heads and wearing sackcloth are traditional expressions of deep mourning and grief in ancient Near Eastern cultures.

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

4. Babylonian Exile
The period when the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, which serves as the backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies.

5. Sackcloth
A coarse material worn as a sign of mourning or repentance, symbolizing humility and sorrow.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Pride
Tyre's downfall serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance. Just as Tyre was brought low, so too can individuals and nations fall when they exalt themselves above God.

Expressions of Grief
The cultural practices of mourning in the Bible remind us of the importance of expressing grief and seeking comfort in God during times of loss.

God's Sovereignty
The prophecy against Tyre demonstrates God's control over nations and history. Believers can trust in God's ultimate plan and justice, even when facing worldly powers.

Repentance and Humility
The imagery of sackcloth and shaved heads calls believers to a posture of repentance and humility before God, acknowledging our need for His mercy and grace.

Hope Amidst Judgment
While Ezekiel's message includes judgment, it also points to the hope of restoration for those who turn back to God. Believers are encouraged to find hope in God's promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the downfall of Tyre in Ezekiel 27:31 serve as a warning against pride in our own lives?

2. What cultural practices of mourning are described in this passage, and how can they inform our understanding of grief today?

3. How does the imagery of Tyre's destruction relate to the broader theme of God's sovereignty over nations in the Bible?

4. In what ways can we practice humility and repentance in our daily walk with God, as symbolized by sackcloth and shaved heads?

5. How can the message of hope amidst judgment in Ezekiel's prophecies encourage us in times of personal or communal crisis?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 15:2-3
Similar expressions of mourning, such as shaving heads and wearing sackcloth, are seen in the lament over Moab, highlighting a common cultural practice of expressing grief.

Jeremiah 48:37
This passage also describes mourning rituals, reinforcing the theme of lamentation over destruction.

Revelation 18:9-19
The fall of Babylon in Revelation echoes the lament over Tyre, illustrating the ultimate downfall of prideful and sinful nations.
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
Anguish, Bald, Baldness, Bitter, Bitterness, Bodies, Cut, Gird, Girded, Grief, Hair, Haircloth, Heads, Heart, Lamentation, Mourning, Sackcloth, Sorrow, Soul, Souls, Themselves, Utterly, Wailing, Weep, Weeping, Wept
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 27:31

     5128   baldness
     5180   shaving
     5198   weeping
     6742   sackcloth and ashes

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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