King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 26:16 Mean?

Ezekiel 26:16 in the King James Version says “Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidere...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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. trembling: Heb. tremblings”

Ezekiel 26:16 · KJV

Context

14

And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

15

Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is 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. trembling: Heb. tremblings

17

And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it! of: Heb. of the seas

18

Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure.

Read Ezekiel 26 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study 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.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural 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.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the image of powerful rulers 'clothing themselves with trembling' reveal the fragility of human authority built on material prosperity?
  2. What securities (financial, political, social) do we trust in that could prove as unstable as Tyre's maritime empire?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וְֽיָרְד֞וּ1 of 22

“shall come down”

H3381

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

מֵעַ֣ל2 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

כִּסְאוֹתָ֗ם3 of 22

“from their thrones”

H3678

properly, covered, i.e., a throne (as canopied)

כֹּ֚ל4 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

נְשִׂיאֵ֣י5 of 22

“Then all the princes”

H5387

properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist

הַיָּ֔ם6 of 22

“of the sea”

H3220

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

וְהֵסִ֙ירוּ֙7 of 22

“and lay away”

H5493

to turn off (literally or figuratively)

אֶת8 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מְעִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם9 of 22

“their robes”

H4598

a robe (i.e., upper and outer garment)

וְאֶת10 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בִּגְדֵ֥י11 of 22

“garments”

H899

a covering, i.e., clothing

רִקְמָתָ֖ם12 of 22

“their broidered”

H7553

variegation of color; specifically, embroidery

יִפְשֹׁ֑טוּ13 of 22

“and put off”

H6584

to spread out (i.e., deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)

חֲרָד֤וֹת׀14 of 22

“themselves with trembling”

H2731

fear, anxiety

יִלְבָּ֙שׁוּ֙15 of 22

“they shall clothe”

H3847

properly, wrap around, i.e., (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively

עַל16 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הָאָ֣רֶץ17 of 22

“upon the ground”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

יֵשֵׁ֔בוּ18 of 22

“they shall sit”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

וְחָֽרְדוּ֙19 of 22

“and shall tremble”

H2729

to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety)

לִרְגָעִ֔ים20 of 22

“at every moment”

H7281

a wink (of the eyes), i.e., a very short space of time

וְשָׁמְמ֖וּ21 of 22

“and be astonished”

H8074

to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)

עָלָֽיִךְ׃22 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 26:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 26:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 32:10Job 8:22Hosea 11:10Jonah 3:61 Peter 5:5Isaiah 3:26

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 26 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Ezekiel 26 with CommentaryAll Ezekiel ChaptersComplete Ezekiel QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes