King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 27:32 Mean?

Ezekiel 27:32 in the King James Version says “And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, l...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?”

Ezekiel 27:32 · KJV

Context

30

And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:

31

And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.

32

And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?

33

When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.

34

In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.

Read Ezekiel 27 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee—The Hebrew נָשָׂא קִינָה (nāsāʾ qînāh, 'lift up a lament/dirge') refers to formal funeral songs. וְקוֹנְנוּ עָלַיִךְ (wĕqônĕnû ʿālayik, 'and they shall lament over you') uses the verb קוּן (qûn), meaning ritualized mourning.

This introduces the actual funeral dirge for Tyre (verses 32b-36), one of several in Ezekiel (19:1-14, 26:17-18, 27:32-36, 28:12-19, 32:2-16). The form mimics actual ancient funeral laments, with rhetorical questions, past glory recalled, and present devastation mourned. Biblical lament literature (Lamentations, select Psalms) serves theological purposes: acknowledging God's justice, confessing sin, and ultimately hoping in restoration. But Tyre's lament ends without hope—only permanent desolation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient funeral dirges followed set patterns: invoking the deceased, recalling past glory, describing present ruin, and sometimes ending with hope. Professional mourners were hired for important deaths (Jeremiah 9:17-18). Ezekiel, as a priest, would have been familiar with liturgical lament forms and adapts them for prophetic purposes, showing God's judgment on nations follows similar patterns to human death.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do biblical laments help believers process grief while maintaining faith in God?
  2. What is significant about Tyre's lament ending without hope of restoration?
  3. How should we 'lament' when God's judgment falls on proud systems or nations?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
וְנָשְׂא֨וּ1 of 11

“they shall take up”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

אֵלַ֤יִךְ2 of 11
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בְּנִיהֶם֙3 of 11

“And in their wailing”

H5204

lamentation

קִינָ֔ה4 of 11

“a lamentation”

H7015

a dirge (as accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments)

וְקוֹנְנ֖וּ5 of 11

“for thee and lament”

H6969

to strike a musical note, i.e., chant or wail (at a funeral)

עָלָ֑יִךְ6 of 11
H5921

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

מִ֣י7 of 11
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

כְצ֔וֹר8 of 11

“over thee saying What city is like Tyrus”

H6865

tsor, a place in palestine

כְּדֻמָ֖ה9 of 11

“like the destroyed”

H1822

desolation; concretely, desolate

בְּת֥וֹךְ10 of 11

“in the midst”

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

הַיָּֽם׃11 of 11

“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

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 27:32 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 27:32 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 26:17Ezekiel 27:2Revelation 18:18Ezekiel 26:4-5Ezekiel 27:26Lamentations 1:12

Places in This Verse

TyreSettlement · Modern: Tyre · 33.27°N, 35.20°E64 verses across 19 books
View all places in Ezekiel 27 →

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