King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 27:35 Mean?

Ezekiel 27:35 in the King James Version says “All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubl...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.”

Ezekiel 27:35 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

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.

35

All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.

36

The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more . a terror: Heb. terrors never: Heb. shalt not be for ever

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters—The metaphor shifts: Tyre the magnificent ship is נִשְׁבַּרְתְּ מִיַּמִּים (nishbartĕ miyyammîm, 'broken by the seas') בְּמַעֲמַקֵּי־מָיִם (bĕmaʿămaqê-māyim, 'in the depths of waters'). The very element that enabled Tyre's prosperity—the sea—becomes her destroyer.

Thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall—מַעֲרָבֵךְ וְכָל־קְהָלֵךְ (maʿărābēkh wĕkhol-qĕhālēkh, 'your merchandise and all your assembly') נָפָלוּ (nāphālû, 'have fallen'). Total collapse: goods, sailors, merchants—all sink together. This imagery of a wrecked ship represents total systemic failure. Tyre's integrated economy, which seemed so sophisticated and resilient, proves vulnerable to God's judgment. The lesson: systems built on human pride rather than divine foundation are destined for catastrophic failure (Matthew 7:24-27).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Maritime disasters were common in antiquity but rarely catastrophic to empires because trade networks were diversified. Tyre's uniqueness was that the city itself was the network's center. When the city fell, the entire system collapsed—like a modern financial crisis when the central bank fails. Ezekiel's ship metaphor captures this systemic interdependence and vulnerability.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the metaphor of Tyre as a wrecked ship illustrate total systemic collapse?
  2. What modern 'ships'—complex systems we trust—might be vulnerable to similar judgment?
  3. How do we avoid building our lives on systems destined for failure?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
כֹּ֚ל1 of 10
H3605

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

יֹשְׁבֵ֣י2 of 10

“All the inhabitants”

H3427

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

הָאִיִּ֔ים3 of 10

“of the isles”

H339

properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island

שָׁמְמ֖וּ4 of 10

“shall be astonished”

H8074

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

עָלָ֑יִךְ5 of 10
H5921

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

וּמַלְכֵיהֶם֙6 of 10

“at thee and their kings”

H4428

a king

שָׂ֣עֲרוּ7 of 10

“afraid”

H8175

to storm; by implication, to shiver, i.e., fear

שַׂ֔עַר8 of 10

“shall be sore”

H8178

a tempest

רָעֲמ֖וּ9 of 10

“they shall be troubled”

H7481

to tumble, i.e., be violently agitated; specifically, to crash (of thunder); figuratively, to irritate (with anger)

פָּנִֽים׃10 of 10

“in their countenance”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

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 27:35 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 27:35 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 32:10Isaiah 23:6Revelation 18:9-10Ezekiel 26:15-18Ezekiel 28:17-19

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