The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word "hiss" here isn't just malicious joy; it captures a profound, almost stunned reaction of astonishment and dread from former trading partners witnessing Tyre's utter destruction. This isn't just ruin; it's a spectacle so shocking it silences and startles, leaving Tyre a stark, eternal warning.
The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse concludes a vivid lament over the city of Tyre, which is portrayed as a magnificent ship that has met a catastrophic end. The preceding verses describe Tyre's immense wealth, her skilled sailors, and the vast reach of her trade, highlighting her former glory. Now, the prophet declares that all this splendor is gone, leaving her a source of astonishment and dread for the very merchants who once profited from her.
The word 'hiss' sounds so negative, like malicious joy or contempt. But what if it means something else entirely here?
The prophet Ezekiel uses the sound of 'hissing' to describe the reaction to Tyre's fall. While sometimes 'hissing' can convey scorn or malicious glee (as Tyre themselves might have done towards Jerusalem), here the context points to something different.
A Sound of Shock
Commentaries suggest this 'hissing' is more about astonishment and dismay. Imagine standing on the shore, watching a mighty city, a global hub of trade, utterly crumble. The sound isn't necessarily laughter, but a sharp intake of breath, a stunned reaction to the unbelievable spectacle of such power brought so low. It's the sound of the world witnessing a divine judgment unfold in real-time, a sound of pure awe at the finality of it all.
Tyre was a powerhouse of its day. How does this verse speak to the inevitable decline of even the greatest powers?
Ezekiel 27 isn't just about one city; it's a profound commentary on the nature of power, wealth, and empire. Tyre, with its vast trade networks and immense riches, believed itself unshakeable. Yet, God's word declares its utter annihilation.
More Than Just Defeat
'You have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.' This isn't just about a military defeat or economic downturn. It speaks of total obliteration. The 'dreadful end' signifies not just destruction, but a horrifying finality. The phrase 'shall be no more forever' emphasizes that this isn't a temporary setback but an eternal absence from the world stage.
Ask a follow-up
This serves as a stark reminder that earthly kingdoms, no matter how grand, are temporary. Their wealth and influence, built on human endeavor, are ultimately fragile.
Understand the original words
socherim · Hebrew Noun
An individual or group engaged in trade, business, or the exchange of goods. In a biblical context, this often refers to those seeking profit, sometimes highlighting the precarious nature of worldly wealth.
sharaq · Hebrew Verb
A vocal expression of contempt, mockery, derision, or shock. In Scripture, it often accompanies the fall of the proud or the judgment of God against a wicked nation.
ballahoth · Hebrew Noun
A state of being characterized by extreme terror, horror, or amazement. It frequently describes the reaction of onlookers to God's severe and irreversible judgment on a kingdom or city.
olam · Hebrew Noun
An indicator of permanent cessation or absolute termination. It signifies the irrevocable nature of God's decree, indicating that what once existed will never be restored or encountered again.
Ezekiel's prophecy describes the utter downfall of Tyre, a city whose wealth and influence were built on global trade. The 'merchants' hissing at Tyre signifies the astonishment and dismay of the international commercial world witnessing the complete destruction of such a powerful economic hub, a stark warning about the transience of worldly success.
c. 880 BC
Phoenician Trade Flourishes
Tyre, a major Phoenician city, establishes itself as a dominant maritime power, known for its vast trade networks, skilled artisans, and lucrative purple dye production.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Dominance
Tyre, though often resisting, falls under the influence and sometimes direct control of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, impacting its trade and political autonomy.
689 BC
Sennacherib sacks Babylon
While not directly targeting Tyre, the intense military campaigns and consolidation of power by Assyria create a volatile regional climate that indirectly affects Phoenician trade routes.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon deports a portion of the Jewish population, signaling the rising power of Babylon and the decline of Assyrian influence, reshaping regional dynamics.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a second major deportation of Judeans. Tyre rejoices at Jerusalem's fall, anticipating increased trade opportunities.
573 BC - 562 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre
Nebuchadnezzar II lays siege to the island city of Tyre for thirteen years. Though the city withstands the siege, it suffers greatly, marking a turning point in its dominance.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Alexander the Great's Siege of Tyre
Alexander the Great, encountering Tyre's continued wealth and defiance, undertakes a massive seven-month siege. He builds a causeway to the island city and ultimately razes it, enslaving its population. This event fulfills Ezekiel's prophecy of Tyre's utter destruction and permanent loss of glory.
This passage describes a similar utter destruction and permanent absence for Tyre, echoing the verse's declaration of being 'no more forever.'
Jeremiah 51:63-64This passage depicts the symbolic destruction of Babylon by casting a stone into the Euphrates, signifying its permanent downfall, much like Tyre's final end described here.
Revelation 18:9-10This New Testament passage describes merchants weeping and wailing over the fall of 'Babylon,' expressing astonishment and fear at its destruction, mirroring the 'hissing' and 'terror' mentioned in Ezekiel.
Isaiah 14:16This verse speaks of those looking at the fallen king of Babylon and considering his end, using similar language of astonishment and disbelief at such a mighty power brought low.
clarkeEzekiel 27:36: "The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more."
Shall hiss at thee - שרקו shareku, shall shriek for thee. This powerfully expresses the sensation made on the feelings of the spectators on the shore when they saw the vessel swallowed up.
ellicottEzekiel 27:36: "The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more."
(36) Shall hiss at thee. —In Ezekiel 27:35 the prophet again drops the figure of the ship, and looking forward (as in Ezekiel 26:4-6 ; Ezekiel 26:12-14 ) to the end, speaks of the final and utter overthrow which shall come upon Tyre. The word hiss is used, as in Isaiah 5:26 ; Isaiah 7:18 ; Zechariah 10:8 , &c., in the sense of calling for. The prophet tells us that the people…
The word "hiss" here isn't just malicious joy; it captures a profound, almost stunned reaction of astonishment and dread from former trading partners witnessing Tyre's utter destruction. This isn't just ruin; it's a spectacle so shocking it silences and startles, leaving Tyre a stark, eternal warning.
This verse concludes a vivid lament over the city of Tyre, which is portrayed as a magnificent ship that has met a catastrophic end. The preceding verses describe Tyre's immense wealth, her skilled sailors, and the vast reach of her trade, highlighting her former glory. Now, the prophet declares that all this splendor is gone, leaving her a source of astonishment and dread for the very merchants who once profited from her.
This verse concludes a vivid lament over the city of Tyre, which is portrayed as a magnificent ship that has met a catastrophic end. The preceding verses describe Tyre's immense wealth, her skilled sailors, and the vast reach of her trade, highlighting her former glory. Now, the prophet declares that all this splendor is gone, leaving her a source of astonishment and dread for the very merchants who once profited from her.
"The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.’”" — The word "hiss" here isn't just malicious joy; it captures a profound, almost stunned reaction of astonishment and dread from former trading partners witnessing Tyre's utter destruction. This isn't j…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026