This verse provides a contrast to the previous verse. Now the neighbors of Tyre have seen its destruction. Here the focus is again on the picture of the “ship” of Tyre.

Now you are wrecked by the seas means Tyre has been broken to pieces by the waves. New Century Version says “But now you are broken by the sea.” In the depths of the waters means Tyre has sunk and lies “at the bottom of the sea” (New Living Translation; similarly New Century Version). Although the meaning of this phrase is similar to that of “in the heart of the seas” in verses 26 and 27, the Hebrew word for depths stresses that the deepest place at the bottom of the sea is the location here. In many languages translators will use an active sentence for these two lines, such as “Now the waves have broken you to pieces and you lie at the bottom of the sea.”

Your merchandise and all your crew have sunk with you: Not only has the “ship” of Tyre sunk, but so have its goods and sailors. They all have gone down to the bottom of the sea. This verse is a picture of Tyre being totally destroyed. For merchandise see the introductory comments on verses 12-25a. All your crew refers to everyone who worked on the ship. Good News Translation provides a good model for these lines, saying “Your goods and all who worked for you Have vanished with you in the sea.”

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .