Ezekiel 27NIV
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Ezekiel27

New International Version

1The word of the Lord came to me:

2“Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre.

3Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You say, Tyre, “I am perfect in beauty.”

4Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection.

5They made all your timbers of juniper from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

6Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, adorned with ivory.

7Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail and served as your banner; your awnings were of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah.

8Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen; your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.

9Veteran craftsmen of Byblos were on board as shipwrights to caulk your seams. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to trade for your wares.

10“‘Men of Persia, Lydia and Put served as soldiers in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls, bringing you splendor.

11Men of Arvad and Helek guarded your walls on every side; men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they brought your beauty to perfection.

12“‘Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13“‘Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze for your wares.

14“‘Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

15“‘The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

16“‘Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.

17“‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, olive oil and balm for your wares.

18“‘Damascus did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods. They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar

19and casks of wine from Izal in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia and calamus.

20“‘Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.

21“‘Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22“‘The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.

23“‘Harran, Kanneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad traded with you.

24In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25“‘The ships of Tarshish serve as carriers for your wares. You are filled with heavy cargo as you sail the sea.

26Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces far out at sea.

27Your wealth, merchandise and wares, your mariners, sailors and shipwrights, your merchants and all your soldiers, and everyone else on board will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck.

28The shorelands will quake when your sailors cry out.

29All who handle the oars will abandon their ships; the mariners and all the sailors will stand on the shore.

30They will raise their voice and cry bitterly over you; they will sprinkle dust on their heads and roll in ashes.

31They will shave their heads because of you and will put on sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and with bitter mourning.

32As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament concerning you: “Who was ever silenced like Tyre, surrounded by the sea?”

33When your merchandise went out on the seas, you satisfied many nations; with your great wealth and your wares you enriched the kings of the earth.

34Now you are shattered by the sea in the depths of the waters; your wares and all your company have gone down with you.

35All who live in the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with horror and their faces are distorted with fear.

36The merchants among the nations scoff at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 27.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The merchandise of Tyre. (1-25). Its fall and ruin. (26-36).

vv1-25

Those who live at ease are to be lamented, if they are not prepared for trouble. Let none reckon themselves beautified, any further than they are sanctified. The account of the trade of Tyre intimates, that God's eye is upon men when employed in worldly business. Not only when at church, praying and hearing, but when in markets and fairs, buying and selling. In all our dealings we should keep a conscience void of offence. God, as the common Father of mankind, makes one country abound in one commodity, and another in another, serviceable to the necessity or to the comfort and ornament of human life. See what a blessing trade and merchandise are to mankind, when followed in the fear of God. Besides necessaries, an abundance of things are made valuable only by custom; yet God allows us to use them. But when riches increase, men are apt to set their hearts upon them, and forget the Lord, who gives power to get wealth.

vv26-36

The most mighty and magnificent kingdoms and states, sooner or later, come down. Those who make creatures their confidence, and rest their hopes upon them, will fall with them: happy are those who have the God of Jacob for their Help, and whose hope is in the Lord their God, who lives for ever. Those who engage in trade should learn to conduct their business according to God's word. Those who possess wealth should remember they are the Lord's stewards, and should use his goods in doing good to all. Let us seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

Cross References

Ezekiel 27
v5Deuteronomy 3:9allusion

Senir identified as the Amorite name for Mount Hermon, the source of shipboards.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

The lamentation of the merchants over Rome's fall heavily echoes the lament over Tyre.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v3Isaiah 23:3thematic

Tyre described as a mart of nations and merchant of the people.

Supported by JFB

v3Ezekiel 28:12thematic

The claim of perfect beauty is repeated in the lament over the prince of Tyre.

Supported by JFB

v91 Kings 5:18allusion

Gebal (and its stone-squarers) famed for skilled workmen aiding construction.

Supported by JFB

v26Psalms 48:7thematic

The east wind breaking ships of Tarshish, paralleling Tyre's shipwreck.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v8Genesis 10:18allusion

Arvadites trace back to Canaan, serving here as mariners for superior Tyre.

Supported by JFB

v10Jeremiah 46:9thematic

Persia, Lydians (Lud), and Libyans (Phut) acting as shielded warriors.

Supported by JFB

v13Revelation 18:13thematic

Trading 'persons of men' (slaves) listed in the merchandise of both Tyre and Babylon.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v17Acts 12:20thematic

Herod's country (Tyre and Sidon) was still nourished by Judea's food supply.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v17Judges 11:33allusion

Minnith, a region of Israel noted for producing excellent export wheat.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v28Ezekiel 26:15-18thematic

The shaking of the isles at the sound of the fall of Tyre.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v6Zechariah 11:2thematic

The oaks of Bashan famous for strength, paired here with Lebanon's cedars.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Genesis 41:42thematic

Fine linen of Egypt, a highly prized, luxurious fabric.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v36Ezekiel 28:19thematic

Becoming a terror and ceasing to exist forever is the ultimate end of Tyre.

Supported by JFB