Ezekiel 27WEB
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Ezekiel27

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying,

2“You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;

3and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord Yahweh says: “You, Tyre, have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

4Your borders are in the heart of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty.

5They have made all your planks of cypress trees from Senir. They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

6They have made your oars of the oaks of Bashan. They have made your benches of ivory inlaid in cypress wood from the islands of Kittim.

7Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, that it might be to you for a banner. Blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.

8The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers. Your wise men, Tyre, were in you. They were your pilots.

9The old men of Gebal and its wise men were your repairers of ship seams in you. All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to deal in your merchandise.

10“‘“Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you. They showed your beauty.

11The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and valiant men were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around. They have perfected your beauty.

12“‘“Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.

13“‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.

14“‘“They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules.

15“‘“The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange.

16“‘“Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.

17“‘“Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise.

18“‘“Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.

19“‘“Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were among your merchandise.

20“‘“Dedan was your merchant in precious saddle blankets for riding.

21“‘“Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favorite dealers in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.

22“‘“The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your traders. They traded for your wares with the best of all spices, all precious stones, and gold.

23“‘“Haran, Canneh, Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traders.

24These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in cedar chests of rich clothing bound with cords, among your merchandise.

25“‘“The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise. You were replenished and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.

26Your rowers have brought you into great waters. The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas.

27Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war who are in you, with all your company which is among you, will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin.

28At the sound of the cry of your pilots, the pasture lands will shake.

29All who handle the oars, the mariners and all the pilots of the sea, will come down from their ships. They will stand on the land,

30and will cause their voice to be heard over you, and will cry bitterly. They will cast up dust on their heads. They will wallow in the ashes.

31They will make themselves bald for you, and clothe themselves with sackcloth. They will weep for you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning.

32In their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you, and lament over you, saying, ‘Who is there like Tyre, like her who is brought to silence in the middle of the sea?’

33When your wares came from the seas, you filled many peoples. You enriched the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise.

34In the time that you were broken by the seas, in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company fell within you.

35All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at you, and their kings are horribly afraid. They are troubled in their face.

36The merchants among the peoples hiss at you. You have come to a terrible end, and you 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