Ezekiel 27:7-17

7 Your sails were made of linen, Embroidered linen from Egypt, Easily recognized from afar. Your awnings were made of finest cloth, Of purple from the island of Cyprus.

8 Your oarsmen were from the cities of Sidon and Arvad. Your own skillful men were the sailors.

9 The ship's carpenters Were well-trained men from Byblos. Sailors from every seagoing ship Did business in your shops.

10 "Soldiers from Persia, Lydia, and Libya served in your army. They hung their shields and their helmets in your barracks. They are the men who won glory for you.

11 Soldiers from Arvad guarded your walls, and troops from Gamad guarded your towers. They hung their shields on your walls. They are the ones who made you beautiful.

12 "You did business in Spain and took silver, iron, tin, and lead in payment for your abundant goods.

13 You did business in Greece, Tubal, and Meshech and traded your goods for slaves and for articles of bronze.

14 You sold your goods for workhorses, war-horses, and mules from Beth Togarmah.

15 The people of Rhodes traded with you; people of many coastal lands gave you ivory and ebony in exchange for your goods.

16 The people of Syria bought your merchandise and your many products. They gave emeralds, purple cloth, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and rubies in payment for your wares.

17 Judah and Israel paid for your goods with wheat, honey, olive oil, and spices.

Ezekiel 27:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 27

This chapter contains a lamentation on Tyre; setting forth her former grandeur, riches, and commerce; her ruin and destruction; and the concern of others on that account. The prophet is bid to take up his lamentation concerning it, Eze 27:1,2, observing her situation and magnificence, of which she boasted, Eze 27:3,4, describing the excellency of her shipping and naval stores, Eze 27:5-7, declaring who were her mariners, pilots, and caulkers, Eze 27:8,9, her military men, Eze 27:10,11 her several merchants, and the things they traded in with her in her fairs and markets, Eze 27:12-25, then follows an account of her destruction, Eze 27:26,27, the lamentation of pilots and mariners because of it, Eze 27:28-32, and of the kings and inhabitants of the isles, and merchants of the people, Eze 27:33-36.

Footnotes

• [a]. [One ancient translation] Rhodes; [Hebrew] Dedan.
• [b]. [Hebrew has two additional words, the meaning of which is unclear.]