Ezekiel 27:10

They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.

They of Persia {H6539} and of Lud {H3865} and of Phut {H6316} were in thine army {H2428}, thy men {H582} of war {H4421}: they hanged {H8518} the shield {H4043} and helmet {H3553} in thee; they set forth {H5414} thy comeliness {H1926}.

Men from Paras, Lud and Put were [mercenaries] in your army; hanging shield and helmet on you, they showed off your splendor.

Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put served as warriors in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls; they gave you splendor.

Persia and Lud and Put were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.

Context of Ezekiel 27:10

Ezekiel 27:10 is part of a vivid lamentation (a funeral dirge) that the prophet Ezekiel delivers against the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre. In this chapter, Tyre is personified as a magnificent merchant ship, meticulously built and adorned, boasting of its vast trade network and formidable military alliances. The prophecy details Tyre's immense wealth, its global reach through commerce, and its self-perceived invincibility, all of which set the stage for its prophesied downfall. Tyre, a powerful maritime city-state on the Mediterranean coast, had grown incredibly prosperous through commerce, drawing resources and manpower from across the known world. The prophet Ezekiel uses this elaborate metaphor of a ship to underscore the city's self-perception of grandeur and beauty, all of which would ultimately be shattered as described in Ezekiel 26.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Tyre's Impressive Military Alliances: The mention of Persia, Lud, and Phut underscores Tyre's far-reaching influence and its ability to gather formidable fighting forces. These nations contributed to Tyre's perceived invincibility, serving as both soldiers and a display of power.
  • Pride in Worldly Power: By "hanging the shield and helmet" within Tyre, these allies not only served as soldiers but also added to the city's "comeliness" (splendor), signifying its boastful display of power and prestige. This reliance on human strength and alliances rather than divine favor is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, often leading to judgment.
  • The Illusion of Security: Despite this outward show of strength and beauty, the broader context of Ezekiel 27 reveals that such worldly splendor is fleeting and cannot ultimately protect against divine judgment. The city's glory, built on human alliances and material wealth, was ultimately temporary.

Linguistic Insights

  • Persia: While not yet the dominant world power it would become, its inclusion here points to a vast geographical reach of Tyre's influence or a prophetic foresight of future empires that would contribute to its military.
  • Lud and Phut (or Put): These are often identified with regions in North Africa, possibly ancient Libya or parts of Egypt/Ethiopia. They were renowned for their skilled mercenary soldiers, indicating Tyre's reliance on hired warriors to bolster its defenses rather than its own citizenry alone.
  • "Comeliness" (Hebrew: hadarah): This word denotes splendor, majesty, adornment, or beauty. Here, it signifies how the military might and impressive display of weaponry from these allied nations contributed to Tyre's outward appearance of grandeur and formidable beauty, making it seem invincible to onlookers.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 27:10 serves as a powerful reminder for us today. It illustrates the human tendency to place confidence in worldly power, wealth, and alliances, much like Tyre boasted in its military and economic might. The "comeliness" that comes from such earthly achievements is ultimately temporary and fragile. This verse encourages us to reflect on where we place our ultimate trust. True and lasting security, splendor, and strength are found not in human achievements or alliances, but in God's eternal sovereignty and provision. It echoes the wisdom found in Proverbs 16:18, warning that "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Our ultimate reliance should be on God, whose kingdom and glory are eternal, unlike the transient splendor of this world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 30:5

    Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.

  • Ezekiel 38:5

    Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

  • Jeremiah 46:9

    Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle [and] bend the bow.

  • Isaiah 66:19

    And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, [to] Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, [to] Tubal, and Javan, [to] the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

  • Song Of Solomon 4:4

    Thy neck [is] like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

  • 1 Chronicles 1:17

    The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.

  • Genesis 10:13

    And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
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