Ezekiel 27:16

Syria [was] thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.

Syria {H758} was thy merchant {H5503} by reason of the multitude {H7230} of the wares of thy making {H4639}: they occupied {H5414} in thy fairs {H5801} with emeralds {H5306}, purple {H713}, and broidered work {H7553}, and fine linen {H948}, and coral {H7215}, and agate {H3539}.

Aram traded with you, because you were so wealthy; for your goods they exchanged green feldspar, purple stuff, embroidery, fine linen, coral and rubies.

Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.

Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of thy handiworks: they traded for thy wares with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and rubies.

Ezekiel 27 is a poignant lamentation over the great maritime city of Tyre, depicting its immense wealth and commercial prowess before its prophesied downfall. This chapter personifies Tyre as a magnificent ship, built and laden with treasures from across the known world. Verse 16 specifically details the trade relationship between Tyre and Syria (Aram), highlighting the vast array of goods that flowed into Tyre's markets. This forms part of the broader prophecy against Tyre, which begins in Ezekiel 26, foretelling its destruction due to its pride and commercial exploitation.

Key Themes

  • Tyre's Global Reach: The verse underscores Tyre's role as a bustling international trade hub, attracting merchants from far and wide. Syria, a key regional power, was a significant customer, exchanging its own resources for Tyre's manufactured goods and exotic imports. This highlights the extensive network of ancient trade routes that converged on Tyre.
  • Luxury and Value: The specific mention of "emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate" illustrates the opulence and high value of the commodities traded.
    • Purple dye was exceptionally rare and costly, often symbolizing royalty and immense wealth in the ancient world.
    • Broidered work and fine linen indicate sophisticated textile industries.
    • Emeralds, coral, and agate point to a thriving market for precious stones and ornaments.
  • The Source of Prosperity: These "wares of thy making" suggest Tyre was not merely a transit point but also a significant producer and finisher of goods, adding value to raw materials. This verse contributes to the overall picture of Tyre's unparalleled commercial success, which ultimately fueled its pride and led to its judgment, as seen in Ezekiel 28:19.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "occupied in thy fairs" (ʿāzab) implies active participation in trade, signifying that Syria was not just a supplier but an engaged merchant within Tyre's bustling markets. The term for "purple" is argaman (אַרְגָּמָן), a highly prized dye often associated with royalty and priestly garments, further underscoring the luxurious nature of Tyre's commerce and its status as a center for high-end goods.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 27:16, within the broader context of Tyre's downfall, serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of earthly wealth and human achievement. While prosperity and commercial success are not inherently wrong, placing ultimate trust and pride in them can lead to spiritual downfall. The detailed inventory of goods also highlights God's intricate knowledge of human affairs and economies, even down to the specific commodities traded in ancient times.

For believers today, this passage prompts reflection on where our true security lies. Is it in material possessions that can fade away, or in a relationship with God, who encourages us to store up eternal treasures? It encourages humility and recognition that all blessings ultimately come from Him, reminding us that true fulfillment is not found in the accumulation of worldly goods, but in a right relationship with our Creator.

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.

  • Judges 10:6

    ¶ And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.

  • Ezekiel 28:13

    Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

  • Isaiah 7:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, [that] Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

  • Isaiah 7:8

    For the head of Syria [is] Damascus, and the head of Damascus [is] Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.

  • Genesis 28:5

    And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

  • Genesis 10:22

    The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

  • 2 Samuel 10:6

    ¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
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