Ezekiel 27:17

Judah, and the land of Israel, they [were] thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.

Judah {H3063}, and the land {H776} of Israel {H3478}, they were thy merchants {H7402}: they traded {H5414} in thy market {H4627} wheat {H2406} of Minnith {H4511}, and Pannag {H6436}, and honey {H1706}, and oil {H8081}, and balm {H6875}.

Y'hudah and the land of Isra'el also traded with you, exchanging for your goods wheat from Minnit, millet, honey, olive oil and resin for healing.

Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.

Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy traffickers: they traded for thy merchandise wheat of Minnith, and pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.

Ezekiel 27:17 is part of a vivid prophetic lamentation over the great maritime city of Tyre, depicting its immense wealth, splendor, and vast trading network before its prophesied downfall. This particular verse highlights the specific commodities that the land of Judah and Israel provided to Tyre's bustling markets, showcasing the economic interconnectedness of ancient Near Eastern nations.

Context of Ezekiel 27

Chapter 27 of Ezekiel uses the metaphor of a magnificent ship to describe Tyre, detailing its construction, crew, and especially its extensive global trade partnerships. The prophet Ezekiel, speaking during the Babylonian exile, delivers a message of judgment against Tyre, which had become arrogant due to its prosperity and strategic location. The chapter meticulously lists various nations and regions that traded with Tyre, underscoring the city's role as a commercial hub. The prophecies against Tyre begin in Ezekiel 26, foretelling its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar and later by other powers.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Economic Interdependence: The verse clearly illustrates how Judah and Israel, despite their spiritual distinctiveness, were integral parts of the regional economy, supplying agricultural goods to major trade centers like Tyre. This shows that even nations with differing religious practices engaged in commerce.
  • Tyre's Vast Commercial Reach: By listing specific trading partners and goods, Ezekiel underscores the immense scale of Tyre's influence and its reliance on diverse sources for its market. Judah and Israel were just one piece of this elaborate puzzle.
  • God's Omniscience over Nations: The detailed knowledge presented in the prophecy—down to specific trade goods and partners—demonstrates God's sovereign oversight not only of Israel but also of the gentile nations and their worldly affairs.

Linguistic and Cultural Insights

The verse mentions specific agricultural products: "wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm."

  • Wheat of Minnith: Minnith (minnith) was a town in Ammon, east of the Jordan River, known for its fertile lands. This suggests that the wheat supplied came from the Transjordanian regions, likely under Israelite or Judahite control or influence at various times.
  • Pannag: The precise meaning of "Pannag" (pannag) is debated among scholars. It could refer to a specific type of grain, a confection, a spice, or even a region. Its obscurity highlights the ancient and specific nature of these trade goods.
  • Balm: The "balm" (Hebrew: tzori or tsori) was a highly valued resinous substance, famous for its medicinal properties, often associated with Gilead. Jeremiah 8:22 famously asks, "Is there no balm in Gilead?" This indicates a significant export commodity from the land of Israel.

Practical Application and Reflection

Ezekiel 27:17 reminds us that even in ancient times, economies were interconnected, and nations relied on each other for resources. For believers today, this verse offers a perspective on:

  • Divine Sovereignty: God's detailed knowledge of geopolitical and economic realities, even down to specific trade goods, affirms His comprehensive understanding and ultimate control over all human endeavors and global systems.
  • Ethical Commerce: While the context is a prophecy of judgment against Tyre's pride, the verse implicitly acknowledges the legitimacy of international trade. It prompts reflection on how nations and individuals conduct their commerce—whether it leads to arrogance and exploitation or fosters mutual benefit and justice.
  • God's Provision: The land of Israel, described as providing essential goods like wheat, honey, and oil, reflects God's faithfulness in providing for His people and enabling them to be a source of provision for others, even to prominent cities like Tyre. This echoes the broader theme of God blessing Abraham to be a blessing to all families of the earth.
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 11:33

    And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, [even] twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

  • 1 Kings 5:9

    My servants shall bring [them] down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive [them]: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

  • Genesis 43:11

    ¶ And their father Israel said unto them, If [it must be] so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

  • Acts 12:20

    ¶ And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's [country].

  • Jeremiah 8:22

    [Is there] no balm in Gilead; [is there] no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

  • Deuteronomy 32:14

    Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

  • 2 Chronicles 2:10

    And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

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