Ezekiel 27:21

KJV

Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these [were they] thy merchants.

KJV (with Strong's)

Arabia {H6152}, and all the princes {H5387} of Kedar {H6938}, they occupied {H5503} with thee {H3027} in lambs {H3733}, and rams {H352}, and goats {H6260}: in these were they thy merchants {H5503}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Arabia and all the princes of K'dar were your customers; for your goods they traded lambs, rams and goats.

Berean Standard Bible

Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats.

American Standard Version

Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they were the merchants of thy hand; in lambs, and rams, and goats, in these were they thy merchants.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 27:21 is a specific detail within the broader prophetic lamentation over Tyre, portraying the city as a magnificent ship whose downfall is meticulously foretold. This verse highlights the significant commercial contributions of Arabia and the princes of Kedar, emphasizing their role as key suppliers of pastoral wealth—lambs, rams, and goats—to Tyre's extensive global trade network. It underscores the profound economic interdependence that characterized Tyre's prosperity, while simultaneously setting the stage for the comprehensive nature of God's impending judgment upon this powerful maritime city.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 27 is a detailed and mournful dirge, or funeral lament, for the city of Tyre, presented as a majestic ship that ultimately sinks. Following the initial prophecy against Tyre in [Ezekiel 26](/ezekiel/26 "Ezekiel 26 - Prophecy Against Tyre"), chapter 27 elaborates on the city's immense wealth, global reach, and the intricate network of nations that contributed to its splendor. Each section of the "ship" (its timbers, sails, mariners, and cargo) is meticulously described, representing different nations and their contributions. Verse 21, specifically, falls within the section detailing Tyre's diverse trading partners, illustrating the breadth of its commercial empire and the various commodities that flowed into its markets. This comprehensive inventory underscores the magnitude of Tyre's pride and the depth of its fall, making the subsequent judgment all the more impactful.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city-state located on the Mediterranean coast (modern-day Lebanon), was a dominant maritime power in the ancient Near East, renowned for its naval prowess, skilled craftsmen, and extensive trade routes. Its strategic location made it a crucial hub connecting the East and West. Arabia, in this context, refers broadly to the Arabian Peninsula, while Kedar was a powerful and well-known confederation of nomadic Arab tribes, descendants of Ishmael ([Genesis 25:13](/genesis/25-13 "Genesis 25:13 - Ishmael's Descendants")). These tribes were famous for their vast flocks of sheep and goats, and their nomadic lifestyle meant they controlled key desert trade routes. The "princes of Kedar" indicates their organized leadership, even among a nomadic people, signifying their importance as established trading entities. Their inclusion in Tyre's commercial network demonstrates the city's ability to draw goods even from the desert interior, highlighting its unparalleled economic influence and the diverse nature of ancient trade, where pastoral wealth was as vital as manufactured goods.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, embedded within Ezekiel's lament, contributes to several overarching themes. Primarily, it emphasizes **Tyre's Extensive Trade Network**, showcasing how the city's prosperity was built upon complex global connections, drawing resources and goods from distant lands like Arabia and Kedar. It highlights the **Value of Pastoral Wealth** in the ancient economy, demonstrating that livestock products (lambs, rams, goats) were essential commodities, not just agricultural staples. Furthermore, the detailed enumeration of Tyre's partners and resources underscores the theme of **Economic Interdependence**, where various regions specialized in goods that fueled a sophisticated ancient supply chain. Ultimately, the entire lament, including this verse, serves as a powerful testament to **Divine Sovereignty Over Nations**, reminding readers that even the most formidable and interconnected human empires are subject to God's ultimate authority and judgment, a truth echoed in the warnings against earthly pride and reliance on wealth found in [Proverbs 11:28](/proverbs/11-28 "Proverbs 11:28 - Trust in Riches").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Princes (Hebrew, _nâsîyʼ_):** From H5387, this term denotes "an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist." In this context, "princes" refers to the leaders or chieftains of the Kedarite tribes. Their designation as "princes" indicates a recognized authority and organized structure within these nomadic groups, signifying that Tyre's trade was not merely with individual herders but with established, influential leaders capable of supplying large quantities of goods. This highlights the formal and significant nature of the commercial relationship.
* **Occupied (Hebrew, _çâchar_):** From H5503, this primitive root means "to travel round (specifically as a pedlar); intensively, to palpitate; go about, merchant(-man), occupy with, pant, trade, traffick." The repetition of this root (appearing as "occupied" and "merchants") emphasizes the active and continuous commercial engagement of Arabia and Kedar with Tyre. It portrays them not as passive suppliers but as active participants in the trading process, traveling and conducting business, underscoring the dynamic nature of Tyre's economic interactions.
* **Rams (Hebrew, _ʼayil_):** From H352, this word means "strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree." While it can refer to strength or a chief, in this context, alongside "lambs" and "goats," it clearly denotes the male sheep, valued for its meat, wool, and sacrificial purposes. The inclusion of rams, alongside lambs and goats, specifies the nature of the pastoral wealth traded, indicating the importance of these animals as commodities in the ancient Near Eastern economy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar,"**: This clause identifies the specific trading partners. "Arabia" refers to the broader region, while "Kedar" pinpoints a prominent and powerful tribal confederation known for its pastoral wealth. The mention of "princes" underscores the organized and significant nature of these desert tribes as commercial entities, highlighting their leadership and capacity for large-scale trade.
* **"they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats:"**: This part details the nature of the trade. The verb "occupied" (from _çâchar_) signifies their active engagement in commerce with Tyre. The specific commodities—"lambs, and rams, and goats"—clearly indicate that these Arabian and Kedarite groups supplied livestock, which was a vital source of meat, hides, and wool, contributing significantly to Tyre's economy and its ability to provision its vast population and trade network.
* **"in these [were they] thy merchants."**: This final clause re-emphasizes the role of Arabia and Kedar. It reiterates that their primary relationship with Tyre was commercial, confirming their status as active "merchants" (again, from _çâchar_). This reinforces the idea of a mutually beneficial, though ultimately transient, economic partnership where these desert tribes exchanged their pastoral products for other goods or services offered by the sophisticated Tyrian market.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 27:21, within its broader context, employs several literary devices. The entire chapter uses an extended **Metaphor** where Tyre is personified as a magnificent ship, built and outfitted by various nations, sailing the seas of commerce. This verse contributes to this metaphor by detailing specific "cargo" and "crew" (trading partners). The listing of "lambs, and rams, and goats" is an example of **Enumeration** or **Cataloging**, a common prophetic device used to provide vivid detail and emphasize the comprehensive nature of Tyre's wealth and connections. The detailed naming of specific regions and tribes, like "Arabia" and "Kedar," lends a sense of **Realism** and **Verisimilitude** to the prophecy, grounding the divine judgment in the observable realities of ancient geopolitics and trade. The cumulative effect of these details, including the specific commodities, contributes to a sense of **Hyperbole** regarding Tyre's immense prosperity, amplifying the shock and tragedy of its prophesied downfall.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 27:21 profoundly illustrates the biblical theme of human reliance on earthly power and wealth, and God's ultimate sovereignty over all nations. Tyre's extensive trade network, built on partnerships with diverse peoples like the Arabian tribes, represents the pinnacle of human ingenuity and economic might. Yet, the entire chapter serves as a stark reminder that even the most formidable and interconnected human enterprises are transient and subject to divine judgment. The prophet's detailed account of Tyre's commercial success, including its specific trading partners and goods, is not merely an economic report but a theological statement: all earthly glory, no matter how vast or impressive, is fleeting when built apart from God's will. This serves as a powerful warning against placing ultimate trust in material prosperity or human alliances, emphasizing that true security and lasting peace are found only in God.

* [Proverbs 11:28](/proverbs/11-28 "Proverbs 11:28 - Trust in Riches")
* [Psalm 49:6-7](/psalm/49-6 "Psalm 49:6-7 - Trusting in Wealth")
* [Revelation 18:11-19](/revelation/18-11 "Revelation 18:11-19 - Lament over Babylon's Fall")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 27:21, though set in an ancient context, offers timeless lessons for contemporary believers. It confronts us with the reality that human endeavors, no matter how grand or interconnected, are ultimately fragile and temporary. Tyre's fall, despite its vast wealth and global network, serves as a powerful caution against placing our ultimate security, identity, or hope in material possessions, economic systems, or human relationships. Instead, it calls us to soberly assess where our true trust lies. In a world increasingly defined by global commerce and interconnectedness, this verse reminds us that while we may participate in these systems, our ultimate allegiance and security must rest in the unshakeable kingdom of God. It encourages us to leverage our resources and connections not for fleeting earthly gain, but for eternal purposes, recognizing that all we have is ultimately from God and should be used for His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I, or my society, tend to place ultimate trust in economic stability, material wealth, or human networks rather than in God?**
* **How can the transient nature of Tyre's wealth inform my perspective on financial planning, consumerism, and generosity?**
* **What does this passage teach me about God's sovereignty over nations and economies, and how does that impact my prayers and actions regarding global issues?**
* **If all earthly glory is fleeting, how should I re-prioritize my efforts and investments to focus on what truly lasts?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of Arabia and Kedar in Tyre's trade network?**

Answer: Arabia and Kedar were significant because they represented the nomadic, pastoral wealth of the desert regions. While Tyre was a maritime power focused on manufactured goods and re-export, these tribes supplied essential raw materials and commodities like "lambs, rams, and goats." This highlights Tyre's extensive reach, drawing goods not just from other urban centers or coastal regions, but also from the deep interior and nomadic peoples, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of its trade empire and its ability to integrate diverse economies. Their inclusion underscores the vastness of Tyre's influence, extending even to the desert tribes known for their extensive flocks, as also mentioned in [Isaiah 60:7](/isaiah/60-7 "Isaiah 60:7 - Kedar's Future Worship").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 27:21 specifically details the commercial relationships of ancient Tyre, its underlying themes find profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The lament over Tyre's fall speaks to the ultimate transience of all earthly kingdoms and their reliance on material wealth and human alliances. Just as Tyre's vast network could not save it from divine judgment, so too will all human systems and empires built apart from God ultimately crumble, as prophesied in [Revelation 18](/revelation/18 "Revelation 18 - The Fall of Babylon"). Christ, however, represents the eternal King and the foundation of an unshakeable kingdom ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakable Kingdom")). Unlike Tyre, whose wealth and power led to pride and destruction, Jesus, though rich, became poor for our sake, that we through His poverty might become rich ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Sacrifice")). He is the true "merchant" who gave His life as a ransom for many ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve")), offering spiritual riches that far surpass any earthly commodity. The ultimate fulfillment is found in the new heavens and new earth, where the glory of the nations will be brought into the New Jerusalem, not for trade or fleeting gain, but for the worship of the Lamb ([Revelation 21:24-26](/revelation/21-24 "Revelation 21:24-26 - The Nations Walk by Its Light")), signifying a transformed economy of grace and eternal communion with God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 60:7

All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

Genesis 25:13

And these [are] the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

Acts 2:11

Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Galatians 4:25

For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

2 Chronicles 17:11

Also [some] of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

Song Of Solomon 1:5

I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

Jeremiah 25:24

And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,