Ezekiel 27:22

KJV

The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they [were] thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.

KJV (with Strong's)

The merchants {H7402} of Sheba {H7614} and Raamah {H7484}, they were thy merchants {H7402}: they occupied {H5414} in thy fairs {H5801} with chief {H7218} of all spices {H1314}, and with all precious {H3368} stones {H68}, and gold {H2091}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The traders of Sh'va and Ra'mah exchanged the best quality spices, all kinds of precious stones and gold for your goods.

Berean Standard Bible

The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.

American Standard Version

The traffickers of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy traffickers; they traded for thy wares with the chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 27:22 is a vivid snapshot within a comprehensive lamentation over Tyre, portraying the city's immense commercial prosperity and its role as a central hub for international trade. It specifically highlights the luxurious goods—chief spices, precious stones, and gold—brought by merchants from distant lands like Sheba and Raamah, underscoring the opulence and global reach of Tyre's commercial empire before its prophesied downfall.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded in Ezekiel's elaborate funeral dirge for Tyre (Ezekiel 27), which metaphorically depicts the city as a magnificent, perfectly constructed ship destined for shipwreck. The chapter meticulously details Tyre's vast commercial network, cataloging its extensive trade partners, the diverse goods exchanged, and the skilled craftsmanship that contributed to its wealth and grandeur. Verses 1-19 describe Tyre's construction and its global trading partners, setting the stage for the specific mention of Sheba and Raamah in verse 22 as key suppliers of high-value commodities. The subsequent verses (Ezekiel 27:26-36) dramatically shift to prophesy Tyre's catastrophic destruction, making the preceding description of its splendor a poignant contrast to its impending ruin.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient world, Tyre, a Phoenician city-state located on the eastern Mediterranean coast (modern-day Lebanon), was a dominant maritime power renowned for its extensive trade routes, naval prowess, and purple dye industry. The city's strategic location made it a crucial intermediary between East and West. Sheba (modern-day Yemen) and Raamah (likely also in the Arabian Peninsula, possibly related to Sheba) were ancient kingdoms famous for their luxurious aromatic products, precious metals, and gemstones. The Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon, bringing "very much gold, and precious stones, and spices" ([1 Kings 10:2](/1_kings/10-2 "1 Kings 10:2 - The Queen of Sheba's Visit")), vividly illustrates the region's fame. These "fairs" refer to Tyre's bustling markets or trading centers, which served as vibrant crossroads where merchants from across the known world converged to exchange goods, highlighting the city's critical role in the ancient global economy.
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 27:22 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it emphasizes **Vast Commercial Prosperity** and **Opulence**, showcasing Tyre's extraordinary wealth derived from its extensive trade networks and the luxury goods it accumulated. Secondly, it highlights the **Interconnectedness of Ancient Economies**, illustrating the complex and far-reaching trade relationships that linked distant kingdoms. Thirdly, and most critically, this detailed description of Tyre's splendor serves as a stark **Setting for Divine Judgment**. The prophet meticulously catalogues Tyre's material greatness not to celebrate it, but to underscore the magnitude of its pride and the severity of the judgment that will befall a city whose security and identity are rooted in its material possessions rather than in God. This prophetic lament foreshadows the impermanence of worldly power and wealth, a theme echoed in other prophetic warnings against proud nations (e.g., [Isaiah 23](/isaiah/23 "Isaiah 23 - The Burden of Tyre")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **occupied (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** From H5414, a primitive root meaning "to give," but used with a wide latitude of application including "put, make, trade, assign, bestow." In this context, "occupied" signifies active engagement in commerce, indicating that the merchants of Sheba and Raamah were not merely passing through but were actively involved in trading and doing business in Tyre's markets, contributing to its bustling economic activity.
* **fairs (Hebrew, _ʻizzâbôwn'_):** From H5801, meaning "trade," "the place (mart)," or "the payment (revenue)." This word refers specifically to the commercial centers or markets of Tyre where goods were exchanged. It emphasizes Tyre's function as a central trading hub, a bustling mart where international transactions took place.
* **spices (Hebrew, _besem'_):** From H1314, meaning "fragrance," "spicery," or "balsam plant." This term denotes highly valuable aromatic substances, used not only for culinary purposes but also for perfumes, incense, and medicinal applications. The mention of "chief of all spices" suggests the highest quality and most prized varieties, further emphasizing the luxury nature of the goods traded.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants:"** This clause identifies specific, prominent trading partners of Tyre. Sheba and Raamah, located in the Arabian Peninsula, were renowned for their rich natural resources. The repetition of "they were thy merchants" emphasizes their consistent and dedicated role in Tyre's commercial network, highlighting the city's broad international reach and its reliance on these distant suppliers for high-value goods.
* **"they occupied in thy fairs":** This phrase describes the active participation of these foreign merchants in Tyre's commercial life. "Occupied" (from _nâthan_) here means they conducted business, traded, or engaged in commercial activity within Tyre's bustling markets ("fairs" or _ʻizzâbôwn_). It paints a picture of a vibrant, active trading hub where goods from across the ancient world converged.
* **"with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.":** This final clause specifies the nature and value of the commodities brought by these merchants. "Chief of all spices" indicates the finest and most prized aromatic products. The inclusion of "all precious stones" and "gold" further underscores the extraordinary wealth and luxury that flowed into Tyre, cementing its reputation as a city of unparalleled material riches and opulence.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 27:22, as part of the broader lament, employs several powerful literary devices. The entire chapter utilizes an extended **Metaphor** of Tyre as a magnificent ship, and this verse contributes to the detailed inventory of its "cargo" and "crew." The specific listing of "spices, precious stones, and gold" serves as **Imagery**, vividly painting a picture of immense wealth and luxury, appealing directly to the senses of sight and smell. The phrase "chief of all spices" is a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the superlative quality and abundance of the goods, contributing to the overall sense of Tyre's unparalleled prosperity. Furthermore, the detailed enumeration of trading partners and goods throughout the chapter, including this verse, functions as a **Catalogue** or **Inventory**, meticulously documenting the extent of Tyre's commercial empire and wealth, which ultimately serves to magnify the tragedy of its impending fall.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 27:22 serves as a powerful testament to the transient nature of worldly wealth and human achievement when divorced from divine favor. While Tyre's commercial prowess and material opulence were unparalleled, the prophet's detailed description of its riches ultimately functions as a prelude to its inevitable downfall. This passage implicitly warns against the dangers of pride and self-sufficiency that often accompany great prosperity, suggesting that true security and lasting value are not found in accumulated possessions or extensive commercial networks. It underscores a fundamental biblical principle: all earthly glory is fleeting, and reliance on material wealth can lead to spiritual blindness and ultimate ruin. The emphasis on "chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold" highlights the very things that can become idols, diverting trust from God to the created rather than the Creator.

* [Proverbs 11:28](/proverbs/11-28 "Proverbs 11:28 - Trust in Riches vs. Righteousness")
* [Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")
* [1 Timothy 6:17-19](/1_timothy/6-17 "1 Timothy 6:17-19 - The Danger of Riches")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 27:22, despite its ancient context, offers profound contemporary relevance. It challenges us to examine the foundations of our own security and identity. In a world that often measures success by material accumulation and economic influence, this verse, within the broader context of Tyre's judgment, serves as a sobering reminder that all earthly empires, no matter how grand, are ultimately impermanent. It prompts us to consider what we truly value and where we place our ultimate trust. Are we, like Tyre, building our lives on fleeting riches and human ingenuity, or are we investing in eternal values and a relationship with the God who controls all nations and destinies? The passage encourages a re-evaluation of our priorities, urging us to seek spiritual wealth over material prosperity, and to recognize that true abundance lies in contentment, generosity, and a humble dependence on the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "spices, precious stones, and gold" in my own life or culture that I might be tempted to place my ultimate trust in?**
* **How does the transient nature of Tyre's wealth challenge my own understanding of security and success?**
* **In what ways might my pursuit of material prosperity hinder my spiritual growth or relationship with God?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart that prioritizes eternal treasures over earthly ones, as encouraged by this passage?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of Sheba and Raamah in ancient trade?**

Answer: Sheba and Raamah were ancient kingdoms located in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly renowned for their production and trade of highly valuable commodities. Sheba (often associated with modern-day Yemen) was famous for its frankincense, myrrh, gold, and precious stones, as famously illustrated by the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon in [1 Kings 10](/1_kings/10 "1 Kings 10 - The Queen of Sheba's Visit"). Raamah, also likely in the Arabian region, was similarly known for its aromatic products and mineral resources. Their inclusion in Ezekiel's lament highlights Tyre's extensive reach and its role as a central hub for the most luxurious goods flowing from the southern Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean world.

**What does "occupied in thy fairs" mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "occupied in thy fairs" uses the word "occupied" in an older sense, meaning "to trade," "to do business," or "to be actively engaged in commerce." The Hebrew word for "fairs" (H5801, _ʻizzâbôwn_) refers to Tyre's bustling markets or trading centers. Therefore, the phrase means that the merchants from Sheba and Raamah were actively conducting business, exchanging goods, and participating in the vibrant commercial activity within Tyre's marketplaces. It emphasizes the city's role as a major international trading mart where foreign merchants converged to buy and sell.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 27:22, with its detailed depiction of Tyre's immense material wealth and global commercial reach, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the stark contrast between earthly riches and the eternal, spiritual kingdom inaugurated by Jesus Christ. Tyre's reliance on "chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold" ultimately led to its prophesied downfall, a testament to the fleeting nature of all worldly glory and the vanity of trusting in material possessions. In contrast, Jesus consistently taught about the impermanence of earthly treasures, urging His followers to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" ([Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")). He Himself, though "rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Poverty for Our Riches")), offering a spiritual wealth that far surpasses any earthly gold or precious stones. The true "merchants" of God's kingdom are those who "buy" from Christ "gold refined by fire" (spiritual purity), "white garments" (righteousness), and "eyesalve" (spiritual discernment) ([Revelation 3:18](/revelation/3-18 "Revelation 3:18 - Counsel to Laodicea")). Ultimately, the downfall of proud, materially rich Tyre foreshadows the judgment awaiting all who reject the true King and His eternal kingdom, reminding us that true and lasting riches are found only in Christ, who is the ultimate "pearl of great price" for which one should sell everything ([Matthew 13:45-46](/matthew/13-45 "Matthew 13:45-46 - The Pearl of Great Price")).

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

Genesis 10:7

And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

Isaiah 60:6

The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

Psalms 72:10

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

2 Chronicles 9:1

¶ And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

2 Chronicles 9:12

And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside [that] which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.

Ezekiel 38:13

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

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: