Ezekiel 27:6

[Of] the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches [of] ivory, [brought] out of the isles of Chittim.

Of the oaks {H437} of Bashan {H1316} have they made {H6213} thine oars {H4880}; the company {H1323} of the Ashurites {H839} have made {H6213} thy benches {H7175} of ivory {H8127}, brought out of the isles {H339} of Chittim {H3794}.

Out of oaks from Bashan they made your oars. Your deck they made of ivory inlaid in larch from the coasts of Kittim.

Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.

Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; they have made thy benches of ivory inlaid in boxwood, from the isles of Kittim.

Ezekiel 27:6 is part of a vivid prophetic lament over the city of Tyre, depicted as a magnificent ship built with the finest materials from across the known world. This verse specifically details the luxurious and high-quality components used in its construction, symbolizing Tyre's immense wealth, extensive trade networks, and reliance on worldly strength.

Context

In Ezekiel chapters 26-28, the prophet Ezekiel delivers a series of prophecies concerning the powerful Phoenician city-state of Tyre. Chapter 27 employs an elaborate metaphor, presenting Tyre as a grand merchant ship, built for splendor and commerce, but ultimately destined for shipwreck. Verse 6 focuses on the premium materials for its oars and benches, highlighting Tyre's opulent resources and global reach. The oaks of Bashan, a fertile region east of the Jordan River known for its strong timber, provided the sturdy oars. The Ashurites, likely skilled craftsmen or merchants associated with Assyria or similar northern regions, fashioned benches from precious ivory. This ivory was sourced from the isles of Chittim, generally understood to be Cyprus, a major trading hub and source of goods in the ancient Mediterranean.

Key Themes

  • Tyre's Immense Wealth and Pride: The use of strong oaks, fine ivory, and skilled labor from distant lands underscores Tyre's extraordinary prosperity and the pride it took in its self-sufficiency and grandeur. This material splendor, however, blinded the city to its eventual downfall.
  • Global Trade Network: The mention of Bashan and Chittim illustrates the vast and intricate trade routes that sustained Tyre's economy, bringing in resources from diverse geographical locations.
  • Reliance on Worldly Strength: The detailed description of the ship's construction emphasizes Tyre's confidence in its material assets, naval power, and commercial prowess, rather than in divine favor. This theme is central to understanding God's judgment against the city's arrogance, as seen throughout Ezekiel 28.

Linguistic and Geographical Insights

The "oaks of Bashan" were renowned for their strength and size, making them ideal for shipbuilding components like oars. Bashan was a fertile plateau in Transjordan, known for its rich pastures and forests. The "Ashurites" could refer to a group of skilled artisans or merchants, perhaps from Assyria or associated with its trade routes, highlighting the international nature of Tyre's supply chain. "Chittim" is a biblical name often associated with Cyprus, a key island in Mediterranean trade, which served as a significant source of luxury goods like ivory.

Related Scriptures

This detailed description of Tyre's material wealth sets the stage for the pronouncement of its destruction. The city's self-glorification and declaration of being "perfect in beauty" (as mentioned in Ezekiel 27:3) directly precedes the devastating prophecy of its ruin. The ultimate reason for Tyre's judgment is its pride and arrogance, a recurring theme in prophetic literature, as also seen in the warnings against other nations like Babylon (Isaiah 14:12-15) and even Lucifer's fall.

Practical Application

Ezekiel's prophecy against Tyre, and particularly this verse detailing its luxurious construction, serves as a timeless warning. It reminds us that reliance on material possessions, economic power, or worldly security can lead to spiritual blindness and ultimately, downfall. Just as Tyre's magnificent "ship" was destined to break apart, so too can human pride and self-sufficiency lead to ruin. The passage encourages reflection on where our true security lies – not in the strength of our own making, but in God's sovereignty and provision. It is a call to humility and to understand that all earthly achievements are temporary, contrasting with the eternal kingdom of God and the treasures laid up in heaven.

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.

  • Isaiah 2:13

    And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, [that are] high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,

  • Genesis 10:4

    And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

  • Zechariah 11:2

    Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.

  • Jeremiah 2:10

    For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

  • Isaiah 23:12

    And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.

  • Numbers 21:33

    And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.

  • Jeremiah 22:20

    ¶ Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.

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