Ezekiel 27:7

KJV

Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

Fine linen {H8336} with broidered work {H7553} from Egypt {H4714} was that which thou spreadest forth {H4666} to be thy sail {H5251}; blue {H8504} and purple {H713} from the isles {H339} of Elishah {H473} was that which covered {H4374} thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

Richly woven linen from Egypt was used for your sail, which was also your banner. Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was used to cover your deck-tent.

Berean Standard Bible

Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning.

American Standard Version

Of fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was thy sail, that it might be to thee for an ensign; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was thine awning.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 27:7, a vivid component of the prophetic dirge against Tyre, masterfully illustrates the city's unparalleled opulence and its vast, intricate global trade network. Portraying Tyre as a magnificent merchant vessel, the verse details its lavish construction, specifically highlighting its sails of "fine linen with broidered work from Egypt" and opulent coverings of "blue and purple from the isles of Elishah." This rich imagery not only underscores Tyre's immense wealth and self-reliant pride but also powerfully sets the stage for the dramatic announcement of its inevitable downfall, serving as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of all earthly glory and human enterprise.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 27 functions as an elaborate lamentation, or dirge, pronounced by the prophet Ezekiel against the powerful maritime city of Tyre. It is strategically placed within a broader collection of prophecies targeting foreign nations (chapters 25-32), immediately following the initial declaration of Tyre's destruction in [Ezekiel 26](/ezekiel/26 "Ezekiel 26 - Prophecy Against Tyre"). The chapter employs a sustained and intricate metaphor, depicting Tyre as a grand, perfectly constructed ship, with each element of its design and adornment meticulously sourced from various nations. This extended poetic device serves to profoundly emphasize Tyre's extensive commercial empire, its immense riches, and its far-reaching global influence, thereby rendering its prophesied destruction all the more impactful and tragic. The narrative systematically details the ship's components, its diverse crew, and its valuable cargo, culminating in its symbolic shipwreck, which signifies Tyre's complete and utter ruin.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Tyre was a preeminent Phoenician city-state, strategically located on the coast of modern-day Lebanon, renowned throughout the ancient world for its formidable maritime trade and naval supremacy. During the 6th century BCE, the period of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry, Tyre stood as an economic powerhouse, serving as a pivotal hub connecting the commercial arteries of the East and West. The materials explicitly mentioned in this verse—fine linen originating from Egypt and the highly coveted blue and purple dyes from the Aegean—were among the most valuable and sought-after commodities in the ancient Near East. Egypt was universally celebrated for its superior linen production, a fabric often reserved for royalty, nobility, and priestly vestments. The blue (`tᵉkêleth`) and purple (`ʼargâmân`) dyes, meticulously extracted from Murex snails, were exceedingly rare and prohibitively expensive, symbolizing royalty, immense wealth, and divine favor across various ancient cultures, including their significant use in the Israelite Tabernacle, as detailed in [Exodus 26:1](/exodus/26-1 "Exodus 26:1 - Tabernacle Curtains and Veil"). The "isles of Elishah" most likely refer to Cyprus or other Aegean islands, which were well-known sources for these precious dyes, further illustrating the vast and intricate network of Tyre's trade routes spanning the Mediterranean.

* **Key Themes:** This verse, deeply embedded within the broader narrative of Ezekiel 27, contributes significantly to the development of several profound theological and narrative themes. Firstly, it vividly highlights the **unparalleled wealth and luxury** of Tyre, showcasing its extraordinary opulence through the detailed description of its lavish materials and exquisite craftsmanship. The city's remarkable ability to procure such expensive and exotic goods from distant lands emphatically underscores its immense prosperity. Secondly, the verse powerfully illustrates Tyre's **global trade network**, emphasizing its pivotal role as a central commercial hub in ancient commerce, seamlessly connecting diverse regions from the fertile lands of Egypt to the distant Aegean. This extensive network formed the very foundation of its power and far-reaching influence. Finally, the elaborate portrayal of Tyre's grandeur implicitly introduces the critical theme of **pride and self-sufficiency**. The city's immense beauty and formidable might, as meticulously depicted, serve as a stark and poignant contrast to its ultimate, prophesied downfall, a recurring biblical motif where human pride frequently precedes destruction, as warned in [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Precedes Destruction"). The detailed description of Tyre's earthly glory thus powerfully foreshadows the divine judgment against its inherent arrogance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **shêsh (Hebrew, _shêsh'_):** This term refers to "fine linen" or "bleached stuff." In the ancient world, Egyptian linen was highly prized for its exceptional quality, softness, and durability, often associated with royalty, immense wealth, and sacred garments. Its application for Tyre's sail signifies an extravagant display of luxury, far exceeding mere functionality, thereby underscoring the city's unparalleled opulence.
* **riqmâh (Hebrew, _riqmâh'_):** Meaning "broidered work" or "embroidery," this word denotes intricate and highly skilled needlework. The inclusion of "broidered work" on the fine linen sail further emphasizes the exquisite craftsmanship and immense cost invested in Tyre's adornments, highlighting its commitment to lavish display and artistic excellence.
* **tᵉkêleth (Hebrew, _tᵉkêleth'_):** This refers to "blue" dye, specifically the cerulean or violet color obtained from a particular type of Murex snail. Along with purple, blue dye was extraordinarily expensive and difficult to produce, making it a powerful symbol of royalty, nobility, and sacredness throughout the ancient Near East. Its use for the ship's coverings signifies the highest level of luxury and status.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail":** This initial clause establishes the primary material for Tyre's sail, identifying it as luxurious Egyptian linen intricately adorned with elaborate embroidery. The sail, being the principal means of propulsion and a highly visible component of any ship, symbolizes Tyre's outward display of immense wealth and its profound reliance on its vast trade network, particularly with Egypt, for its economic power and prestige. The act of "spreading forth" suggests a grand, expansive, and highly public exhibition of this opulence.
* **"blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.":** This second clause meticulously details the lavish coverings or awnings of the ship, crafted from the exceptionally valuable blue and purple dyes sourced from the "isles of Elishah" (most likely referring to Aegean islands like Cyprus). These colors were universally synonymous with royalty and extreme wealth. Their application as a "covering" implies not just functional protection but also an ostentatious and proud display of status, suggesting that even the utilitarian aspects of Tyre's "ship" were transformed into potent symbols of its unparalleled grandeur and extensive global reach.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 27:7 is profoundly rich in **Imagery**, painting a vivid and compelling mental picture of Tyre as a magnificent, sumptuously adorned ship. The detailed description of "fine linen with broidered work," "blue and purple," and specific geographical origins (Egypt, isles of Elishah) powerfully engages the reader's senses and emphatically underscores the city's material splendor. The entire chapter, including this specific verse, is meticulously constructed upon an extended **Metaphor** where the city of Tyre *is* a ship, and its various components, its diverse crew, and its valuable cargo represent its people, its vast resources, and its global commercial enterprises. This comprehensive metaphor allows Ezekiel to describe the city's complex economic and political structure in a relatable, dramatic, and ultimately tragic way, leading to its eventual **Personification** as a proud vessel sailing confidently towards its inevitable doom. Furthermore, the description of such extreme luxury can be understood as **Hyperbole**, an intentional exaggeration employed to underscore the immense, almost unbelievable, wealth and overweening pride of Tyre, thereby profoundly heightening the impact of its prophesied and dramatic fall.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 27:7, through its vivid and detailed depiction of Tyre's material splendor, serves as a profound theological statement on the transient nature of earthly wealth and the inherent dangers of human pride. It powerfully underscores the timeless biblical truth that while human ingenuity, enterprise, and ambition can indeed amass great riches and establish vast empires, such achievements are ultimately fleeting, temporal, and perpetually subject to divine sovereignty. The verse highlights how Tyre's very identity became inextricably linked to its material possessions and its global influence, fostering a deep-seated sense of self-sufficiency that often leads to arrogance and a profound disregard for God. This narrative serves as a potent warning against placing ultimate trust in transient earthly treasures, reminding believers that true security and lasting value are found not in what we accumulate or possess, but in our humble and dependent relationship with the eternal God. The elaborate description of Tyre's opulence thus becomes a powerful and necessary backdrop for the prophetic judgment, illustrating with stark clarity that no amount of human glory or self-made might can ultimately withstand the righteous and sovereign hand of the Almighty.

* [Matthew 6:19](/matthew/6-19 "Matthew 6:19 - Laying Up Treasures in Heaven")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [Revelation 18:11-19](/revelation/18-11-19 "Revelation 18:11-19 - Lament Over Babylon's Fall")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 27:7, despite its ancient historical setting, offers timeless and profoundly relevant lessons for contemporary believers. The detailed account of Tyre's magnificent, yet ultimately doomed, ship serves as a powerful and sobering reminder of the impermanence of earthly wealth and the insidious dangers of pride. In a world that frequently measures success by material accumulation, outward display, and economic power, this verse challenges us to critically re-evaluate our own priorities and values. Are we investing our lives, our time, and our resources in things that are destined to perish, or in eternal values and the advancement of God's kingdom? Does our prosperity lead us towards self-reliance, arrogance, and a sense of entitlement, or does it cultivate a spirit of profound gratitude, humble dependence on God, and generous stewardship? The dramatic fall of Tyre, a city that epitomized worldly success and self-sufficiency, calls us to cultivate a heart of humility, radical generosity, and an eternal perspective, understanding that true security, lasting fulfillment, and genuine significance are found not in what we possess, but in our intimate relationship with the Creator and our faithful service to His eternal kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the detailed description of Tyre's wealth in this verse challenge my own perceptions of success, security, and true prosperity?**
* **In what specific ways might I be tempted to place my ultimate trust in earthly resources, personal achievements, or worldly recognition rather than in God alone?**
* **What practical and tangible steps can I take to cultivate a heart of humility, radical generosity, and an eternal perspective, reflecting a deeper reliance on God rather than temporal possessions?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "fine linen from Egypt" and "blue and purple from the isles of Elishah" in this verse?**

Answer: These materials signify the extreme wealth, unparalleled luxury, and extensive global trade network that characterized Tyre. "Fine linen from Egypt" (Hebrew: `shêsh`) was renowned throughout the ancient world for its superior quality and was often associated with royalty, nobility, and sacred garments, indicating the extraordinarily extravagant nature of Tyre's "sail." The "blue and purple" dyes (Hebrew: `tᵉkêleth` and `ʼargâmân`) were exceptionally costly, meticulously extracted from specific types of Murex snails, and were universal symbols of royalty, nobility, and divine favor in the ancient world, including their prominent use in the construction and adornment of the Tabernacle (e.g., [Exodus 28:6](/exodus/28-6 "Exodus 28:6 - Priestly Garments")). Sourcing these precious commodities from the "isles of Elishah" (most likely referring to Aegean islands like Cyprus) highlights Tyre's vast commercial reach across the entire Mediterranean basin. Together, these details powerfully underscore Tyre's unparalleled opulence and its deep-seated pride in its material possessions, thereby setting the stage for the prophetic judgment delivered by [the prophet Ezekiel](/ezekiel/1 "Ezekiel 1 - Ezekiel's Call and Vision").

**Why is Tyre described as a ship in Ezekiel 27?**

Answer: The extended metaphor of Tyre as a magnificent ship in Ezekiel 27 is a powerful and ingenious literary device employed to vividly illustrate the city's identity, its formidable power, and its ultimate, tragic fate. As a dominant Phoenician city-state, Tyre's very existence, prosperity, and influence were intrinsically linked to its maritime trade and naval strength. Describing it as a ship allows Ezekiel to profoundly portray its global reach (its components sourced from numerous nations), its immense wealth (luxurious materials like those described in [Ezekiel 27:7](/ezekiel/27-7 "Ezekiel 27:7 - Tyre's Luxurious Ship")), its diverse population (represented by its crew), and its extensive commercial activities (symbolized by its cargo). This overarching metaphor culminates dramatically in the ship's catastrophic shipwreck, which symbolizes Tyre's complete and utter destruction—a fitting end for a city whose lifeblood and identity were so deeply intertwined with the sea. It underscores the profound fragility of even the most powerful and seemingly invincible human enterprises when they stand in opposition to God's sovereign and righteous will.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The poignant lament over Tyre's earthly splendor and its inevitable fall, as vividly depicted in Ezekiel 27:7, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the stark contrast between the fleeting, self-generated glory of human kingdoms and the eternal, humble, and redemptive glory of Christ's kingdom. Tyre's "fine linen with broidered work" and its "blue and purple" coverings symbolize the very pinnacle of worldly wealth, human pride, and self-sufficiency—a self-made glory that is inherently temporal and destined to perish. In striking contrast, Christ, though eternally possessing all divine glory and being equal with God, did not cling to this inherent status but "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation")). He came not in the ostentatious display of a merchant king or a worldly potentate, but in [humble birth](/luke/2-7 "Luke 2:7 - Jesus' Birth") and lived a life characterized by profound self-sacrifice, culminating in [His sacrificial death](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humiliation") on the cross. The true and lasting "riches" are not found in perishable goods acquired from distant lands, but in the "immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" ([Ephesians 2:7](/ephesians/2-7 "Ephesians 2:7 - Riches of God's Grace")). While Tyre's ship of worldly power and pride was inevitably destined for shipwreck and ruin, Christ is the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose kingdom is emphatically not of this world and will never end ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")). His glory is not in outward show or material accumulation, but in His perfect obedience, His [glorious resurrection](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Jesus Declared Son of God"), and His establishment of a new creation, where true, eternal, and unfading glory resides in Him alone—a kingdom that will never be dismantled or destroyed like Tyre's.

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

Exodus 25:4

And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' [hair],

Jeremiah 10:9

Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple [is] their clothing: they [are] all the work of cunning [men].

Isaiah 19:9

Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.

Genesis 10:4

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

1 Chronicles 1:7

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

Proverbs 7:16

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved [works], with fine linen of Egypt.

1 Kings 10:28

And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.