Ezekiel 27:12 kjv
Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.
Ezekiel 27:12 nkjv
"Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods.
Ezekiel 27:12 niv
"?'Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.
Ezekiel 27:12 esv
"Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares.
Ezekiel 27:12 nlt
"Tarshish sent merchants to buy your wares in exchange for silver, iron, tin, and lead.
Ezekiel 27 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 27 | ...merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; they were your merchants, supplying the finest spices and precious stones and gold. | General description of Tyre's trade |
| Genesis 10 | Sheba and Dedan were descendants of Ham through Cush. | Genealogy of merchants |
| Genesis 10 | Raamah, a son of Cush, fathered Sheba and Dedan. | Genealogy of merchants |
| Song of Solomon 3:6 | "Who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense, with every perfume the merchant makes?" | Illustrates value of spices |
| Jeremiah 6:20 | "What good are frankincense from Sheba and sweet cane from a distant land for me? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me." | Nations bringing valuable goods |
| Isaiah 43:23 | "You have not brought me the sheep for your burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense." | Reference to valuable tributes |
| Revelation 18:11-13 | "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet cloth, every sort of scented wood, every kind of article of ivory, every kind of article of expensive wood, of bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon and cardamom, incense, myrrh and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and human souls." | Echoes the commercial list |
| Job 28:16 | "It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, nor in the precious stone of the crystal, nor in the sapphire." | Value of precious stones |
| Jeremiah 17:1-3 | "Judah's sin is engraved with a pen of iron, with a point of diamond, inscribed on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars. They can barely recall their altars and their Asherim beside the luxuriant trees on every high hill." | Tyre's sin is engraven |
| Matthew 2:11 | "On opening their treasures, they presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." | Gifts mirroring trade goods |
| Proverbs 3:13-14 | "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields more than gold." | Value of wisdom vs. goods |
| Revelation 21:19-21 | "The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every precious stone. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, pure as transparent glass." | Heavenly city's precious stones |
| Luke 16:10 | "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with very much, but whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with very much." | Honesty in commerce |
| Malachi 3:5 | "So I will come near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who turn aside the sojourner and do not fear me," says the LORD of hosts. | Divine judgment on merchants |
| Ezekiel 28:16 | "Your riches became an outrage, and you opened your throat wide in your sin; you were thrown down." | Cause of judgment |
| Amos 8:5 | "Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit?" | Dishonest business practices |
| Zechariah 7:10 | "And do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the sojourner or the poor, and let none of you devise evil in his heart against his brother." | Moral responsibilities in trade |
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." | Warning against greed |
| Psalm 101:7 | "No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks lies will stand in my presence." | Truthfulness in all dealings |
| Matthew 23:25 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside, they are full of greed and self-indulgence." | Inner corruption despite outward appearance |
Ezekiel 27 verses
Ezekiel 27 12 Meaning
This verse declares that merchants from Sheba and Raamah traded with Tyre, offering the choicest spices, precious stones, and gold as their wares. It highlights the vast network of global trade and the exquisite commodities involved in ancient commerce, pointing to the extensive reach of Tyre's influence and wealth.
Ezekiel 27 12 Context
Chapter 27 of Ezekiel is a powerful lamentation over the city of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician trading power renowned for its wealth, maritime strength, and extensive trade networks. This chapter details the vast array of goods and nations that contributed to Tyre's prosperity, serving as a prophetic pronouncement of its impending destruction. Verse 12 specifically focuses on the contributions of merchants from Sheba and Raamah, underscoring the global reach of Tyre's commercial empire and the valuable commodities they supplied, such as choice spices, precious stones, and gold. This description sets the stage for the divine judgment that is about to fall upon Tyre due to its pride and corruption derived from its wealth and power.
Ezekiel 27 12 Word Analysis
Yeshachir-um (וְיִשְׁאַ֫ר־קַ֫נִּ֫י)
- From
shalak(שָׁלַךְ) - To cast, to send, to throw down. Here it implies the dispatch or delivery of goods. Qaneh(קָנֶה) - Cane, reed. In this context, it refers to something valuable derived from a plant, likely fragrant reeds used for perfumes or incense.- Combined meaning: The delivery or supply of something fragrant, perhaps aromatic reeds or spices.
- From
Mimm'karai`k (מִמֶּכָּרַ֫יִךְ)
Mim(מִן) - From, out of. A preposition indicating origin or source.Mekhar(מִכָּר) - Merchandise, goods sold.Ach(־ַ֫יִךְ) - Your (suffix).- Combined meaning: Your merchandise, your traded goods.
Sheba (שְׁבָא)
- A prosperous kingdom in southern Arabia (modern Yemen) known for its valuable spices, incense, gold, and precious stones. It was a major player in the ancient spice trade routes.
Reamah (רַעְמָה)
- A descendant of Cush (Ham's son) mentioned in Genesis 10:7. Its exact location is uncertain, but it is generally associated with the Arabian Peninsula or regions influenced by it, also connected to trade routes.
Naqithah (נְקִיתָה)
- A root often associated with refinement or selection. In this context, it denotes the "finest" or "choice" goods.
Bosem (בֹּשֶׂם)
- Fragrant substance, spice, perfume. It is a general term for aromatics and spices that were highly valued in ancient times for perfumery, incense, and medicinal purposes.
Yahalom (יַהֲלֹם)
- From the root
halal(הָלַל), meaning to sparkle, to shine, or to glitter. This term refers to a precious gemstone, often translated as diamond or perhaps onyx/jasper, known for its hardness and luster. It implies a high value and beauty.
- From the root
Zahav (זָהָב)
- Gold. A universally recognized symbol of wealth, purity, and value.
Itim(עִטִּים)- This word is a hapax legomenon (appears only once in the Bible) and its meaning is debated. Scholars propose meanings like "ornaments," "wares," "fine goods," or "finery." It likely refers to valuable, decorative articles or materials associated with luxury trade. Some associate it with embellishments or finishing touches on luxury items.
Ezekiel 27 12 Bonus Section
The description of goods provided by Sheba and Raamah directly mirrors the commodities mentioned in prophecies against other wealthy nations and in the description of the heavenly city. For example, Revelation 18:11-13 lists similar luxury goods as being traded by Babylon, showing a pattern of divine judgment against commercial centers that fall into greed and excess. Similarly, Revelation 21:19-21 lists precious stones and gold in the construction of the New Jerusalem, contrasting the pure and incorruptible wealth of God's eternal kingdom with the transient, often morally compromising wealth of earthly empires. The mention of "gold, frankincense, and myrrh" as gifts to Jesus by the Magi (Matthew 2:11) further links these specific aromatic and precious commodities to prophetic fulfillment and sacred significance.
Ezekiel 27 12 Commentary
Tyre's engagement with Sheba and Raamah highlights its extensive commercial network reaching into Arabia, a region famed for its precious spices, stones, and gold. These were not common commodities but high-value luxury items, emphasizing the extreme wealth and luxurious standard of Tyre. The inclusion of "choice" (Naqithah) further underscores the quality of goods supplied, signifying that even among valuable items, the finest were destined for Tyre. This verse contributes to the broader portrait of Tyre as a magnificent, yet ultimately prideful and sinful, entity whose impending fall is justly deserved due to its economic dominance built on unrighteous gain and excess. The very wealth that elevated Tyre also sealed its doom.