Ezekiel 27 20

Ezekiel 27:20 kjv

Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots.

Ezekiel 27:20 nkjv

Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.

Ezekiel 27:20 niv

"?'Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.

Ezekiel 27:20 esv

Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding.

Ezekiel 27:20 nlt

"Dedan sent merchants to trade their expensive saddle blankets with you.

Ezekiel 27 verses

Ezekiel 27 20 Meaning

Ezekiel 27:20 details Dedan's significant contribution to Tyre's vast commercial network by supplying luxurious items related to riding. Specifically, Dedan provided what are often interpreted as fine saddlecloths, precious coverings, or expensive fabrics intended for use with mounts or chariots. This verse highlights a particular segment of Tyre's expansive and sophisticated trade, showcasing its intricate dependency on distant land-based partners to procure high-value goods that contributed to the city's renowned opulence and the grandeur associated with its merchants and leadership.

Ezekiel 27 20 Context

Ezekiel 27:20 is embedded within a profound lamentation over Tyre, cast as a beautiful, globally-resourced merchant ship whose inevitable destruction signifies the end of its immense wealth and influence. This specific verse forms part of an extensive inventory (Eze 27:12-25) that lists Tyre's numerous trading partners—nearly twenty nations and regions—and the diverse commodities they supplied or received. Dedan's inclusion illustrates the far-reaching extent of Tyre's commercial tentacles, specifically touching upon luxury goods relevant to equestrian needs or status-laden travel.

The overarching chapter, Ezekiel 27, provides a vivid, poetic portrayal of Tyre as the epitome of human pride and self-sufficiency derived from material prosperity. Through this elaborate metaphor, God systematically deconstructs the illusion of Tyre's impregnability, meticulously detailing the very elements (its trading partners, goods, and accumulated wealth) that fueled its hubris, only to then forecast their undoing. The subsequent verses graphically describe the shipwreck and the mournful response of all who once benefited from its commerce.

Historically, Tyre was a dominant Phoenician city-state known for its naval power and control of lucrative maritime trade routes in the ancient Mediterranean. Its wealth was amassed by brokering goods between various regions, including those reached by overland caravan routes. Dedan (modern Al-'Ula in Saudi Arabia) was a significant Arabian city located on key trans-Arabian trade routes, particularly for spices, incense, and other high-value desert products. During Ezekiel's prophecy, delivered to the Babylonian exiles between 593-571 BC, Tyre's immense prosperity and pride made it a target of God's judgment against nations. This prophecy serves as a polemic against idolatry of wealth and human enterprise, asserting God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms.

Ezekiel 27 20 Word analysis

• Dedan (דְדָן, Dedān):
  • Identified as an Arabian tribe or locale, key to the incense and spice routes of antiquity, linking Southern Arabia to the Fertile Crescent.
  • Its mention emphasizes Tyre's vast commercial reach, integrating both maritime and critical overland caravan trade networks.
• traded with you (סֹחַרְתְּךָ – soḥarətkā):
  • Derived from the verb סָחַר (saḥar), meaning "to travel around for trade" or "to traffic in."
  • Signifies a deliberate, active, and ongoing commercial exchange, establishing a formal trade relationship.
  • The grammatical form directly implicates Tyre (feminine singular) as the receiving entity in this transaction.
• in saddlecloths for riding (בִגְדֵי-חֹפֶשׁ לְרִכְבָּה – bigdei-ḥōpheš lǝrikəbbâ):
  • בִגְדֵי (bigdei): Plural of בֶּגֶד (bēged), "garment" or "cloth," indicating woven fabric or textile items.
  • חֹפֶשׁ (ḥōpheš): A less common word often meaning "freedom" or "liberty." In construct with "garments," it suggests "garments of luxury," "fine clothes," or "noble coverings." The exact translation of "saddlecloths" is interpretive, based on scholarly understanding of likely valuable commercial usage in context, implying expensive, woven materials suitable for adornment or practical use in riding. It does not literally translate to "saddlecloths" but rather expensive, refined textiles.
  • לְרִכְבָּה (lǝrikəbbâ): Formed from רָכַב (rākháv), "to ride." The preposition le- (לְ) denotes purpose ("for") or association. This clarifies that these costly fabrics were intended for riding, whether as adornments for mounts (horses, camels), coverings for chariots, or for personal use during travel, highlighting their functional luxury.
  • Words-group analysis for "in saddlecloths for riding": This phrase illuminates the specific niche of Dedan's trade with Tyre. It was not merely raw goods, but specialized, high-value textiles indicative of prestige and sophisticated consumption. These luxurious "garments" used for "riding" would have served to enhance the status of their owners, whether royalty, merchants, or military, aligning with Tyre's image of opulence. Dedan supplied these items as part of Tyre's supply chain for showcasing grandeur and ensuring high-class mobility.
• for your many wares (בְּרֹב מַעֲשֶׂיךָ – bǝrov maʿaśêḵā):
  • בְּרֹב (bǝrov): Literally "in the abundance of" or "for the multitude of." The prefix be- (בְּ) signifies "in exchange for" or "for the quantity of." This highlights the extensive quantity and variety of goods Tyre possessed.
  • מַעֲשֶׂיךָ (maʿaśêḵā): Plural of מַעֲשֶׂה (maʿaśeh), "work," "product," or "goods/merchandise." The suffix "-kā" refers to Tyre ("your"). In commerce, this denotes manufactured articles, raw materials processed by Tyre, or other products exchanged.
  • Words-group analysis for "for your many wares": This phrase clearly indicates the reciprocal nature of the trade. Dedan offered its specialized luxury goods in return for Tyre's own diverse and abundant products. It solidifies Tyre's status as a central, comprehensive commercial hub, capable of offering a wide array of goods to its trading partners, underscoring its pivotal role in ancient world trade. The sheer "abundance" (rov) speaks to the massive scale of Tyre's commercial inventory.

Ezekiel 27 20 Bonus section

The specific meaning of ḥōpheš in bigdei-ḥōpheš is a point of scholarly discussion. While generally meaning "freedom," in a material context it often signifies "fine," "costly," or "noble," thus denoting fabrics of exceptional quality rather than literally "garments of freedom." This illustrates how translation requires careful contextual and cultural interpretation. Dedan, beyond supplying luxury items, was also crucial for accessing commodities like frankincense and myrrh which were indispensable for temple worship and funerary practices throughout the ancient Near East, adding another layer to the strategic importance of its trade connections with Tyre. The catalog of Tyre's trade partners in Ezekiel 27 collectively serves as a prophetic testament to the interconnectivity of the ancient global economy, demonstrating how a powerful city like Tyre could act as a nexus, bringing together goods and cultures from across known continents, until God, in His sovereignty, judged its pride.

Ezekiel 27 20 Commentary

Ezekiel 27:20 offers a succinct yet profound glimpse into the intricate commercial machinery of ancient Tyre. By noting Dedan's supply of luxury "saddlecloths for riding" in exchange for Tyre's "many wares," the verse underscores several key themes. First, it vividly portrays the extensive reach and diverse nature of Tyre's trading empire, stretching even to the desert caravan routes of Arabia. Second, the type of commodity—expensive, refined fabrics for riding—highlights the city's demand for high-end luxury items, reflecting the opulent lifestyle and status consciousness that characterized its elite. Finally, this seemingly minor detail within the larger lament reinforces the idea of Tyre's immense wealth, accumulated through complex interdependencies, and serves to amplify the tragedy of its prophesied downfall. The verse, like the chapter, implicitly critiques the city's self-glorification through material possessions and extensive alliances, demonstrating that reliance on human enterprise, no matter how vast or sophisticated, is ultimately fleeting when confronted by divine judgment.