Ezekiel 27:4 kjv
Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.
Ezekiel 27:4 nkjv
Your borders are in the midst of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty.
Ezekiel 27:4 niv
Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection.
Ezekiel 27:4 esv
Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders made perfect your beauty.
Ezekiel 27:4 nlt
You extended your boundaries into the sea.
Your builders made your beauty perfect.
Ezekiel 27 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 27:11 | "The men of Arvad and your army were your men along your walls; men of Hammath were in your towers;" | Tyre's skilled defenders |
| Psalm 92:12 | "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon." | Cedar's symbolism |
| Isaiah 14:8 | "Even the cypress trees rejoice over you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, 'Since you have been brought down, no one comes to hew us.'" | Cedar's grandeur |
| Revelation 18:12 | "merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls, of fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood and every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble," | Tyre's vast trade |
| Jeremiah 22:23 | "You who dwell in Lebanon, nested among the cedars, how you will groan when pangs come upon you, like the pangs of a woman in labor!" | Tyre's fall |
| Psalm 104:16 | "The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted;" | Cedar's divine source |
| Song of Songs 5:15 | "His legs are pillars of alabaster, set on solid gold bases. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars." | Cedar's beauty |
| Ezekiel 17:3 | "Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of plumage of various colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar." | Lebanon as source |
| Genesis 49:20 | "From Asher comes rich food, and he will yield royal delicacies." | Asher's provision |
| Deuteronomy 3:9 | "(which the Sidonians call Hermon; the Amorites call it Sirion)," | Sidon's location |
| Isaiah 23:2 | "Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast; you merchants of Sidon, whom the flood overthrew." | Sidon's destruction |
| Proverbs 9:1 | "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars;" | Wisdom in building |
| 1 Kings 5:6 | "Now therefore command, that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon; and my servants shall join with your servants..." | Hiram's cedar supply |
| Mark 13:1 | "As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”" | Magnificent structures |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." | Divine dwelling |
| Matthew 6:29 | "yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." | Solomon's splendor |
| 2 Samuel 5:11 | "Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and also carpenters and stonemasons, who built David a palace." | Tyre-Israelite alliance |
| Jeremiah 51:13 | "She who dwells by many waters, abundant in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your profit." | Wealth of cities |
| Ezekiel 28:2 | "“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “‘“Because you have prideful in your heart, and have said, ‘I am a god, I sit on the throne of God, in the heart of the seas...’”" | Tyre's pride |
| Psalm 24:1-2 | "The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." | Lord's sovereignty |
Ezekiel 27 verses
Ezekiel 27 4 Meaning
The verse describes the cedar wood used in constructing the ships of Tyre, highlighting its origin and the expertise involved in its use for building ships. It signifies the high quality and prestige associated with Tyre's maritime commerce and shipbuilding capabilities, making them unmatched.
Ezekiel 27 4 Context
Ezekiel 27 is a powerful lamentation over the city of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city-state renowned for its maritime power, extensive trade, and shipbuilding expertise. The chapter paints a vivid picture of Tyre's opulence and influence, personifying the city as a magnificent ship. This detailed description serves to emphasize the greatness of Tyre's downfall, highlighting how thoroughly it will be destroyed. Verse 4 specifically focuses on the material and craftsmanship used in the construction of Tyre's impressive fleet, indicating their quality and the labor invested in them. The historical context involves the looming destruction of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar and later, symbolically and literally by other forces, illustrating the consequences of its pride and perceived divine pretenses.
Ezekiel 27 4 Word Analysis
- And (Hebrew: וְ - ve): A conjunctive particle, connecting clauses and ideas.
- You have made (Hebrew: נָתַנּוּ - natunu): Perfect tense, signifying completion. Implies creation or dedication.
- your (Hebrew: אֲבִיךְ - avich): Possessive suffix, referring to Tyre.
- ship (Hebrew: מְרִינָה - merinah): A nautical vessel, referring to the large ships or vessels of Tyre.
- all (Hebrew: כָּל - kol): Denotes totality, completeness.
- your (Hebrew: כָּל - kol): Possessive suffix.
- beauty (Hebrew: יֹפִי - yofi): Comeliness, attractiveness, referring to the outward appearance and magnificence.
- They (Hebrew: הֵמָּה - hemmah): Pronoun, referring to the women of Sidon.
- have made (Hebrew: עָשׂוּ - asu): Perfect tense, meaning fashioned or created.
- you (Hebrew: אֹתָךְ - otach): Direct object pronoun, referring to Tyre.
- perfect (Hebrew: תְּמִימָה - temimah): Complete, whole, flawless. In this context, it speaks of the structural integrity and refined finish of the ships.
- in (Hebrew: בְּ - be): Preposition indicating location or circumstance.
- the seas (Hebrew: יָם - yam): Literally, the sea. Refers to the maritime environment and their mastery of it.
Word Groups/Phrases Analysis:
- "your beauty perfect" (תְּמִימָה בְּ יֹפִי - temimah be yofi): This phrase suggests that the ships of Tyre were not only beautifully crafted but also structurally sound and complete in every aspect. They represented the pinnacle of maritime engineering and aesthetics.
- "made your ship all your beauty": This signifies that the ships themselves were the embodiment of Tyre's beauty and sophistication, representing the culmination of their skilled craftsmanship and artistic expression in the maritime realm.
- "women of Sidon": Sidon was a closely related Phoenician city, often collaborating with Tyre. Their involvement here highlights the collaborative nature of their skilled trades and perhaps hints at the artistry or detailing done by women.
Ezekiel 27 4 Bonus Section
The choice of cedar from Lebanon is significant. Cedar was highly prized in the ancient Near East for its durability, fragrant scent, and fine grain, making it ideal for shipbuilding and construction. King Hiram of Tyre had previously partnered with King Solomon to supply cedar for the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 5:6-10), demonstrating the historical relationship and trade in this valuable resource. The mention of Sidonian women's involvement suggests a shared, high level of skill within the Phoenician region, possibly indicating delicate inlay work, sail-making, or other finishing touches that contributed to the ships' overall splendor. The imagery of Tyre as a perfect ship destined for destruction underscores the biblical theme that human achievements, when pursued with pride and disconnected from divine acknowledgment, are ultimately impermanent.
Ezekiel 27 4 Commentary
Ezekiel 27:4 personifies Tyre as a magnificent ship, its beauty and perfection attributed to the skilled hands that built it. The cedar from Lebanon, known for its strength and beauty, formed the hull. The women of Sidon, neighboring Tyre and also a skilled Phoenician port, are credited with the fine craftsmanship, suggesting an element of artistry and meticulous finishing. This verse emphasizes Tyre's material wealth, its advanced shipbuilding technology, and its mastery of the seas. However, this pride in its human achievements is a theme that will lead to its judgment, as declared in the subsequent verses and chapters. The verse is a testament to human ingenuity and the impressive results of focused labor, yet it's also a prelude to divine pronouncements on overreaching pride.