Ezekiel 27:5 kjv
They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee.
Ezekiel 27:5 nkjv
They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; They took a cedar from Lebanon to make you a mast.
Ezekiel 27:5 niv
They made all your timbers of juniper from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
Ezekiel 27:5 esv
They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
Ezekiel 27:5 nlt
You were like a great ship
built of the finest cypress from Senir.
They took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.
Ezekiel 27 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 5:6 | "Now therefore command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me..." | Solomon seeks Lebanon cedars for temple. |
| 1 Ki 6:9-10 | "...he built the house and finished it; he roofed the house with rafters of cedars." | Cedar used for temple roofing. |
| 1 Ki 6:15 | "...he lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cypress wood..." | Cypress (fir) for temple interior. |
| 1 Ki 6:34 | "...two doors of cypress wood... two pivot hinges." | Cypress (fir) used for temple doors. |
| 2 Sa 5:11 | "And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David...and cedar trees..." | Hiram of Tyre supplied cedars for David. |
| Ps 92:12 | "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon." | Cedar as a symbol of flourishing. |
| Ps 104:16 | "The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted." | God provides for Lebanon's cedars. |
| Isa 2:13 | "upon all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up... shall be judgment." | Judgment upon the proud, including cedars. |
| Isa 2:16 | "upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all the beautiful craft." | Judgment on maritime pride/wealth. |
| Isa 14:8 | "The cypress trees rejoice over you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying..." | Cedars rejoice at fall of arrogant king. |
| Isa 37:24 | "...I will cut down its tallest cypresses, its choicest cedars." | Assyrian king boasts of cutting choice trees. |
| Isa 60:13 | "The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the box, and the pine..." | Trees for God's sanctuary. |
| Jer 22:15 | "Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar?" | Warning against pride in cedar-built palaces. |
| Eze 27:3 | "...You have said, 'I am perfect in beauty.'" | Tyre's self-assessment of perfection. |
| Eze 27:8 | "Your skilled men, O Tyre, were in you, they were your pilots." | Skilled men operating Tyre's "ship." |
| Eze 27:26 | "Your oarsmen have brought you out into the high seas... your ship is broken..." | Tyre's ultimate shipwreck and destruction. |
| Zec 11:1-2 | "Open your doors, O Lebanon, that a fire may devour your cedars! Howl, O cypress..." | Prophecy of destruction affecting Lebanon's trees. |
| Jonah 1:3-4 | "Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD... and found a ship." | Reference to merchant ship voyage. |
| Pro 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | General principle of pride's consequence. |
| Jas 4:6 | "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." | God's opposition to human pride. |
| Rev 18:11-19 | "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their cargo..." | Lament over the destruction of a mercantile city. |
Ezekiel 27 verses
Ezekiel 27 5 Meaning
Ezekiel 27:5 portrays Tyre, personified as a grand merchant ship, through a meticulous description of its superior construction materials. The verse highlights the city's immense wealth, exquisite craftsmanship, and expansive trade network by specifying that its entire structure was built from the finest resources: durable fir (cypress) trees from Senir formed its planks, while a majestic cedar from Lebanon served as its towering mast. This detailed account sets a scene of extraordinary opulence and formidable strength, intended to magnify Tyre's pride and ultimate downfall.
Ezekiel 27 5 Context
Ezekiel 27 is a poignant lament or dirge for Tyre, depicting the great city as a magnificent merchant ship that is ultimately shattered and sunk. This verse, Ezekiel 27:5, forms part of a highly detailed inventory of the ship's construction, crew, cargo, and trade partners, emphasizing its splendor and extensive reach before its catastrophic downfall. Historically, Tyre was a dominant Phoenician city-state, famed throughout the ancient world for its advanced maritime trade, shipbuilding expertise, and vibrant commercial network that stretched across the Mediterranean. Its immense wealth led to a deep-seated pride and self-sufficiency, which the prophet Ezekiel powerfully condemns. The detailed description of premium materials from specific, renowned geographical locations (Senir for fir/cypress and Lebanon for cedar) was not only a realistic portrayal of ancient shipbuilding but also a direct illustration of Tyre's global procurement capabilities and the ultimate fragility of such human-made grandeur when faced with divine judgment. The entire chapter serves as a profound theological statement against the pride that comes from material success, highlighting that even the most impregnable and luxurious human endeavors are transient without God's sustaining hand.
Ezekiel 27 5 Word analysis
They made: (עָשׂוּ - `asu) This plural verb highlights the collaborative effort and skilled human craftsmanship involved in Tyre's construction. It refers to the many builders and artisans.
all your planks: (כָּל לֻחֹתַיִךְ - `kol luchotayikh) The phrase "all your planks" emphasizes the foundational structure of the ship. "Luchotayikh" refers to the broad timbers or boards forming the hull. The inclusion of "all" underscores that even the most basic components were made of high-quality material.
of fir trees: (בְּרוֹשִׁים - `beroshim) This term refers to the cypress or juniper, a coniferous tree known for its strength, durability, straightness, and resistance to decay, making it highly valued for shipbuilding and temple construction (1 Ki 6:15). Its properties ensured the structural integrity of Tyre's metaphorical vessel.
from Senir: (מִשְׂנִיר - `mis'nir) Senir is the Amorite name for Mount Hermon (Deut 3:9), a peak in the Antilebanon mountain range. This region was well-known for its abundant and fine timber. Specifying Senir highlights Tyre's access to prime natural resources through established trade routes.
they took a cedar: (לָקְחוּ אֶרֶז - `laqchu erez) "Took" indicates deliberate selection and procurement. "Erez" refers to the cedar, a tree singular in its majesty.
from Lebanon: (מִלְּבָנוֹן -
mil'levanon) The Cedars of Lebanon (erez HaLevanon`) were legendary throughout the ancient Near East. Renowned for their enormous size, distinctive aroma, impressive strength, resilience to insects and rot, and magnificent appearance, they were prized for royal palaces and religious structures like Solomon's Temple (1 Ki 5:6). Sourcing cedar from Lebanon conveyed unparalleled luxury, grandeur, and an almost sacred quality to the mast.to make you a mast: (לַעֲשׂוֹת לָךְ תֹּרֶן - `la'asot lakh toren) The mast is the primary vertical spar of a sailing vessel, crucial for holding the sails and thus for the ship's propulsion. Symbolically, it represents the visible and vital "pinnacle" of Tyre's maritime power. Building it from the prestigious cedar of Lebanon underscores the city's aspirations to preeminence and an air of invincibility.
Words-group analysis:
- "They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir": This phrase details the foundational structure of the ship, emphasizing comprehensive quality using robust, common, yet high-grade shipbuilding timber from a specific, reliable regional source. It speaks to the practical excellence and sturdy build.
- "they took a cedar from Lebanon to make you a mast": This group highlights the ship's most prominent and functional component – the mast – being fashioned from the most luxurious and esteemed timber available. It elevates the vessel to a symbol of extraordinary wealth, aesthetic pride, and commanding presence, derived from an iconic source.
Ezekiel 27 5 Bonus section
- The elaborate personification of Tyre as a magnificent ship illustrates not only the city's commercial power but also its journey and inevitable fate, a common prophetic imagery for nations.
- The meticulous detail concerning specific types of wood and their precise origins (Senir, Lebanon) points to a deep familiarity with ancient shipbuilding practices and trade routes of the period, adding to the prophecy's authenticity and impactful imagery for its original audience.
- The use of cedar from Lebanon for a ship's mast connects Tyre to the symbolism of strength and majesty often associated with these trees elsewhere in Scripture, even in contexts of divine power or the righteous. By applying this to Tyre's mast, it highlights the city's elevation to a stature that challenged the divine.
- The entire inventory in Ezekiel 27, of which verse 5 is a part, functions as an anti-eulogy, glorifying Tyre's material strength only to underscore the dramatic reversal and complete collapse that awaits it, thereby warning against excessive pride and reliance on human-derived might.
Ezekiel 27 5 Commentary
Ezekiel 27:5 intricately details the superior materials comprising Tyre's metaphorical merchant ship, demonstrating its remarkable affluence and construction expertise. The selection of fir (cypress) from Senir for its planks ensured a durable hull, while a majestic cedar from Lebanon formed its essential mast. This depiction is not simply an observation of prosperity but a deliberate accentuation of Tyre's immense pride in its self-made glory and perceived invulnerability. By chronicling such an elaborate and resplendent structure, the prophecy magnifies the impending shock of its ultimate destruction, highlighting the transient nature of even the most formidable human achievements built upon worldly resources rather than divine foundation. The passage serves as a vivid illustration of how impressive material wealth and power, while momentarily magnificent, are ultimately subject to a greater divine sovereignty.