Ezekiel 27 9

Ezekiel 27:9 kjv

The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.

Ezekiel 27:9 nkjv

Elders of Gebal and its wise men Were in you to caulk your seams; All the ships of the sea And their oarsmen were in you To market your merchandise.

Ezekiel 27:9 niv

Veteran craftsmen of Byblos were on board as shipwrights to caulk your seams. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to trade for your wares.

Ezekiel 27:9 esv

The elders of Gebal and her skilled men were in you, caulking your seams; all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to barter for your wares.

Ezekiel 27:9 nlt

Wise old craftsmen from Gebal did the caulking.
Ships from every land came with goods to barter for your trade.

Ezekiel 27 verses

Ezekiel 27 9 Meaning

Ezekiel 27:9 vividly portrays the elaborate international network and specialized labor that sustained the magnificent maritime empire of Tyre. It describes skilled elders from Gebal (Byblos) serving within Tyre, meticulously sealing and strengthening its ships, crucial for maintaining its naval superiority and extensive trade routes. Furthermore, the verse highlights Tyre's role as a central hub where all seafaring vessels and their crews gathered, primarily for trade in its bustling market, showcasing its immense economic gravity and reliance on both its own capacity and the flow of international commerce.

Ezekiel 27 9 Context

Ezekiel 27 is a powerful lament, a funeral dirge (qinah) over Tyre, presented as a majestic, splendid ship brought to ruin. This chapter follows chapter 26, which pronounced a series of prophecies against Tyre, foretelling its utter destruction. Chapter 27 amplifies this judgment by first depicting Tyre's glory in exquisite detail, personifying it as a marvelously constructed vessel made of the finest materials from across the known world, manned by skilled sailors from many nations. Verse 9 specifically fits within this vivid depiction, focusing on the meticulous maintenance and global convergence necessary for Tyre's maritime supremacy. It precedes the detailed catalog of its diverse merchandise and the nations involved in its trade, building up to the inevitable climax of its catastrophic shipwreck, a symbolic fall from grace due to its immense pride and perceived self-sufficiency. Historically, Tyre was the leading Phoenician city-state, a naval and trading powerhouse whose prosperity led to arrogance and a sense of invulnerability, often attracting the ire of Yahweh's prophets for its perceived economic injustice and idolatry.

Ezekiel 27 9 Word analysis

• The elders of Gebal:

  • Hebrew: zĕqēney Geḇal (זִקְנֵי גְבַל)
  • zĕqēney: "elders of", often connoting respect, wisdom, authority, and experience. Here, applied to skilled artisans, it emphasizes their venerable and irreplaceable expertise. It underscores the quality and age-old tradition of shipbuilding and maintenance they brought.
  • Geḇal: Byblos, an ancient Phoenician city north of Tyre, known for its deep history, often associated with the earliest forms of writing and timber trade. Historically, Gebal was famous for its stonemasons and skilled craftsmen, especially in woodworking and boat construction/repair. This detail highlights Tyre's reliance on specific regional expertise, not just its internal capabilities.

• and her wise men:

  • Hebrew: wəḥakmeyhā (וַחֲכָמֶיהָ)
  • wəḥakmeyhā: "and her wise ones/men". These are not merely laborers but experts possessing deep, practical knowledge, craftsmanship, and understanding of the intricacies of shipbuilding, design, and seamanship. It suggests advanced technical know-how beyond simple manual labor, essential for a dominant maritime force. This can include navigation, shipbuilding techniques, and knowledge of materials.

• were in thee:

  • Hebrew: bəḵā hāyû (בָּךְ הָיוּ)
  • bəḵā: "in you" (referring to Tyre). This phrase explicitly states that these vital skilled individuals operated within Tyre itself, either as resident foreign laborers or contractors, underscoring Tyre's attractiveness as a center of employment and its dependency on external talents for its core operations. It illustrates Tyre's magnetic pull as a commercial capital.

• calkers of thy seams:

  • Hebrew: māḥăziqey bidqeḵ (מַחֲזִיקֵי בִדְקֵךְ)
  • māḥăziqey: from ḥāzaq, "to strengthen," "to hold firm," "to repair." This word denotes those who made firm or strengthened the vessel.
  • bidqeḵ: "thy breach," "thy seams," "thy repairs." This refers to the vulnerable spots in the ship's hull where water could ingress. The act of "calking" or sealing these seams was paramount for a ship's integrity and seaworthiness. This highlights the practical and painstaking work vital for maintaining a fleet, preventing water damage, and ensuring safe voyages. The choice of word emphasizes 'strengthening the weakness', suggesting ongoing vulnerability that required expert maintenance.

• all the ships of the sea:

  • Hebrew: kol-'ŏniyyōṯ hayyām (כָּל־אֳנִיּוֹת הַיָּם)
  • This phrase emphasizes the universality of Tyre's influence, suggesting a massive concentration of maritime traffic. "All" (kol) here signifies a sweeping and comprehensive presence, a major global hub.

• with their mariners:

  • Hebrew: ûmallāḥêhem (וּמַלָּחֵיהֶם)
  • ûmallāḥêhem: "and their sailors/mariners." Not just empty ships, but entire crews, demonstrating the complete mobilization of seafaring life drawn to Tyre. This underscores the scale of human interaction and economic activity.

• were in thee:

  • Hebrew: bəḵā hāyû (בָּךְ הָיוּ)
  • Repeats the previous phrase, reiterating Tyre as the central meeting point and operational base for maritime commerce and personnel. Its repeated use further emphasizes the overwhelming concentration of power and resources within Tyre.

• to occupy thy market:

  • Hebrew: ləśūq (לָשׂוּק)
  • ləśūq: "to trade," "to bargain," "to traffic," "to market." The ultimate purpose of this gathering was commerce. Tyre was the nexus for buying and selling goods from all corners of the ancient world. This clarifies the economic engine driving all the described activity, from shipbuilding to navigation.

Words-group analysis

• "The elders of Gebal and her wise men were in thee calkers of thy seams": This phrase highlights the essential and specialized skilled labor from a specific allied region that was critical to Tyre's very structure and endurance. It speaks to interdependence, the high value of craftsmanship, and Tyre's strategic use of external resources for its core maritime industry. It signifies that even a powerful entity like Tyre was not self-sufficient but relied on niche expertise.

• "All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee, to occupy thy market": This paints a grand picture of Tyre as the undisputed global maritime capital. It emphasizes the sheer scale of its commerce, the multitude of nations it engaged with, and its role as the ultimate destination and marketplace for international trade. The repetition of "were in thee" reinforces this centrality, depicting Tyre as a massive, magnetic vortex of global commerce and human activity.

Ezekiel 27 9 Bonus section

The mention of "Gebal" (modern-day Byblos) is particularly significant. Gebal was an older Phoenician city than Tyre, with its own rich history of maritime trade and craft, notably for exporting cedar to Egypt and as a center for scribes, giving rise to the Greek word "biblos" (book/papyrus) and eventually "Bible". Its specialists providing their expertise to Tyre speaks volumes about the level of inter-Phoenician collaboration and the widespread recognition of Gebal's exceptional artisans. Tyre's dependence on Gebal's skilled calkers also implies that the preservation of its vast fleet against the relentless wear of the sea was a constant, critical, and labor-intensive endeavor. This detail emphasizes that Tyre's perceived invincibility was built upon fragile human hands and carefully sealed timber, not immutable strength.

Ezekiel 27 9 Commentary

Ezekiel 27:9, as part of the extended lament over Tyre, meticulously illustrates the foundational elements of its extraordinary power: highly specialized labor and unparalleled commercial magnetism. By featuring "elders of Gebal" – venerable experts in shipbuilding and repair – the verse underscores that Tyre's might was not just about owning ships but meticulously maintaining them through superior craftsmanship, often from outside its immediate population. The explicit mention of these skilled individuals being "in thee" emphasizes Tyre's draw as a commercial capital, attracting essential foreign expertise. Furthermore, "all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee, to occupy thy market" dramatically portrays Tyre as the global maritime nexus. It wasn't just a port among others, but the definitive hub where entire fleets and their crews converged, solely to participate in its colossal marketplace. This verse therefore simultaneously highlights Tyre's impressive global reach and underlying dependence on external resources and relationships, a reliance that ultimately would prove insufficient against divine judgment.