Ezekiel 27 is a funeral dirge for Tyre cast as the sinking of a magnificent merchant ship. The chapter opens with God commanding Ezekiel to raise a lamentation over Tyre, then constructs an elaborate ship-allegory: Tyre is a vessel of perfect beauty, built from the finest materials of the known world. The middle section (vv. 12-25) is the most extensive trade catalogue in the Hebrew Bible, naming over twenty trading partners and dozens of commodities — metals, textiles, spices, livestock, slaves, and luxury goods. The final section (vv. 26-36) describes the ship's destruction by the east wind and the worldwide mourning that follows. The maritime nations weep, the merchants are appalled, and the great ship that was the pride of the seas sinks forever.
This chapter is an extraordinary achievement of prophetic poetry — a sustained metaphor in which an entire city-state becomes a single ship, and its economic collapse becomes a shipwreck. The trade catalogue in verses 12-25 is the most detailed economic document in the Hebrew Bible and a primary source for reconstructing ancient Near Eastern trade networks. Every commodity and every trading partner is historically attested. The chapter also anticipates the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18, which borrows extensively from Ezekiel 27's imagery of merchants weeping over a fallen commercial power. We preserved the poetic structure of the dirge sections while rendering the trade catalogue with the precision its economic vocabulary demands. The Hebrew contains numerous rare words for trade goods — some appearing only here in the entire Bible (hapax legomena) — and we documented each uncertain identification in translator notes.
The trade catalogue contains some of the most difficult vocabulary in the Hebrew Bible. Several commodity terms are hapax legomena whose identification depends on cognate languages (Akkadian, Ugaritic, Arabic) and ancient trade records. The geographic identifications are sometimes uncertain — 'Tarshish' may be Tartessus in Spain, Tarsus in Cilicia, or a general term for distant western maritime destinations. The Hebrew phrase 'izzim (27:21) could mean 'goats' or a specific breed; we followed the standard identification. The word pannag (27:17) is one of the most debated terms in Ezekiel — possibly a place name, possibly a food product (millet, wax, or a type of confection). We rendered it as 'millet' with a note on the uncertainty. The shift from prose trade list back to poetic dirge in verse 26 required careful handling of register.
Revelation 18 draws extensively on this chapter for its depiction of Babylon's fall — the weeping merchants, the catalogue of luxury goods, the maritime mourning. Isaiah 23 contains an earlier oracle against Tyre. The ship metaphor connects to ancient Near Eastern maritime mythology and to Psalm 48:7 (ships of Tarshish broken by the east wind). The east wind (ruach qadim) that destroys the ship is the same wind that parts the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21) and withers Jonah's plant (Jonah 4:8) — a recurring biblical symbol of divine judgment from the desert.
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃
The word of the LORD came to me:
KJV The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֔ם שָׂ֥א עַל־צֹ֖ר קִינָֽה׃
"And you, son of man, raise a lamentation over Tyre,
KJV Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus,
The qinah is a specific Hebrew poetic genre — a funeral song performed over the dead, characterized by its uneven 3+2 meter that creates a 'limping' effect, mimicking the faltering rhythm of grief.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ לְצ֗וֹר הַיֹּשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ עַל־מְבוֹאֹ֣ת יָ֔ם רֹכֶ֥לֶת הָעַמִּ֖ים אֶל־אִיִּ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה צ֕וֹר אַ֣תְּ אָמַ֔רְתְּ אֲנִ֖י כְּלִ֥ילַת יֹֽפִי׃
and say to Tyre, who sits at the entrance to the sea, merchant to the peoples on many coastlands: This is what the Lord GOD says — Tyre, you have said, 'I am perfect in beauty.'
KJV And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.
בְּלֵ֥ב יַמִּ֖ים גְּבוּלָ֑יִךְ בֹּנַ֕יִךְ כָּלְל֖וּ יָפְיֵֽךְ׃
Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty.
KJV Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.
בְּרוֹשִׁ֤ים מִשְּׂנִיר֙ בָּנ֣וּ לָ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת כָּל־לֻחֹתָ֑יִם אֶ֤רֶז מִלְּבָנוֹן֙ לָקָ֔חוּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת תֹּ֖רֶן עָלָֽיִךְ׃
They built all your planking from cypresses of Senir; they took cedar from Lebanon to make your mast.
KJV They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee.
אַלּוֹנִ֣ים מִבָּשָׁ֔ן עָשׂ֖וּ מִשּׁוֹטָ֑יִךְ קַרְשֵׁ֣ךְ עָשׂ֗וּ שֵׁן־בַּת־אֲשֻׁרִים֙ מֵאִיֵּ֖י כִּתִּיִּֽם׃
From oaks of Bashan they made your oars; your deck they made of boxwood inlaid with ivory from the coastlands of Cyprus.
KJV Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim.
שֵׁ֣שׁ בְּרִקְמָ֤ה מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ הָיָ֣ה מִפְרָשֵׂ֔ךְ לִהְי֥וֹת לָ֖ךְ לְנֵ֑ס תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן מֵאִיֵּ֥י אֱלִישָׁ֖ה הָיָ֥ה מְכַסֵּֽךְ׃
Embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail, serving as your banner; blue and purple cloth from the coastlands of Elishah was your awning.
KJV Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.
יֹשְׁבֵ֤י צִידוֹן֙ וְאַרְוַ֔ד הָי֥וּ שָׁטִ֖ים לָ֑ךְ חֲכָמַ֤יִךְ צוֹר֙ הָ֣יוּ בָ֔ךְ הֵ֖מָּה חֹבְלָֽיִךְ׃
The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your own skilled men, Tyre, were your pilots.
KJV The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots.
זִקְנֵ֨י גְבַ֤ל וַחֲכָמֶ֙יהָ֙ הָ֣יוּ בָ֔ךְ מַחֲזִיקֵ֖י בִּדְקֵ֑ךְ כָּל־אֳנִיּ֤וֹת הַיָּם֙ וּמַלָּ֣חֵיהֶ֔ם הָ֣יוּ בָ֔ךְ לַעֲרֹ֖ב מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ׃
The elders of Gebal and its craftsmen were in you, caulking your seams; all the ships of the sea and their sailors came to you to trade your merchandise.
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.
פָּרַ֧ס וְל֛וּד וּפ֖וּט הָי֣וּ בְחֵילֵ֑ךְ אַנְשֵׁ֣י מִלְחַמְתֵּ֔ךְ מָגֵ֤ן וְכוֹבַע֙ תִּלּוּ־בָ֔ךְ הֵ֖מָּה נָתְנ֥וּ הֲדָרֵֽךְ׃
Persia, Lud, and Put served in your army as your warriors. They hung shield and helmet in you; they gave you your splendor.
KJV They of Persia and of Lud, and of Phut, were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.
בְּנֵ֧י אַרְוַ֣ד וְחֵילֵ֗ךְ עַל־חוֹמוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ סָבִ֔יב וְגַ֨מָּדִ֔ים בְּמִגְדְּלוֹתַ֖יִךְ הָי֑וּ טְרֵיחֵיהֶ֗ם תִּלּ֛וּ עַל־חוֹמוֹתַ֖יִךְ סָבִ֑יב הֵ֖מָּה כָּלְל֥וּ יָפְיֵֽךְ׃
The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and warriors were in your towers. They hung their quivers on your walls all around; they made your beauty complete.
KJV The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.
תַּרְשִׁ֣ישׁ סֹחַרְתֵּ֗ךְ מֵרֹ֨ב כָּל־ה֔וֹן בְּכֶ֥סֶף בַּרְזֶ֛ל בְּדִ֥יל וְעוֹפֶ֖רֶת נָתְנ֥וּ עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ׃
Tarshish traded with you because of your great wealth of every kind. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.
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.
יָוָ֤ן תֻּבַל֙ וָמֶ֔שֶׁךְ הֵ֖מָּה רֹכְלָ֑יִךְ בְּנֶ֤פֶשׁ אָדָם֙ וּכְלֵ֣י נְחֹ֔שֶׁת נָתְנ֖וּ מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ׃
Greece, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They exchanged human slaves and bronze vessels for your merchandise.
KJV Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.
Literally 'souls of humanity.' The use of nephesh — the word for the living, breathing self — to describe trade goods is a devastating moral indictment embedded in the economic catalogue.
מִבֵּ֖ית תּוֹגַרְמָ֑ה סוּסִ֤ים וּפָֽרָשִׁים֙ וּפְרָדִ֔ים נָתְנ֖וּ עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ׃
Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.
KJV They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules.
בְּנֵ֤י דְדָן֙ רֹכְלָ֔יִךְ אִיִּ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים סְחֹרַ֣ת יָדֵ֑ךְ קַרְנ֤וֹת שֵׁן֙ וַהָּבְנִ֔ים הֵשִׁ֖יבוּ אֶשְׁכָּרֵֽךְ׃
The people of Dedan were your traders; many coastlands were markets under your hand. They brought you ivory tusks and ebony as payment.
KJV The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony.
אֲרָם֙ סֹחַרְתֵּ֔ךְ מֵרֹ֖ב מַעֲשָׂ֑יִךְ בְּנֹ֗פֶךְ אַרְגָּמָן֙ וְרִקְמָ֣ה וּב֤וּץ וְרָאמוֹת֙ וְכַדְכֹּ֔ד נָתְנ֖וּ בְּעִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ׃
Aram traded with you because of your abundant products. They exchanged turquoise, purple cloth, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.
KJV Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.
יְהוּדָ֣ה וְאֶֽרֶץ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ הֵ֣מָּה רֹכְלָיִךְ֒ בְּחִטֵּ֣י מִ֠נִּ֠ית וּפַנַּ֨ג וּדְבַ֤שׁ וָשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ וָצֳרִ֔י נָתְנ֖וּ מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ׃
Judah and the land of Israel — they were your traders. They exchanged wheat from Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise.
KJV Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.
דַּמֶּ֣שֶׂק סֹחַרְתֵּ֗ךְ בְּרֹ֤ב מַעֲשַׂ֙יִךְ֙ מֵרֹ֣ב כָּל־ה֔וֹן בְּיֵ֥ין חֶלְבּ֖וֹן וְצֶ֥מֶר צָחַֽר׃
Damascus traded with you because of your abundant products and great wealth of every kind — with wine from Helbon and white wool.
KJV Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
וְדָ֤ן וְיָוָן֙ מְאוּזָּ֔ל בְּעִזְבוֹנַ֣יִךְ נָתָ֑נוּ בַּרְזֶ֤ל עָשׁוֹת֙ קִדָּ֣ה וְקָנֶ֔ה בְּמַעֲרָבֵ֖ךְ הָיָֽה׃
Dan and Greece from Uzal exchanged wrought iron, cassia, and aromatic cane for your merchandise.
KJV Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.
דְּדָ֖ן רֹכַלְתֵּ֑ךְ בְּבִגְדֵי־חֹ֖פֶשׁ לְרִכְבָּֽה׃
Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding.
KJV Dedan was thy merchant in precious cloths for chariots.
עֲרַ֗ב וְכָל־נְשִׂיאֵ֤י קֵדָר֙ הֵ֣מָּה סֹחֲרֵ֣י יָדֵ֔ךְ בְּכָרִ֥ים וְאֵילִ֖ים וְעַתּוּדִ֑ים בָּ֖ם סֹחֲרָֽיִךְ׃
Arabia and all the chieftains of Kedar — they were traders under your hand, dealing in lambs, rams, and goats.
KJV Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.
רֹכְלֵ֤י שְׁבָא֙ וְרַעְמָ֔ה הֵ֖מָּה רֹכְלָ֑יִךְ בְּרֹ֤אשׁ כָּל־בֹּ֙שֶׂם֙ וּבְכָל־אֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֔ה וְזָהָ֖ב נָתְנ֥וּ עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ׃
The traders of Sheba and Raamah — they were your traders. They exchanged the finest of every spice, every kind of precious stone, and gold for your wares.
KJV The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
חָרָ֣ן וְכַנֵּ֣ה וָעֶ֗דֶן רֹכְלֵ֤י שְׁבָא֙ אַשּׁ֣וּר וְכִלְמַ֔ד רֹכַלְתֵּֽךְ׃
Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad were your traders.
KJV Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants.
הֵ֣מָּה רֹכְלַ֗יִךְ בְּמַכְלֻלִים֙ בִּגְלוֹמֵ֤י תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ וְרִקְמָ֔ה וּבְגִנְזֵ֣י בְרֹמִ֔ים בַּחֲבָלִ֥ים חֲבֻשִׁ֖ים וַאֲרֻזִ֑ים בְּמַרְכֻלְתֵּֽךְ׃
These traded with you in luxury garments, in cloaks of blue and embroidered work, and in chests of multicolored fabric, bound with cords and secured with cedar, among your merchandise.
KJV These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise.
אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ שָׁרוֹתַ֖יִךְ מַעֲרָבֵ֑ךְ וַתִּמָּלְאִ֧י וַתִּכְבְּדִ֛י מְאֹ֖ד בְּלֵ֥ב יַמִּֽים׃
The ships of Tarshish were the caravans of your trade. You were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas.
KJV The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.
בְּמַ֤יִם רַבִּים֙ הֱבִיא֔וּךְ הַשָּׁטִ֖ים אוֹתָ֑ךְ ר֤וּחַ הַקָּדִים֙ שְׁבָרֵ֔ךְ בְּלֵ֖ב יַמִּֽים׃
Your rowers brought you out into deep waters, but the east wind shattered you in the heart of the seas.
KJV Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.
The east wind in biblical usage is consistently destructive — the hot desert wind that withers crops, breaks ships, and serves as an instrument of divine judgment. Here it represents Nebuchadnezzar's army coming from the east.
הוֹנֵ֣ךְ וְ֠עִזְבוֹנַ֠יִךְ מַעֲרָבֵ֨ךְ מַלָּחַ֜יִךְ וְחֹבְלַ֗יִךְ מַחֲזִיקֵ֤י בִדְקֵךְ֙ וְעֹרְבֵ֣י מַעֲרָבֵ֔ךְ וְכָל־אַנְשֵׁ֥י מִלְחַמְתֵּ֖ךְ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֑ךְ וּבְכָל־קְהָלֵ֗ךְ אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּתוֹכֵךְ֙ יִפְּל֣וּ בְלֵ֣ב יַמִּ֔ים בְּי֖וֹם מַפַּלְתֵּֽךְ׃
Your wealth, your wares, your merchandise, your sailors and your pilots, your caulkers, your traders, all your warriors who are in you, and all the crew assembled within you — they will fall into the heart of the seas on the day of your downfall.
KJV Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin.
לְק֖וֹל זַעֲקַ֣ת חֹבְלָ֑יִךְ יִרְעֲשׁ֖וּ מִגְרָשֽׁוֹת׃
At the sound of your pilots' cry, the open waters will tremble.
KJV The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.
וְיָרְד֣וּ מֵאָנִיּ֗וֹתֵיהֶם כֹּ֚ל תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י מָשׁ֔וֹט מַלָּחִ֕ים כֹּ֖ל חֹבְלֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ יַעֲמֹֽדוּ׃
All who handle the oar, the sailors, all the pilots of the sea will come down from their ships; they will stand on the shore.
KJV And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land;
וְהִשְׁמִ֤יעוּ עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ בְּקוֹלָ֔ם וְיִזְעֲק֖וּ מָרָ֑ה וְיַעֲל֤וּ עָפָר֙ עַל־רָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם בָּאֵ֖פֶר יִתְפַּלָּֽשׁוּ׃
They will raise their voices over you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
KJV And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes;
וְהִקְרִ֤חוּ אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ קָרְחָ֔ה וְחָגְר֖וּ שַׂקִּ֑ים וּבָכ֥וּ אֵלַ֛יִךְ בְּמַר־נֶ֖פֶשׁ מִסְפֵּ֥ד מָֽר׃
They will shave their heads bald for you and put on sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul, with bitter mourning.
KJV And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.
וְנָשְׂא֨וּ אֵלַ֤יִךְ בְּנִיהֶם֙ קִינָ֔ה וְקוֹנְנ֖וּ עָלָ֑יִךְ מִ֣י כְצ֔וֹר כְּדֻמָ֖ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּֽם׃
In their wailing they will raise a lamentation over you; they will chant over you: 'Who was ever like Tyre, now silenced in the midst of the sea?'
KJV And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?
בְּצֵ֨את עִזְבוֹנַ֜יִךְ מִיַּמִּ֗ים הִשְׂבַּ֛עַתְּ עַמִּ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים בְּרֹ֣ב הוֹנַ֣יִךְ וּמַעֲרָבַ֑יִךְ הֶעֱשַׁ֖רְתְּ מַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
When your goods went out from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with your abundant wealth and merchandise, you enriched the kings of the earth.
KJV When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.
עֵ֛ת נִשְׁבֶּ֥רֶת מִיַּמִּ֖ים בְּמַעֲמַקֵּי־מָ֑יִם מַעֲרָבֵ֥ךְ וְכָל־קְהָלֵ֖ךְ בְּתוֹכֵ֥ךְ נָפָֽלוּ׃
Now you are shattered by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew have gone down with you.
KJV In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.
כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאִיִּ֖ים שָׁמְמ֣וּ עָלָ֑יִךְ וּמַלְכֵיהֶם֙ שָׂ֣עֲרוּ שַׁ֔עַר רָעֲמ֖וּ פָּנִֽים׃
All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with horror, their faces contorted with fear.
KJV All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.
סֹחֲרִ֤ים בָּֽעַמִּים֙ שָׁרְק֣וּ עָלַ֔יִךְ בַּלָּה֣וֹת הָיִ֔ית וְאֵינֵ֖ךְ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have become an object of horror, and you will be no more — forever."
KJV The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Olam here carries the sense of irreversible permanence — Tyre's destruction is not temporary exile but permanent cessation. The same formula closes the Tyre oracle cycle.