Ezekiel 27:18 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 27:18 mean?

Ezekiel 27:18 describes how the city of Damascus traded with Tyre, bringing many goods, especially valuable items like the wine of Helbon and white wool, because Tyre produced and possessed great wealth and merchandise. The verse highlights the importance of Tyre as a trading center and the high quality of goods exchanged with distant cities.

In this part of Ezekiel, the prophet is speaking a lament over Tyre, a wealthy port city known for its commerce. Ezekiel lists various nations and cities that traded with Tyre, showing how far-reaching Tyre’s influence was. Damascus, a major city in Syria, is singled out for its trade in luxury items, which underscores Tyre’s reputation for attracting the best products from across the region.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 27:18

• דַּמֶּשֶׂק (Dammesek, "Damascus"): This is the well-known city in Syria, emphasizing the broad scope of Tyre’s trading partners.
• תָּגָר (tagar, "merchant"): This word refers to a trader or dealer, showing that the relationship was commercial and not just diplomatic.
• יֵין (yayin, "wine"): The mention of wine, especially from Helbon, points to luxury and high-quality goods, as Helbon was famous for its vineyards.
• חֶלְבּוֹן (Helbon, "Helbon"): This place was renowned in the ancient world for its excellent wine, making the trade even more prestigious.
• צֶמֶר (tsemer, "wool") and לָבָן (lavan, "white"): The reference to "white wool" suggests a prized, possibly rare, textile product, further highlighting the luxury nature of Tyre’s imports.

Why Ezekiel 27:18 matters

• Ezekiel 27:18 helps the reader see just how extensive and luxurious Tyre’s trade network was, involving distant and wealthy cities like Damascus.
• The verse shows that Tyre’s wealth was not just in quantity but also in the quality of goods, with luxury items like Helbon wine and white wool being specifically mentioned.
• This detail fits into the larger chapter, which uses the image of Tyre’s vast trading empire to set up the seriousness of its coming downfall, making the loss even more striking.