Ezekiel 27:20 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 27:20 mean?

Ezekiel 27:20 says that Dedan traded with the city of Tyre, providing valuable garments specifically used for chariots. The verse highlights one of the many luxury goods Tyre received from its trading partners, showing the city's wealth and the specialized nature of its commerce.

In this chapter, the prophet Ezekiel is speaking a lament over Tyre, a powerful and wealthy port city. He lists the nations and goods involved in Tyre’s trade to emphasize how interconnected and prosperous the city was before its downfall. Dedan was a group known for trade, and their contribution of "precious clothes for chariots" points to the high quality and specialized items Tyre imported.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 27:20

• דְּדָן (Dedan, "Dedan") refers to a people or region known for trading, likely located in Arabia. Their mention here shows Tyre’s broad trading network.
• רֹכֵל (rokhel, "merchant") means a trader or dealer, emphasizing Dedan’s role as a commercial partner rather than a political ally.
• חֵמְדָּה (chemdah, "precious") means something desirable or valuable, highlighting that the clothes traded were not ordinary but luxury items.
• בֶּגֶד (beged, "clothes") refers to garments or textiles, which in this context were likely decorative or high-status coverings.
• רֶכֶב (rekhev, "chariots") means chariots, suggesting these garments were used as coverings or adornments for vehicles, not for people.

Why Ezekiel 27:20 matters

• The verse clarifies that Tyre’s wealth came from a wide range of specialized luxury goods, not just basic necessities, showing the city’s elite status in the ancient world.
• By listing Dedan’s specific trade—precious chariot coverings—Ezekiel highlights the diversity and sophistication of Tyre’s commercial relationships.
• The detail about "precious clothes for chariots" helps modern readers see that ancient trade involved not only raw materials but also crafted, high-value items used for display and status.