Ezekiel 27:21 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 27:21 mean?

Ezekiel 27:21 describes how the region of Arabia and the leaders of Kedar were trading partners with the city of Tyre, supplying it with lambs, rams, and goats. The verse highlights the important role these groups played in Tyre’s bustling trade network by providing livestock as merchandise.

In this part of the book, the prophet Ezekiel is speaking a message from God to the city of Tyre, a wealthy trading hub on the Mediterranean coast. The verse is part of a larger passage listing the many nations and peoples who did business with Tyre, showing the city’s wide-reaching commercial influence and the variety of goods it received from different regions.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 27:21

• "Arabia" (עֲרָב H6152, ʿărāḇ): This word refers to the desert regions to the southeast of Israel, home to nomadic tribes known for their livestock. Mentioning Arabia emphasizes Tyre’s connections far beyond its immediate neighbors.
• "Kedar" (קֵדָר H6938, qēḏār): Kedar was a prominent tribe of nomadic herders in northern Arabia. Their inclusion points to the high quality and quantity of livestock they supplied.
• "Occupied" (סָחַר H5503, sāḥar): This verb means to trade or do business. It shows that Arabia and Kedar were not just occasional suppliers but regular, active merchants with Tyre.
• "Lambs" (כֶּבֶשׂ H3733, keḇeś), "rams" (אַיִל H352, ’ayil), "goats" (עַתּוּד H6260, ʿattûḏ): These specific animals were valuable commodities in the ancient world, used for food, sacrifice, and trade, underlining the economic importance of these exchanges.

Why Ezekiel 27:21 matters

• This verse helps clarify that Tyre’s wealth and influence depended on a vast network of international trade, not just local resources.
• By naming Arabia and Kedar, Ezekiel shows that even distant and nomadic peoples were drawn into Tyre’s commercial orbit, highlighting the city’s far-reaching connections.
• The detailed mention of livestock as trade goods gives a concrete sense of what ancient commerce looked like and how different cultures contributed to the prosperity of major cities like Tyre.