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.

EZEKIEL 27:22KJV
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Ezekiel 27:22 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 27:22 mean?

Ezekiel 27:22 portrays Tyre as a wealthy trading city with connections to distant peoples. Merchants from Sheba and Raamah brought valuable goods to its markets, adding to the picture of a city supplied by a wide network of trade.

God is addressing Tyre through Ezekiel. The names Sheba and Raamah point toward Arabia, an area associated with the trade in fragrant spices. The verse places their merchants among the many peoples named as Tyre’s trading partners.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 27:22

  • “chief” — רֹאשׁ (rosh): The word can mean “head” or “top.” Here it carries the sense of the finest spices, rather than a person in charge.
  • “fairs” — עִזָּבוֹן (ʿizzavon): The word refers to goods exchanged in trade. The KJV’s “fairs” pictures Tyre’s commerce, where merchants brought their wares.

Why Ezekiel 27:22 matters

  • The goods show the kind of wealth Tyre’s trade attracted. “Precious stones” and “gold,” alongside fine spices, point to costly items rather than ordinary food supplies.
  • The trade list also makes Tyre’s coming loss more striking. Ezekiel 27 describes the city as a splendid ship, then pictures that ship wrecked; verse 22 helps show how much commerce would be lost.

Where else these words appear

“Raamah” Hebrew H7484 · used in 3 verses

  • Genesis 10:7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
  • 1 Chronicles 1:9 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

“fairs” Hebrew H5801 · used in 7 verses

  • Ezekiel 27:12 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.
  • Ezekiel 27:16 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.
  • Ezekiel 27:27 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.

“merchants” Hebrew H7402 · used in 15 verses

  • 1 Kings 10:15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
  • Song of Solomon 3:6 Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
  • Ezekiel 27:17 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.

“Sheba” Hebrew H7614 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 10:7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
  • 1 Chronicles 1:9 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
  • Job 1:15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.