King James Version
What Does Ezekiel 27:19 Mean?
“Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market. going: or, Meuzal”
Context
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. balm: or, rosin
18
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.
19
Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market. going: or, Meuzal
20
Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots. precious: Heb. clothes of freedom
21
Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants. they occupied: Heb. they were the merchants of thy hand
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(19) **Dan also and Javan.—**This is the only instance in this enumeration in which the name of a people is introduced with a conjunction. Besides this structural difficulty, there seems no appropriateness in the name Dan, a tribe of Israel long since carried into captivity. The city Dan was of quite too little prominence to be mentioned here. It is probable, therefore, that what our translators have taken for the conjunction is really a part of the name Vedan, a place in Arabia not elsewhere mentioned, but which some suppose to be Aden. Javan does not here stand for Greece, but for an Arabian place or tribe, which there is reason to think is Yemen.
**Going to** **and fro.—**The margin is better, *Menzal,* or rather—the first letter being a preposition—*front Uzal,* the ancient Sanaa, afterwards the capital of Yemen. Yemen was famous for its sword-blades, which may be meant by the bright (literally, *wrought*) iron, and also for its spices brought from India.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Ezekiel 27:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Ezekiel 27:19
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge