King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 27:25 Mean?

Ezekiel 27:25 in the King James Version says “The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of ... — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.

Ezekiel 27:25 · KJV


Context

23

Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants.

24

These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise. all: or, excellent things clothes: Heb. foldings

25

The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.

26

Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas. midst: Heb. heart

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. and in: or, even with all midst of the seas: Heb. heart, etc


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market refers to Tarshish ships (large merchant vessels capable of long voyages) trading at Tyre and celebrating the city's wealth. Thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas summarizes Tyre's peak prosperity and fame. The irony: this glory is past tense from God's perspective—already finished, already fallen. God speaks of future judgment as accomplished fact because His decrees are certain. What God declares done is done, regardless of present appearances. Tyre's glory is already past, though she doesn't know it yet.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Tarshish likely refers to distant western Mediterranean locations (possibly Spain). That ships from such distance traded at Tyre demonstrates the extent of Tyrian commercial networks. At its peak, Tyre was indeed glorious, controlling Mediterranean trade. Yet as Ezekiel prophesied, this glory ended with Babylonian and later Alexandrian conquest.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God speak of future judgment as past tense?
  2. What glories in our lives might already be finished from God's perspective?
  3. Why should present prosperity not create false security?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 9 words
אֳנִיּ֣וֹת1 of 9

The ships

H591

a ship

תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ2 of 9

of Tarshish

H8659

tarshish, a place on the mediterranean, hence, the ephithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port); also the name of a persian and of an i

שָׁרוֹתַ֖יִךְ3 of 9

did sing

H7788

properly, to turn, i.e., travel about (as a harlot or a merchant)

מַעֲרָבֵ֑ךְ4 of 9

of thee in thy market

H4627

traffic; by implication, mercantile goods

וַתִּמָּלְאִ֧י5 of 9

and thou wast replenished

H4390

to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)

וַֽתִּכְבְּדִ֛י6 of 9

glorious

H3513

to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same

מְאֹ֖ד7 of 9

and made very

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

בְּלֵ֥ב8 of 9

in the midst

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

יַמִּֽים׃9 of 9

of the seas

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif


Study Guide

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 27:25 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 27:25 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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