King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 27:6 Mean?

Ezekiel 27:6 in the King James Version says “Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought ou...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim. the company: or, they have made thy hatches of ivory well trodden company: Heb. daughter”

Ezekiel 27:6 · KJV

Context

4

Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty. midst: Heb. heart

5

They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee. made: Heb. built

6

Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim. the company: or, they have made thy hatches of ivory well trodden company: Heb. daughter

7

Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee. blue: or, purple and scarlet

8

The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim—Ezekiel describes Tyre as a magnificent ship, using the extended ship metaphor (verses 5-11) to depict the city's commercial glory. The Hebrew allonim miBashan (אַלּוֹנִים מִבָּשָׁן, "oaks of Bashan") refers to the strongest timber from the Golan Heights region, famous for mighty oaks (Isaiah 2:13, Zechariah 11:2). Tyre's oars required the finest, most durable wood—symbolizing strength and quality in construction.

"The company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory"—The Hebrew bat-ashur (בַּת־אַשּׁוּר) likely means "daughter of Asshur" or craftsmen from Cyprus (not Assyria, which was Ashur). Ivory inlaid benches demonstrate luxury—ivory came from Syrian elephants (now extinct) or African trade. "Brought out of the isles of Chittim" (iyey Kittim, אִיֵּי כִּתִּים) refers to Cyprus, famous for timber and copper. This verse shows Tyre's international supply chain: Bashan oaks, Cypriot craftsmen, African ivory—a global economic network dependent on maritime trade. When the ship sinks (verse 26-27), the entire system collapses.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Bashan (modern Golan Heights) was renowned for oak forests and cattle (Psalm 22:12, Amos 4:1). Archaeological evidence confirms extensive ancient oak forests in the region. Cyprus (Kittim) was a major Phoenician colony and trade hub—excavations reveal Phoenician settlements and shipbuilding facilities. Ivory carving was a Phoenician specialty; archaeologists have discovered ornate ivory furniture fragments from Phoenician sites. Tyre's ships were engineering marvels—multi-decked merchant vessels capable of Mediterranean crossings. The detail in Ezekiel's description (which continues through verse 11) shows God's intimate knowledge of human commerce and His sovereignty over economic systems that seem autonomous.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Tyre's dependence on international resources from Bashan to Cyprus illustrate the fragility of globalized economic systems?
  2. What does the luxurious detail (ivory benches, finest oaks) reveal about human tendency to invest ultimate value in material excellence?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
אַלּוֹנִים֙1 of 11

“Of the oaks”

H437

oak tree

מִבָּ֔שָׁן2 of 11

“of Bashan”

H1316

bashan (often with the article), a region east of the jordan

עָֽשׂוּ3 of 11

“have made”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

מִשּׁוֹטָ֑יִךְ4 of 11

“thine oars”

H4880

an oar

קַרְשֵׁ֤ךְ5 of 11

“thy benches”

H7175

a slab or plank; by implication, a deck of a ship

עָֽשׂוּ6 of 11

“have made”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

שֵׁן֙7 of 11

“of ivory”

H8127

a tooth (as sharp); specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff

בַּת8 of 11

“the company”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

אֲשֻׁרִ֔ים9 of 11

“of the Ashurites”

H839

the cedar tree or some other light elastic wood

מֵאִיֵּ֖י10 of 11

“brought out of the isles”

H339

properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island

כִּתִּיִּֽם׃11 of 11

“of Chittim”

H3794

a kittite or cypriote; hence, an islander in general, i.e., the greeks or romans on the shores opposite palestine

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 27:6 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 27:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 10:4Isaiah 2:13Zechariah 11:2Jeremiah 2:10Jeremiah 22:20Numbers 24:24

Places in This Verse

BashanRegion · Modern: Saham al Jawlan · 32.78°N, 35.93°E53 verses across 15 books
CyprusIsland · Modern: Cyprus · 35.00°N, 33.00°E12 verses across 4 books
View all places in Ezekiel 27 →

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