What is the meaning of Ezekiel 27:6? Of oaks from Bashan • Bashan (cf. Deuteronomy 3:1–13) was famed for fertile hills and strong trees; Scripture often points to its oaks as symbols of might (Isaiah 2:13; Zechariah 11:2). • The detail underscores that Tyre spared no expense, sourcing the best raw material. The text is literal—real timber from a real place—yet also sets up the theme of human pride in earthly resources that cannot save (Isaiah 37:24; Ezekiel 31:3–5). they made your oars • Oars power and direct a vessel. Tyre’s merchants trusted skilled workmanship and vigorous human effort (Ezekiel 27:9, 29). • Cross-reference Jonah 1:13, where sailors “rowed hard to return to land,” highlighting how oars picture determined self-reliance. • Ezekiel’s portrait reminds us that even the mightiest maritime power moves only as God allows (Psalm 107:23–30). of wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck • “Cyprus” (called Kittim in Genesis 10:4; Isaiah 23:1) supplied prized evergreens. By importing from distant coastlands, Tyre showcased global reach and wealth (1 Kings 10:22). • The deck—what travelers first see—advertises splendor. Ezekiel pairs this with fine sails and colorful awnings in the next verse (27:7), painting a picture of luxury that seemed unassailable until God judged it (27:26–36). inlaid with ivory • Ivory, drawn from far-flung trade routes (1 Kings 10:18; 22:39; Amos 3:15), was the epitome of opulence. • Its use on a ship’s deck shows Tyre mixing extravagance with commerce, turning every surface into a statement of glory. • Yet ivory’s beauty could not preserve Tyre from collapse, paralleling Jesus’ warning that moth and rust destroy earthly treasures (Matthew 6:19). summary Ezekiel 27:6 literally catalogs the high-end materials Tyre imported—Bashan’s strong oaks, Cyprus’s fine timber, and costly ivory—to build a magnificent ship. Each element testifies to God’s accurate record of history while illustrating a spiritual lesson: the most secure human craftsmanship and the richest resources cannot prevent judgment when a nation’s pride replaces reliance on the Lord (Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6). |
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