Ezekiel 27:3

1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 “Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre.

Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says: You have said, O Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

4 Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty.

5 They constructed all your planking with cypress from Senir. They took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says: You have said, O Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’
KJV
And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.
WEB
and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord GOD says: “You, Tyre, have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’
ASV
and say unto Tyre, O thou that dwellest at the entry of the sea, that art the merchant of the peoples unto many isles, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Thou, O Tyre, hast said, I am perfect in beauty.
DARBY
and say unto Tyre: O thou that art situate at the entries of the sea, and traffickest with the peoples in many isles, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Thou, Tyre, hast said, I am perfect in beauty.
BLB
and to Tyre, the one dwelling at the entrances of the sea, being merchant of the peoples on many coasts, say, thus says the Lord YHWH: O Tyre, you have said: ‘I [am] perfect in beauty.’
ÅB
Si til Tyrus, som bor ved havets innløp, som handler med folkene på mange kyster: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Tyrus! du sier: Jeg er fullkommen i skjønnhet.
OTB
Si til Tyrus, som sitter ved inngangen til havet, kjøpmann for folk til mange kyster: ‘Dette sier den suverene Herren:
“‘Du har erklært, Tyrus,
“Jeg er fullkommen i skjønnhet.”
B1930
Si til Tyrus, som bor ved havets innløp, som handler med folkene på mange kyster: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Tyrus! du sier: Jeg er fullkommen i skjønnhet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 27:4

    Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 18:3

    All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 23:2–3

    Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 18:11–15

    And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo—

    Read in context
  • Psalms 50:2

    From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 27:10–36

    Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put served as warriors in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls; they gave you splendor.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 23:8–9

    Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth?

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 26:17

    Then they will lament for you, saying, “How you have perished, O city of renown inhabited by seafaring men— she who was powerful on the sea, along with her people, who imposed terror on all peoples!

    Read in context