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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 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise: and you were replenished, and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.
  • BSB The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea.
  • NKJV “The ships of Tarshish were carriers of your merchandise. You were filled and very glorious in the midst of the seas.
  • NASB The ships of Tarshish were the carriers for your merchandise. And you were filled and were very glorious In the heart of the seas.
  • NLT The ships of Tarshish were your ocean caravans. Your island warehouse was filled to the brim!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The ships of Tarshish carried her trade, and Tyre was made glorious in the heart of the seas. It marks the height of her splendor just before her fall.

Overview

The great Tarshish vessels served as Tyre's caravans, filling her with wealth and 'very glorious' renown. This is the climax of the ship imagery, Tyre at the summit of prosperity. The very next verses turn abruptly to destruction, teaching that the peak of worldly glory can be the moment nearest to ruin when God's judgment comes.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 5

  • Isa 2:16And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
  • Isa 23:14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
  • Ps 48:7Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
  • Isa 60:9Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
  • 1 Kgs 10:22For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezekiel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezekiel 27:25YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzekielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.

How Ezekiel 27:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.