Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, that it might be to you for a banner; blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.
Parallel translations
- KJV 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.
- BSB Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning.
- NKJV Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was what you spread for your sail; Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was what covered you.
- NASB “Your sail was of colorfully embroidered linen from Egypt So that it became your flag; Your awning was violet and purple from the coastlands of Elishah.
- NLT Your sails were made of Egypt’s finest linen, and they flew as a banner above you. You stood beneath blue and purple awnings made bright with dyes from the coasts of Elishah.
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
Her sail is embroidered Egyptian linen and her awning blue and purple from Elishah. It depicts Tyre's regal beauty drawn from distant lands.
Overview
Fine Egyptian linen and costly purple and blue dyes signal royalty and wealth, with the sail serving as a banner of her prestige. These details complete the portrait of Tyre as the most splendid of vessels. The very luxuries that displayed her glory testify to a pride that set her up for the fall God had ordained.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Jer 10:9There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; Blue and purple are their clothing; they are all the work of skillful men.
- Exod 25:4blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
- Gen 10:4The sons of Javan were: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
- Isa 19:9Moreover those who work in combed flax, and those who weave white cloth, will be confounded.
- Prov 7:16I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
- 1 Chr 1:7The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
- 1 Kgs 10:28The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 27:7 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.