Ezekiel 27:11
New International Version
Men of Arvad and Helek guarded your walls on every side; men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they brought your beauty to perfection.

New Living Translation
Men from Arvad and Helech stood on your walls. Your towers were manned by men from Gammad. Their shields hung on your walls, completing your beauty.

English Standard Version
Men of Arvad and Helech were on your walls all around, and men of Gamad were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around; they made perfect your beauty.

Berean Standard Bible
Men of Arvad and Helech manned your walls all around, and the men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they perfected your beauty.

King James Bible
The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.

New King James Version
Men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, And the men of Gammad were in your towers; They hung their shields on your walls all around; They made your beauty perfect.

New American Standard Bible
The sons of Arvad and your army were on your walls, all around, and the Gammadim were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty.

NASB 1995
“The sons of Arvad and your army were on your walls, all around, and the Gammadim were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty.

NASB 1977
“The sons of Arvad and your army were on your walls, all around, and the Gammadim were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls, all around; they perfected your beauty.

Legacy Standard Bible
The sons of Arvad and your military force were on your walls, all around, and the Gammadim were in your towers. They hung their small shields on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty.

Amplified Bible
The men of Arvad with your army were upon your walls, all around, and the Gammadim (men of valor) were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls, all around; they perfected your beauty.

Christian Standard Bible
Men of Arvad and Helech were stationed on your walls all around, and Gammadites were in your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls; they perfected your beauty.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Men of Arvad and Helech were stationed on your walls all around, and Gammadites were in your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls; they perfected your beauty.”

American Standard Version
The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and valorous men were in thy towers; they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have perfected thy beauty.

Contemporary English Version
Your guards came from Arvad and Cilicia, and men from Gamad stood watch in your towers. With their weapons hung on your walls, your beauty was complete.

English Revised Version
The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadim were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have perfected thy beauty.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'People from Arvad and Helech were guards all around your walls. People from Gammad guarded your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls, making your beauty perfect.

Good News Translation
Soldiers from Arvad guarded your walls, and troops from Gamad guarded your towers. They hung their shields on your walls. They are the ones who made you beautiful.

International Standard Version
Mercenaries from Arvad and Helech stood guard duty on your walls, while brave men manned your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls— just the right touch to perfect your interior decorating!"

Majority Standard Bible
Men of Arvad and Helech manned your walls all around, and the men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they perfected your beauty.

NET Bible
The Arvadites joined your army on your walls all around, and the Gammadites were in your towers. They hung their quivers on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty.

New Heart English Bible
The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and valorous men were in your towers; they hanged their shields on your walls all around; they have perfected your beauty.

Webster's Bible Translation
The men of Arvad with thy army were upon thy walls on all sides, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hung their shields upon thy walls on every side; they have made thy beauty perfect.

World English Bible
The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and valiant men were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around. They have perfected your beauty.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The sons of Arvad, and your force, "" [Are] on your walls all around, "" And short swordsmen have been in your towers, "" They have hung up their shields on your walls all around, "" They have perfected your beauty.

Young's Literal Translation
The sons of Arvad, and thy force, Are on thy walls round about, And short swordsmen in thy towers have been, Their shields they have hung up on thy walls round about, They -- they have perfected thy beauty.

Smith's Literal Translation
The sons of Arvad and thine army upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hung their shields upon thy walls round about; they completed thy beauty.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The men of Arad were with thy army upon thy walls round about: the Pygmeans also that were in thy towers, hung up their quivers on thy walls round about: they perfected thy beauty.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of Arwad were with your army upon your walls all around. And even the Gammadim, who were in your towers, suspended their quivers on your walls on all sides; they completed your beauty.

New American Bible
The men of Arvad and Helech were on your walls all around And Gamadites on your towers; they hung their shields around your walls, they made your beauty perfect.

New Revised Standard Version
Men of Arvad and Helech were on your walls all around; men of Gamad were at your towers. They hung their quivers all around your walls; they made perfect your beauty.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The men of Arwad with your army manned your fortified walls and guarded your towers; they hung their shields upon your walls round about; they made your beauty perfect.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The sons of Arud and your army have been standing on your walls, and they guard your towers. They hung their shields circling your walls and they perfected your beauty
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The men of Arvad and Helech were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadim were in thy towers; they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have perfected thy beauty.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The sons of the Aradians and thine army were upon the walls; there were guards in thy towers: they hung their quivers on thy battlements round about; these completed thy beauty.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Lament for Tyre
10Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put served as warriors in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls; they gave you splendor. 11Men of Arvad and Helech manned your walls all around, and the men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they perfected your beauty. 12Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.…

Cross References
Isaiah 23:1-18
This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus. / Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea. / On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations. ...

Jeremiah 25:22
all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea;

Revelation 18:11-19
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves. ...

Isaiah 47:15
This is what they are to you—those with whom you have labored and traded from youth—each one strays in his own direction; not one of them can save you.

Nahum 3:16-17
You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of the sky. The young locust strips the land and flies away. / Your guards are like the swarming locust, and your scribes like clouds of locusts that settle on the walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they fly away, and no one knows where.

Zechariah 9:3-4
Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. / Behold, the Lord will impoverish her and cast her wealth into the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.

Revelation 17:1-2
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

Isaiah 13:20-22
She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there. / But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. / Hyenas will howl in her fortresses and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.

Jeremiah 51:27-28
“Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts. / Prepare the nations for battle against her—the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the lands they rule.

Revelation 18:2-3
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. / 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.”

Isaiah 14:31
Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.

Jeremiah 49:23
Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed.

Revelation 18:9-10
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. / In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Isaiah 23:8-9
Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth? / The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.

Jeremiah 50:37
A sword is against her horses and chariots and against all the foreigners in her midst, and they will become like women. A sword is against her treasuries, and they will be plundered.


Treasury of Scripture

The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls round about, and the Gammadims were in your towers: they hanged their shields on your walls round about; they have made your beauty perfect.

of Arvad

Ezekiel 27:8
The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots.

they have

Ezekiel 27:3,4
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…

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Ezekiel 27
1. The riches and commerce of Tyrus
26. The great and irrecoverable fall thereof














Men of Arvad and Helech
The mention of "Arvad" refers to an island city located off the coast of present-day Syria. Historically, Arvad was known for its skilled sailors and warriors, contributing to the maritime strength of ancient cities. The "men of Arvad" symbolize the external alliances and the diverse cultural influences that fortified Tyre. "Helech" is less clearly identified, but it is often associated with regions known for their military prowess. This phrase highlights the strategic alliances and the reliance on foreign strength, reflecting the interconnectedness of ancient Near Eastern societies.

were stationed on your walls all around
The imagery of being "stationed on your walls" suggests a vigilant defense system. In ancient cities, walls were not just physical barriers but symbols of security and strength. The presence of these men "all around" indicates a comprehensive and robust defense, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and the value of unity in protecting what is precious. Spiritually, this can be seen as a call to surround oneself with strong, faithful allies in the journey of faith.

and the Gammadites were in your towers
The "Gammadites" are a somewhat mysterious group, with limited historical records. However, their placement "in your towers" suggests a role of oversight and protection. Towers in ancient cities were vantage points for surveillance and defense, symbolizing watchfulness and readiness. This phrase underscores the need for vigilance and the importance of having watchmen who are alert to potential threats, both physically and spiritually.

they hung their shields on your walls
Hanging shields on the walls was a common practice in ancient times, serving both as a display of military might and as a deterrent to potential aggressors. The shield, a symbol of protection and faith (as seen in Ephesians 6:16), represents the readiness to defend against attacks. This act of hanging shields signifies a declaration of strength and preparedness, reminding believers of the importance of being equipped with the armor of God.

they perfected your beauty
The phrase "perfected your beauty" speaks to the enhancement and completion of Tyre's splendor through its defenses and alliances. In a spiritual sense, beauty is often associated with holiness and the reflection of God's glory. The perfection of beauty here can be seen as the culmination of strength, unity, and divine favor. It serves as a reminder that true beauty is found in the harmonious integration of strength, faith, and righteousness, reflecting the glory of God in the life of a believer.

(11) The Gammadims were in thy towers.--No people of this name is known, and it is extremely unlikely that the responsible posts upon the watch-towers would have been entrusted to foreigners. The word occurs only here, and is probably not a proper name, but should be translated brave men.

Verse 11. - (For Arvad, see Ver. 8.) Gammadim. The LXX. translates "guards" (φύλακες); the Vulgate, Pygmies, probably as connecting the name with Gamad (equivalent to "a cubit"). The Targum gives "watchmen;" Gesenius, "warriors:" Hitzig, "deserters." The name probably indicates that they were the flower of the Tyrian army - the life-guards (like the "Immortals" of the Persians) of the merchant-city. On the whole, we must leave the problem as one that we have no data for solving. The grouping with Arvad, however, suggests a Syrian or Phoenician tribe. They hanged their shields. The custom seems to have been specially Phoenician. Solomon introduced it at Jerusalem (Song of Solomon 4:4). The sight of the walls thus decorated, the shields being sometimes gilt or painted, must have been sufficiently striking to warrant Ezekiel's phrase that thus the beauty of the city was "made perfect" by it. The custom reappears in 1 Macc. 4:57.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Men
בְּנֵ֧י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Arvad
אַרְוַ֣ד (’ar·waḏ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 719: Arvad -- a city of Phoenicia

and Helech
וְחֵילֵ֗ךְ (wə·ḥê·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

manned
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your walls
חוֹמוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ (ḥō·w·mō·w·ṯa·yiḵ)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

all around,
סָבִ֔יב (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

and the [men] of Gammad
וְגַ֨מָּדִ֔ים (wə·ḡam·mā·ḏîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 1575: Gammadim -- 'men of valor', defenders of Tyre

were
הָי֑וּ (hā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

in your towers.
בְּמִגְדְּלוֹתַ֖יִךְ (bə·miḡ·də·lō·w·ṯa·yiḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 4026: A tower, a rostrum, a, bed of flowers

They hung
תִּלּ֤וּ (til·lū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8518: To suspend

their shields
שִׁלְטֵיהֶ֞ם (šil·ṭê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7982: Perhaps shield

all around
סָבִ֔יב (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

your walls;
חוֹמוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ (ḥō·w·mō·w·ṯa·yiḵ)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 2346: A wall of protection

they
הֵ֖מָּה (hêm·māh)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

perfected
כָּלְל֥וּ (kā·lə·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3634: To complete, perfect

your beauty.
יָפְיֵֽךְ׃ (yā·p̄ə·yêḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 3308: Beauty


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 27:11 The men of Arvad with your army (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 27:10
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