Ezekiel 27:12
New International Version
“’Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

New Living Translation
“Tarshish sent merchants to buy your wares in exchange for silver, iron, tin, and lead.

English Standard Version
“Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares.

Berean Standard Bible
Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.

King James Bible
Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.

New King James Version
“Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods.

New American Standard Bible
“Tarshish was your customer because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth; with silver, iron, tin, and lead they paid for your merchandise.

NASB 1995
“Tarshish was your customer because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth; with silver, iron, tin and lead they paid for your wares.

NASB 1977
“Tarshish was your customer because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they paid for your wares.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Tarshish was your customer because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth; with silver, iron, tin, and lead they paid for your wares.

Amplified Bible
“Tarshish [in Spain] was your customer and traded with you because of the abundance of your riches of all kinds; with silver, iron, tin, and lead they paid for your wares.

Christian Standard Bible
“ ‘Tarshish was your trading partner because of your abundant wealth of every kind. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Tarshish was your trading partner because of your great wealth of every kind. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise.

American Standard Version
Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for thy wares.

Contemporary English Version
Merchants from southern Spain traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products.

English Revised Version
Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for thy wares.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'People from Tarshish traded with you because you were so very rich. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise.

Good News Translation
"You did business in Spain and took silver, iron, tin, and lead in payment for your abundant goods.

International Standard Version
Tarshish was your business partner because of your phenomenal wealth. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise.

Majority Standard Bible
Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.

NET Bible
"'Tarshish was your trade partner because of your abundant wealth; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products.

New Heart English Bible
Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for your wares.

Webster's Bible Translation
Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.

World English Bible
“‘“Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Tarshish [is] your merchant, "" Because of the abundance of all wealth, "" They have given silver, iron, tin, and lead [for] your wares.

Young's Literal Translation
Tarshish is thy merchant, Because of the abundance of all wealth, For silver, iron, tin, and lead, They have given out thy remnants.

Smith's Literal Translation
Tarshish thy merchant from the multitude of all riches: in silver, iron, alloy, and lead, they gave thy markets.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Carthaginians thy merchants supplied thy fairs with a multitude of all kinds of riches, with silver, iron, tin, and lead.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Carthaginians, your merchants, supplied your festivals with a multitude of diverse riches, with silver, iron, tin, and lead.

New American Bible
Tarshish traded with you, so great was your wealth, Exchanging for your wares silver, iron, tin, and lead.

New Revised Standard Version
Tarshish did business with you out of the abundance of your great wealth; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Tarshish was your market place by reason of the abundance and variety of your wealth: silver, iron, tin, and lead they brought in to you for sale.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Tarshish is in the place of your market and the multitude of your wealth; silver and iron and tin and lead they brought to you for sale
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for thy wares.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Carthaginians were thy merchants because of the abundance of all thy strength; they furnished thy market with silver, and gold, and iron, and tin, and lead.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Lament for Tyre
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. 13Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.…

Cross References
Revelation 18:11-13
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 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 10:9
Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz—the work of a craftsman from the hands of a goldsmith. Their clothes are blue and purple, all fashioned by skilled workers.

1 Kings 10:22
For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

1 Kings 9:26-28
King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. / And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants. / They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.

2 Chronicles 9:21
For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Isaiah 60:9
Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.

Job 28:1-2
“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. / Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.

Revelation 18:15-17
The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, / saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! / For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance

Isaiah 2:16
against every ship of Tarshish, and against every stately vessel.

Genesis 10:4-5
And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites. / From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.

Acts 27:5
And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.

Ezekiel 38:13
Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will ask, ‘Have you come to capture the plunder? Have you assembled your hordes to carry away loot, to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and goods, to seize great spoil?’

Isaiah 66:19
I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.

Psalm 72:10
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.


Treasury of Scripture

Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in your fairs.

Ezekiel 38:13
Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

Genesis 10:4
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

1 Kings 10:22
For 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.

Jump to Previous
Abundance Amount Business Customer Dealt Exchanged Fairs Furnished Goods Great Iron Kind Kinds Lead Markets Merchant Multitude Paid Reason Remnants Riches Silver Substance Tarshish Tin Traded Trafficked Wares Wealth
Jump to Next
Abundance Amount Business Customer Dealt Exchanged Fairs Furnished Goods Great Iron Kind Kinds Lead Markets Merchant Multitude Paid Reason Remnants Riches Silver Substance Tarshish Tin Traded Trafficked Wares Wealth
Ezekiel 27
1. The riches and commerce of Tyrus
26. The great and irrecoverable fall thereof














Tarshish
The mention of Tarshish in this verse refers to a distant trading partner known for its wealth and maritime prowess. Historically, Tarshish is often associated with a region rich in metals, possibly located in the western Mediterranean, such as southern Spain. The Hebrew root "תַּרְשִׁישׁ" (Tarshish) suggests a place of great distance and wealth, emphasizing the extensive reach of Tyre's trade network. This highlights the prosperity and influence of Tyre as a major commercial hub in the ancient world.

was your merchant
This phrase underscores the role of Tarshish as a key trading partner with Tyre. The Hebrew word for "merchant" (סֹחֵר, socher) conveys the idea of a trader or dealer, indicating a formal and profitable business relationship. This reflects the economic interdependence and the sophisticated trade systems of the ancient Near East, where cities like Tyre thrived through strategic alliances and commerce.

because of your great wealth of every kind
Tyre's wealth is described as vast and varied, indicating its status as a prosperous and influential city-state. The Hebrew word for "wealth" (עֹשֶׁר, osher) implies abundance and prosperity. This phrase highlights the city's ability to attract international trade partners due to its economic power and diverse resources, serving as a testament to its strategic location and industrious people.

they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead
The specific mention of these metals points to the valuable commodities that were traded between Tarshish and Tyre. Each metal had significant economic and practical value in the ancient world. Silver was a standard of wealth and currency, iron was crucial for tools and weapons, tin was essential for making bronze, and lead had various uses, including in construction and art. This exchange illustrates the mutual benefits of trade and the interconnectedness of ancient economies.

for your merchandise
The term "merchandise" (מַעֲרָב, ma'arav) refers to the goods and products that Tyre offered in exchange for the metals. Tyre was renowned for its production of luxury items, such as purple dye, glassware, and fine textiles. This phrase emphasizes the city's role as a producer and exporter of high-quality goods, which were in demand across the ancient world. The exchange of merchandise for metals signifies the dynamic and reciprocal nature of ancient trade relationships, where each party sought to enhance its wealth and resources through commerce.

(12) Traded in thy fairs.--Tarshish, Tartessus in Spain, was famous in antiquity for the metals enumerated, especially silver. The word for "fairs" occurs only in this chapter (Ezekiel 27:14; Ezekiel 27:16; Ezekiel 27:19; Ezekiel 27:22; Ezekiel 27:33). In the last case it is translated wares, as it should be throughout. The idea of the word is "something left with another in place of something else given in exchange," in accordance with the habits of ancient commerce, which consisted chiefly in barter. Translate the clause, exchanged for thy wares.

Ezekiel 27:12-23 give a general survey of the nations with whom the Tyrians were connected in commerce, omitting those already mentioned in the previous section. To avoid monotony, the prophet also constantly alternates in the use of synonymous words. . . .

Verse 12. - Tarahish. The description of the city is followed by a catalogue raisonnee of the countries with which she traded. Here we are on more certain ground, there being a general consensus that Tarshish, the Greek Tartessus, indicates the coast of Spain, which was pre-eminent in the ancient world for the metals named (Jeremiah 10:9). The ships of Tarshish (1 Kings 22:48; Isaiah 2:16) were the larger merchant-vessels that were made for this distant traffic. Like all such names, it was probably used with considerable latitude, and it is worth noting that both the LXX. and the Vulgate give Carthaginians. Probably the chief Phoenician colonies in Spain, notably, of course, Carthago Nova, were offshoots from Carthage, in which, by the way, we trace the old Hebrew Kirjath (equivalent to "city"). Traded in thy fairs; better, with the Revised Version, traded for thy wares; i.e. they bartered their mineral treasures for the goods brought by the Tyrian merchants. The same Hebrew word appears in Vers. 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, but is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament, and may have been a technical word in Tyrian commerce. The LXX. gives ἀγορά; the Vulgate, nundinae, which seems to have suggested the Revised Version.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Tarshish [was]
תַּרְשִׁ֥ישׁ (tar·šîš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8659: Tarshish -- a son of Javan, also a port on the Mediterranean, also a Benjamite

your merchant
סֹחַרְתֵּ֖ךְ (sō·ḥar·têḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5503: To go around or about, travel about

because of your great
מֵרֹ֣ב (mê·rōḇ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

wealth of goods;
ה֑וֹן (hō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1952: Wealth, sufficiency

they exchanged
נָתְנ֖וּ (nā·ṯə·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

silver,
בְּכֶ֤סֶף (bə·ḵe·sep̄)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

iron,
בַּרְזֶל֙ (bar·zel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1270: Iron, an iron implement

tin,
בְּדִ֣יל (bə·ḏîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 913: Alloy, tin, dross

and lead
וְעוֹפֶ֔רֶת (wə·‘ō·w·p̄e·reṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5777: Lead (a metal)

for your wares.
עִזְבוֹנָֽיִךְ׃ (‘iz·ḇō·w·nā·yiḵ)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5801: Trade, the place, the payment


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 27:12 Tarshish was your merchant by reason (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 27:11
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