Ezekiel 27:3 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.'

◄ Ezekiel 27:3 ►

New International Version
Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “’You say, Tyre, “I am perfect in beauty.”

New Living Translation
that mighty gateway to the sea, the trading center of the world. Give Tyre this message from the Sovereign LORD: “You boasted, O Tyre, ‘My beauty is perfect!’

English Standard Version
and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrances to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, thus says the Lord GOD: “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

Berean Standard Bible
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.’

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
and say to Tyre, ‘You who are situated at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coastlands, thus says the Lord GOD: “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

New American Standard Bible
and say to Tyre, who sits at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

NASB 1995
and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

NASB 1977
and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

Legacy Standard Bible
and say to Tyre, who inhabits the entrance to the sea, a trader of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

Amplified Bible
and say to Tyre, who lives at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

Christian Standard Bible
Say to Tyre, who is situated at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coasts and islands, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Tyre, you declared, “I am perfect in beauty.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Say to Tyre, who is located at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coasts and islands: This is what the Lord GOD says: Tyre, you declared, I am perfect in beauty.’

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
the city that is built along the sea and that trades with nations along the coast. Tell the people of Tyre that the following message is from me: Tyre, you brag about your perfect beauty,

English Revised Version
and say unto Tyre, O thou that dwellest at the entry of the sea, which art the merchant of the peoples unto many isles, thus saith the Lord GOD: Thou, O Tyre, hast said, I am perfect in beauty.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Tyre is the city at the entrance to the sea. It is the merchant to the nations. Say to Tyre, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: Tyre, you used to brag about your perfect beauty.

Good News Translation
that city which stands at the edge of the sea and does business with the people living on every seacoast. Tell her what the Sovereign LORD is saying: "Tyre, you boasted of your perfect beauty.

International Standard Version
Tell Tyre, who lives at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea, who serves as the international merchant to many coastal districts: 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Tyre, you've been claiming, "I am beauty perfected.'

Majority Standard Bible
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.’

NET Bible
Say to Tyre, who sits at the entrance of the sea, merchant to the peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: "'O Tyre, you have said, "I am perfectly beautiful."

New Heart English Bible
and tell Tyre, 'You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, thus says the Lord GOD: "You, Tyre, have said, 'I am perfect in beauty.'

Webster's Bible Translation
And say to Tyre, O thou that art situated at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyre, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.

World English Bible
and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord Yahweh says: “You, Tyre, have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
O dweller on the entrances of the sea, "" Merchant of the peoples to many islands, Thus said Lord YHWH: O Tyre, you have said, "" I [am] the perfection of beauty.

Young's Literal Translation
O dweller on the entrances of the sea, Merchant of the peoples unto many isles, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: O Tyre, thou -- thou hast said: I am the perfection of beauty.

Smith's Literal Translation
And say to Tyre, Thou dwelling at the entrance of the sea, a traffic of the peoples for many islands, thus said the Lord Jehovah: O Tyre, thou saidst, I am perfect of beauty.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And say to Tyre that dwelleth at the entry of the sea, being the mart of the people for many islands: Thus saith the Lord God: O Tyre, thou hast said: I am of perfect beauty,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall say to Tyre, which lives at the entrance to the sea, which is the marketplace of the peoples for the many islands: Thus says the Lord God: O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am of perfect beauty,

New American Bible
and say to Tyre, who sits at the entrance to the sea, trader to peoples on many coastlands, Thus says the Lord GOD: Tyre, you said, “I am a ship, perfect in beauty”;

New Revised Standard Version
and say to Tyre, which sits at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coastlands, Thus says the Lord GOD: O Tyre, you have said, “I am perfect in beauty.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And say to Tyre, O you that are situated at the entry of the sea, the trading center of the people and of many islands, Thus says the LORD God: O Tyre, you have said, I am the crown of beauty.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And say to Tyre: “She who was inhabited in the entrance of the sea, the commerce of the Gentiles and of the many islands, thus says THE LORD OF LORDS: Tyre, you have said, “I AM THE LIVING GOD, the crown of praise”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and say unto Tyre, that dwelleth at the entry of the sea, that is the merchant of the peoples unto many isles: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Thou, O Tyre, hast said: I am of perfect beauty.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and thou shalt say to Sor that dwells at the entrance of the sea, to the mart of the nations coming from many islands, Thus saith the Lord to Sor; Thou hast said, I have clothed myself with my beauty.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Lament for Tyre
…2“Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre. 3Tell 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.’ 4Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

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. ...

Revelation 18:17-19
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 / and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim. / Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”

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

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

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.”

Jeremiah 27:3
Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.

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 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.

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.

Revelation 18:15-16
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!

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jeremiah 51:13
You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.

Revelation 18:21
Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.

Treasury of Scripture

And say to Tyrus, O you that are situate at the entry of the sea, which are a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus said the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, you have said, I am of perfect beauty.

O thou.

Ezekiel 27:4,25
Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty…

Ezekiel 26:17
And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!

Ezekiel 28:2,3
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: …

a merchant

Ezekiel 27:12
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.

Isaiah 23:3,8,11
And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations…

Revelation 18:3,11-15
For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies…

I am

Ezekiel 27:4,10,11
Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty…

Ezekiel 28:12-17
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty…

Psalm 50:2
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

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Beauty Coastlands Coasts Dwell Dwellest Dwelleth Dwells Entrance Entry Gateway Islands Isles Merchant Peoples Perfect Sea Situate Situated Sovereign Tyre Tyrus

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Ezekiel 27

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

Berean Study Bible

Tell Tyre
The city of Tyre was a significant Phoenician port and a hub of commerce and trade in the ancient world. The Hebrew word for "tell" (דָּבַר, dabar) implies a proclamation or declaration, often used by prophets to convey God's messages. This sets the tone for a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the authority and seriousness of the message being delivered to Tyre.

who is situated at the gateway to the sea
Tyre's geographical location was strategic, as it was positioned on the Mediterranean coast, serving as a "gateway" for maritime trade. The Hebrew term for "gateway" (פֶּתַח, petach) suggests an entrance or opening, symbolizing Tyre's role as a conduit for cultural and economic exchange. This phrase highlights Tyre's influence and accessibility, which contributed to its wealth and prominence.

merchant of the peoples to many coasts
Tyre was renowned for its extensive trade networks, reaching various "coasts" or regions. The Hebrew word for "merchant" (רֹכֵל, rokel) denotes a trader or dealer, reflecting Tyre's identity as a commercial powerhouse. This phrase underscores the city's economic reach and the diversity of its trading partners, illustrating its central role in the ancient world's economy.

This is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, with "Lord GOD" (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, Adonai Yahweh) emphasizing God's sovereignty and authority. It serves as a reminder that the message comes from the highest authority, demanding attention and reverence. This divine introduction sets the stage for the subsequent critique of Tyre's pride and self-perception.

You have said, O Tyre
The phrase indicates a self-assessment or declaration made by Tyre. The city's self-perception is about to be challenged by God's perspective. This highlights the contrast between human pride and divine judgment, a common theme in prophetic literature.

“I am perfect in beauty.”
Tyre's claim of being "perfect in beauty" reflects its pride and self-glorification. The Hebrew word for "perfect" (כַּלָּה, kallah) can mean complete or flawless, while "beauty" (יֹפִי, yophi) refers to physical attractiveness or splendor. This self-assessment reveals Tyre's arrogance and reliance on its material wealth and aesthetic appeal. The prophetic message challenges this self-image, reminding the city of its vulnerability and the transient nature of earthly glory.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) At the entry of the sea.--The word for "entry" in the original is plural, and means the approaches to the sea, or harbours. Tyre had two of these, both remarkably good: the "Egyptian," facing the south, and the "Sidonian," facing the north, the latter having also an outer harbour or roadstead, formed by a ledge off the north-west extremity of the island. The former is now completely, and the latter nearly, filled up with sand and ruins.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - We begin with the picture of the city, situate at the entry (Hebrew, entries), or harbors of the sea. Of these Tyro had two - the northern, known as the Sidonian; the southern, as the Egyptian. There she dwelt, a merchant of the peoples, that came, in the wider sense of the word (see Ezekiel 26:15), from the isles of the Mediterranean. I am perfect in beauty. The boast here put into the mouth of the city appears afterwards as the utterance of its ruler, or as applied to him (Ezekiel 28:2, 15-17). We are reminded of Genoa, la superba.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Tell
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Tyre,
לְצ֗וֹר (lə·ṣō·wr)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6865: Tyre -- a Phoenician city

who dwells
הַיֹּשֶׁ֙בֶת֙ (hay·yō·še·ḇeṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

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

the gateway
מְבוֹאֹ֣ת (mə·ḇō·w·’ōṯ)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3996: An entrance, sunset, the west, towards

to the sea,
יָ֔ם (yām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

merchant
רֹכֶ֙לֶת֙ (rō·ḵe·leṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 7402: To travel for, trading

of the peoples
הָֽעַמִּ֔ים (hā·‘am·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

on
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

many
רַבִּ֑ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

coasts,
אִיִּ֖ים (’î·yîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 339: A habitable spot, dry land, a coast, an island

that this is what
כֹּ֤ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘You
אַ֣תְּ (’at)
Pronoun - second person feminine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

have said,
אָמַ֔רְתְּ (’ā·mart)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

O Tyre,
צ֕וֹר (ṣō·wr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6865: Tyre -- a Phoenician city

“I
אֲנִ֖י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am perfect
כְּלִ֥ילַת (kə·lî·laṯ)
Adjective - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3632: Complete, the whole, as, fully

in beauty.”
יֹֽפִי׃ (yō·p̄î)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3308: Beauty

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 27:3 And tell Tyre you who dwell at (Ezek. Eze Ezk)