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Ezekiel 27:8

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 27:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were thy rowers: thy wise men, O Tyre, were in thee, they were thy pilots.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were thy rowers: thy wise men, O Tyre, were in thee, they were thy pilots.
Ezekiel 27:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 27

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5They have made all thy planks of fir-trees from Senir; they have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for thee.
6Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; they have made thy benches of ivory inlaid in boxwood, from the isles of Kittim.
7Of fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was thy sail, that it might be to thee for an ensign; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was thine awning.
8The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were thy rowers: thy wise men, O Tyre, were in thee, they were thy pilots.
9The old men of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to deal in thy merchandise.
10Persia and Lud and Put were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.
11The 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.
← Ezekiel 27:7Ezekiel 27:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners, &c.] Zidon was a city in Phoenicia, near to Tyre, and older than that, by whose inhabitants it was built; see the notes on (<232302>Isaiah 23:2,4) and Arvad was an island in Phoenicia, to the south of Zidon, not far from Tyre. Mr. Maundrellf435 says it is about a league distant from the shore; and is now called by the Turks Ruad. It seemed to the eye to be not above four to six hundred yards long, and wholly filled up with tall buildings like castles: its ancient inhabitants, he observes, were famous for navigation, and had a command upon the continent as far as Gabale later mentioned, Dr. Shawf436 says it is at present called Rouwadde;…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Arvad--a small island and city near PhÅ“nicia, now Ruad: its inhabitants are still noted for seafaring habits. thy wise men, O Tyrus . . . thy pilots--While the men of Arvad, once thy equals (Gen 10:18), and the Sidonians, once thy superiors, were employed by thee in subordinate positions as "mariners," thou madest thine own skilled men alone to be commanders and pilots. Implying the political and mercantile superiority of Tyre.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Arvad - See Genesis 10:18. An island off the coast of Sidon, now called Ruad. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Zidon - An ancient town and haven of Phoenicia, not far from Tyre. Arvad - Or Aradus, an island belonging to Phoenicia, twenty furlongs from the continent. Mariners - Rowers in thy galleys; the rich Tyrians would not employ their own in such servile works, they hired strangers. Wise men - Thy learned men: for navigation was the great study of the Tyrians. Ezekiel 27:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“27:8-11 The ship of Tyre was manned by a crew gathered from the most famously skilled men in the world. • The locations described in this account cover most of the known world at the time. Tyre’s influence was vast. 27:8-9 Sidon, Arvad, and Gebal were Mediterranean coastal towns.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Zidon: Gen 10:15, Sidon, Gen 49:13; Jos 11:8 Arvad: Eze 27:11; Gen 10:18; Isa 10:9; Jer 49:23 wise: Eze 27:28; Kg1 5:6, Kg1 9:27; Ch2 2:13, Ch2 2:14 Ezekiel 27:9”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification