From Beth-togarmah they exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read this verse as simply listing trade goods, but the phrase "horses, horsemen, and mules" suggests something more complex. While horses and mules are clearly animals for trade, "horsemen" likely refers to skilled riders or grooms, indicating that Togarmah didn't just sell livestock, but also the expertise needed to manage and ride them. This adds a layer of human capital and specialized knowledge to their "wares."
From Beth-togarmah they exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This chapter is a magnificent lament, a detailed eulogy for the once-great city of Tyre. Ezekiel paints a vivid picture of Tyre's immense wealth and global reach by listing the diverse peoples who traded with her, showcasing the vast network of commerce that fueled her splendor. This verse, specifically, highlights the contribution of the people from Togarmah, a region in ancient Armenia known for its skilled breeders and equestrian expertise, supplying Tyre with essential war horses and sturdy mules.
Imagine a bustling marketplace, where nations and peoples gather to exchange their unique goods. In Ezekiel's vision, a specific region known for its powerful steeds plays a crucial role in Tyre's vast trading network.
Ezekiel 27 paints a vivid picture of Tyre, a city renowned for its global commerce. This verse zooms in on Togarmah, a land identified by ancient scholars as being in the region of Armenia, Cappadocia, or Phrygia – areas known for their exceptional horse breeding.
Specializing in Steeds
This exchange underscores how different regions contributed specialized resources to the global economy of that era, with Togarmah being a key supplier of equestrian power.
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Tyre's wealth was immense, built on a vast network of trade. But this verse reveals something vital about its supply chain – it depended on distant lands for critical resources.
While Ezekiel 27 primarily focuses on celebrating Tyre's grandeur, it also subtly critiques its dependence on worldly systems and its ultimate vulnerability.
A Hub Built on Exchange
This reliance on foreign goods and established trade routes ultimately highlights the fragility of human systems when faced with divine judgment.
The mention of Togarmah trading horses with Tyre illustrates the extensive, almost global reach of Tyre's commerce, a network Ezekiel details to emphasize the city's pride and impending judgment from God.
c. 1000 BC
Early Mentions of Togarmah
Togarmah is referenced as a descendant of Noah's son Japheth in Genesis 10:3, placing the people associated with this name in early Near Eastern history.
c. 580 BC
Prophecies Against Tyre Begin
Ezekiel begins his prophetic oracles against the wealthy and powerful Phoenician city-state of Tyre, which was known for its extensive trade networks and naval dominance.
c. 580 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of Tyre's Trade
Ezekiel receives a vivid vision detailing the vast commercial reach of Tyre, listing numerous regions and peoples who traded with the city, highlighting its global influence and material wealth.
c. 580 BC
Togarmah's Trade in Horses
Within this vision, Ezekiel specifically mentions people from Togarmah (often identified with Armenia or surrounding regions) trading horses, war horses, and mules with Tyre.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Judah
Many of Ezekiel's prophecies were delivered during the Babylonian exile of the people of Judah, providing a backdrop of divine judgment against nations perceived as enemies or exploiters of God's people.
c. 573 BC
Fall of Tyre
Tyre eventually fell to Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon after a long siege, a judgment prophesied by Ezekiel that underscored God's sovereignty over even the most powerful empires and commercial centers.
This verse identifies Togarmah as a descendant of Noah, placing him as an ancestor of nations. Ezekiel 27:14 builds on this lineage by showing a specific nation descending from Togarmah involved in trade.
Ezekiel 38:6Here, Togarmah is listed as an ally of Gog, showing them as a militaristic nation that provides 'horsemen and horses.' This complements Ezekiel 27:14's mention of their trade in horses and horsemen.
Proverbs 3:9-10While Ezekiel 27 focuses on the wealth and trade of Tyre, Proverbs offers a contrasting perspective on where true prosperity comes from: honoring God. This highlights the potential spiritual danger of the kind of material success Tyre embodied.
Luke 12:15Jesus warns against greed and the illusion of security found in possessions. This resonates with the depiction of Tyre's vast wealth and trade in Ezekiel 27, reminding us that material goods can be deceptive.
barnesEzekiel 27:14: "They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules."
Togarmah - Armenia.
gillEzekiel 27:14: "They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules."
They of the house of Togarmah,.... The Targum is, "they of the province or country of Germany.'' Jerom understands it of Phrygia, near to which was Cappadocia; and perhaps is here meant, since it abounded with what these people are said to trade with Tyre in: these traded in thy fairs with horses, horsemen, and mules; for the Cappadocians paid for their yearly tribute to the Persians fifteen h…
It's easy to read this verse as simply listing trade goods, but the phrase "horses, horsemen, and mules" suggests something more complex. While horses and mules are clearly animals for trade, "horsemen" likely refers to skilled riders or grooms, indicating that Togarmah didn't just sell livestock, but also the expertise needed to manage and ride them. This adds a layer of human capital and specialized knowledge to their "wares."
This chapter is a magnificent lament, a detailed eulogy for the once-great city of Tyre. Ezekiel paints a vivid picture of Tyre's immense wealth and global reach by listing the diverse peoples who traded with her, showcasing the vast network of commerce that fueled her splendor. This verse, specifically, highlights the contribution of the people from Togarmah, a region in ancient Armenia known for its skilled breeders and equestrian expertise, supplying Tyre with essential war horses and sturdy mules.
This chapter is a magnificent lament, a detailed eulogy for the once-great city of Tyre. Ezekiel paints a vivid picture of Tyre's immense wealth and global reach by listing the diverse peoples who traded with her, showcasing the vast network of commerce that fueled her splendor. This verse, specifically, highlights the contribution of the people from Togarmah, a region in ancient Armenia known for its skilled breeders and equestrian expertise, supplying Tyre with essential war horses and sturdy mules.
"From Beth-togarmah they exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares." — It's easy to read this verse as simply listing trade goods, but the phrase "horses, horsemen, and mules" suggests something more complex. While horses and mules are clearly animals for trade, "horsem…
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Last reviewed October 2026