Ezekiel 27:20
Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Ezekiel 27:20
Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It’s easy to skim over the specific goods traded by Tyre, but "saddlecloths for riding" tells us something vital about extravagance: even the most luxurious, finely woven fabrics, meant for comfort and status on journeys, were purchased by Tyre not for practical use, but as mere adornment for their chariots. This detail highlights how Tyre’s wealth fostered a culture of excessive display, where even items designed for riding were stripped of their primary purpose to become decorations for opulent vehicles.
This chapter is a powerful oracle against the wealthy and seemingly invincible city of Tyre, detailing its vast trade network and the luxurious goods it imported and exported. Before this verse, Ezekiel lists merchants from places like Sidon and various islands bringing specific goods to Tyre, highlighting their global reach. After this, the list continues with merchants from Arabia and other regions, all contributing to Tyre's opulent but ultimately sinful prosperity, setting the stage for God's judgment on the city for its pride and exploitation.
When you think of ancient trade, what comes to mind? Probably essentials like grain or perhaps spices. But Ezekiel 27:20 reveals a startlingly specific luxury item: saddlecloths for riding.
The verse mentions Dedan trading "precious clothes for chariots," which is best understood as high-quality saddlecloths.
A World of Difference
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 27:20 is available in the Sola app.
Who were these Dedanites, and why were they supplying Tyre with such high-end goods? The answer traces back to one of faith's earliest figures.
The Dedan mentioned here are likely descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah (Genesis 25:3).
Ancient Roots, Modern Trade Routes
The mention of Dedan trading with Tyre highlights the vast reach of Tyre's commerce, connecting distant Arabian tribes known for their textiles to the bustling Mediterranean port.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham's Descendants Multiply
Abraham's grandson Dedan, son of Keturah, settles in Arabia, becoming an ancestor of nomadic tribes who would later engage in significant trade.
c. 9th Century BC
Assyrian Campaigns in Arabia
The Neo-Assyrian Empire expands its influence, leading to increased documented interactions and potential tribute demands from Arabian tribes, including those descended from Dedan.
c. 8th Century BC
Dedan's Trade Flourishes
Dedan, likely a prominent Arabian tribe, establishes itself as a key trading partner, particularly known for luxury textiles and their role in caravan routes connecting distant regions.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Prophecy Given
The prophet Ezekiel delivers his scathing prophecy against the wealthy and powerful Phoenician city-state of Tyre, detailing its extensive trade networks and impending judgment.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, a catastrophic event that significantly impacts regional trade and politics, though Tyre initially weathered the siege.
c. 573 BC
Tyre's Fall
After a long siege, the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar conquers the island city of Tyre, fulfilling Ezekiel's prophecy and marking the end of its independent dominance.
This passage identifies Dedan as a descendant of Abraham through Keturah, placing him in the Arabian regions, which aligns with the context of Arabian merchants trading with Tyre.
Jeremiah 49:8Jeremiah also prophesies against Dedan, indicating their involvement in trade and their eventual downfall, paralleling the judgment pronounced on Tyre through Ezekiel.
Judges 5:10This verse mentions those who ride on 'white donkeys' and sit on 'rich carpets,' offering a glimpse into the kind of fine textiles likely traded by Dedan for use as luxurious coverings or furnishings.
Ezekiel 27:15This verse also names Dedan as a trading partner of Tyre, emphasizing their role in supplying valuable goods and highlighting their consistent presence in Tyre's extensive commercial network.
gillEzekiel 27:20: "Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots."
Dedan was thy merchant in precious cloths for chariots. Or, "cloths of freedom" (u); such as freemen and even nobles wore; and yet so extravagant were the Tyrians, that they bought these to line or cover their chariots with; this is different from the Dedan in Ezekiel 27:15 , and is either Dedan in Edom or Idumea, Jeremiah 49:8 , or in Arabia, the inhabitants of which descended from Dedan, a grandson of Abraham, Genesis 2…
clarkeEzekiel 27:20: "Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots."
Dedan - Possibly the descendants of Dedan, son of Raamah, see Genesis 10:7 . In precious clothes for chariots - Either fine carpets, or rich housings for horses, camels, etc., used for riding.
It’s easy to skim over the specific goods traded by Tyre, but "saddlecloths for riding" tells us something vital about extravagance: even the most luxurious, finely woven fabrics, meant for comfort and status on journeys, were purchased by Tyre not for practical use, but as mere adornment for their chariots. This detail highlights how Tyre’s wealth fostered a culture of excessive display, where even items designed for riding were stripped of their primary purpose to become decorations for opulent vehicles.
This chapter is a powerful oracle against the wealthy and seemingly invincible city of Tyre, detailing its vast trade network and the luxurious goods it imported and exported. Before this verse, Ezekiel lists merchants from places like Sidon and various islands bringing specific goods to Tyre, highlighting their global reach. After this, the list continues with merchants from Arabia and other regions, all contributing to Tyre's opulent but ultimately sinful prosperity, setting the stage for God's judgment on the city for its pride and exploitation.
This chapter is a powerful oracle against the wealthy and seemingly invincible city of Tyre, detailing its vast trade network and the luxurious goods it imported and exported. Before this verse, Ezekiel lists merchants from places like Sidon and various islands bringing specific goods to Tyre, highlighting their global reach. After this, the list continues with merchants from Arabia and other regions, all contributing to Tyre's opulent but ultimately sinful prosperity, setting the stage for God's judgment on the city for its pride and exploitation.
"Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding." — It’s easy to skim over the specific goods traded by Tyre, but "saddlecloths for riding" tells us something vital about extravagance: even the most luxurious, finely woven fabrics, meant for comfort a…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.