Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they did business with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that even a powerful, sophisticated city like Tyre relied on nomadic tribes for essential goods. The "merchants of your hand" phrase reveals a reciprocal relationship, where these seemingly simple Bedouin princes were not just suppliers but active participants in Tyre's economy, trading their livestock for the city's manufactured goods.
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they did business with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This chapter is a powerful lament over the city of Tyre, detailing its vast wealth and international trade. Just before this verse, Ezekiel describes merchants from distant lands dealing in fine linens, blue cloth, and intricate craftsmanship, highlighting Tyre's luxury market. Immediately following, the passage broadens to include other Arabian traders bringing spices and precious goods, showing the extensive reach of Tyre's commerce.
We often picture ancient merchants as city-dwellers, but this verse introduces us to a different kind of trader. Who were these 'princes of Kedar,' and what made them vital to Tyre?
When Ezekiel mentions "Arabia and all the princes of Kedar," he's not just listing a place. He's pointing to specific people: nomadic tribes from the desert regions of Arabia, descendants of Ishmael. Their primary livelihood was pastoralism – raising sheep and goats.
Tyre was a bustling hub of international commerce. What does its trade with the desert nomads of Kedar reveal about the city's vast network and its vulnerabilities?
This verse isn't just about Kedar; it's also a window into the incredible reach of Tyre's trade. The city imported goods from all over the known world, and this inclusion of Kedar highlights the breadth of its commercial empire.
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Understand the original words
`ărāḇ · Hebrew Proper Noun
A nomadic region and its people, generally referring to the desert territories of the Arabian Peninsula, often associated with trade routes and tribal leadership.
nāśî’ · Hebrew Noun
The title for tribal chieftains or leaders, often denoting those with significant authority or influence over a people or region.
qēḏār · Hebrew Proper Noun
A nomadic people descended from Ishmael, often associated with herds of livestock and living in tents in the wilderness regions.
c. 667–626 BC
Assyrian records mention Kedar
The kingdom of Assyria, under rulers like Assurbanipal, details interactions with the nomadic tribes of Kedar, indicating their presence and importance in the region.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian threats against Kedar
Assyrian inscriptions reflect threats of military action against the Kedarites, showing regional powers engaging with these Arab tribes.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar threatens Kedar
The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II is mentioned as threatening the Kedarites, demonstrating their continued significance in the geopolitical landscape of the time.
c. 593 BC— this verse
Ezekiel prophesies against Tyre
Ezekiel delivers his powerful lament over the city of Tyre, detailing its extensive trade networks and ultimate downfall.
This passage parallels the imagery of Kedar, specifically mentioning its flocks being gathered, highlighting their pastoral wealth and nomadic lifestyle which is a key part of their trade with Tyre in Ezekiel's vision.
Jeremiah 49:28-29This prophecy against Kedar also underscores their pastoral identity and reliance on flocks, showing how their wealth and way of life were known and subject to divine judgment, similar to the fate of Tyre.
Genesis 25:13This verse identifies Kedar as a son of Ishmael, rooting the historical and genealogical background of these Arabian peoples and their nomadic traditions, which are reflected in their trading goods.
Psalm 120:5The mention of dwelling 'in the tents of Kedar' evokes the nomadic and somewhat harsh environment of these Arabians, providing context for their specialization in livestock suitable for such a life.
gillEzekiel 27:21: "Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants."
Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar,.... Arabia was a large country, divided into three parts, Arabia Deserts, or the desert; Arabia Petraea, or the rocky; and Arabia Felix, or the happy. Kedar was in Arabia Petrea; its inhabitants were called Kedarenes, descended from Kedar, a son of Ishmael, Genesis 25:13 , they were chiefly shepherds, and dwelt in t…
bensonEzekiel 27:21: "Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants."
Ezekiel 27:21-24 . Arabia, &c., occupied with thee — Hebrew, ידן סחרי , were the merchants of thy hand; that is, they took off thy manufactures (see Ezekiel 27:15 ) in exchange for cattle, in which their substance chiefly consisted. Of Kedar and its flocks, see notes on Isaiah 21:16-17 ; Isaiah 60:7 . The merchants of Sheba and Raamah — These were peopl…
This verse highlights that even a powerful, sophisticated city like Tyre relied on nomadic tribes for essential goods. The "merchants of your hand" phrase reveals a reciprocal relationship, where these seemingly simple Bedouin princes were not just suppliers but active participants in Tyre's economy, trading their livestock for the city's manufactured goods.
This chapter is a powerful lament over the city of Tyre, detailing its vast wealth and international trade. Just before this verse, Ezekiel describes merchants from distant lands dealing in fine linens, blue cloth, and intricate craftsmanship, highlighting Tyre's luxury market. Immediately following, the passage broadens to include other Arabian traders bringing spices and precious goods, showing the extensive reach of Tyre's commerce.
This chapter is a powerful lament over the city of Tyre, detailing its vast wealth and international trade. Just before this verse, Ezekiel describes merchants from distant lands dealing in fine linens, blue cloth, and intricate craftsmanship, highlighting Tyre's luxury market. Immediately following, the passage broadens to include other Arabian traders bringing spices and precious goods, showing the extensive reach of Tyre's commerce.
"Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they did business with you." — This verse highlights that even a powerful, sophisticated city like Tyre relied on nomadic tribes for essential goods. The "merchants of your hand" phrase reveals a reciprocal relationship, where the…
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Last reviewed October 2026