They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that even the foundational "boards" of Tyre's mighty ships, made from fir trees, were of foreign origin, sourced from Senir (Mount Hermon). This emphasizes that Tyre's vast wealth and naval power were built not just on their own ingenuity, but on extensive trade and reliance on resources from other lands.
They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel's prophecy paints a vivid picture of Tyre's incredible wealth and luxury, personifying the city as a magnificent ship. These verses describe the luxurious materials used to construct this grand vessel, highlighting the exotic timbers like fir from Senir and cedar from Lebanon that formed its very structure and masts. This detailed account sets the stage for God's pronouncement of judgment upon Tyre, emphasizing how its material splendor will be utterly destroyed.
Tyre's incredible wealth wasn't just about gold and jewels. It was built on the best resources the ancient world had to offer.
Ezekiel points to the specific materials that made up Tyre's magnificent ships. The planks, the very body of the vessel, came from fir trees grown on Mount Senir (which is another name for Mount Hermon). For the tall, strong masts that held the sails, they used cedar from the famous Lebanon mountains.
This detail shows us a few things:
Tyre's beauty and strength were undeniable, but this verse hints at something deeper about how such splendor is constructed.
The Hebrew word used for 'ship boards' in this verse is unique. It's a dual form, which linguists believe emphasizes the 'double boards' or the 'two sides' of the ship. This isn't just about the wood; it points to the careful construction and the dual nature of Tyre's success.
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Ezekiel's vivid description of Tyre's magnificent ship, drawing from the finest materials like fir from Senir (Mount Hermon) and cedar from Lebanon, highlights the city's immense wealth and reach. This luxurious imagery serves to magnify the divine judgment pronounced against Tyre for its pride and complicity in the suffering of God's people.
c. 1000 BC
Solomon's Temple Construction
King Solomon of Israel, with the help of Hiram King of Tyre, used timber from Lebanon, including cedar and fir, for building the First Temple in Jerusalem. This highlights the established trade relationship and the value of these specific woods.
c. 8th Century BC
Assyrian Expansion
The Neo-Assyrian Empire began its major expansion, posing a growing threat to the kingdoms of the Levant. This period saw increased geopolitical tension and shifting alliances in the region.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Ministry Begins
The prophet Ezekiel began his ministry among the Jewish exiles in Babylon. His prophecies often addressed the surrounding nations, including Tyre, condemning their pride and impending judgment.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled a significant portion of the Jewish population to Babylon. This event deeply impacted the Jewish people and their prophetic outlook.
c. 580s-570s BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to the island city of Tyre for thirteen years. While Tyre ultimately survived, the prolonged conflict weakened its power and foreshadowed its future fall.
This passage directly parallels the cedar and fir timber sourced from Lebanon for construction, highlighting how the materials for great building projects, whether a temple or a mighty ship, often came from the same prestigious sources.
Song of Solomon 4:8This verse mentions 'Senir' along with Lebanon, linking these mountainous regions poetically and reinforcing their association with abundant, high-quality timber, the very source of Tyre's maritime power.
Deuteronomy 3:9This passage explicitly identifies Senir as an alternative name for Mount Hermon, the same mountain range that provided the famed cedars of Lebanon, grounding the exotic timber of Ezekiel's prophecy in specific geography.
Ezekiel 27:25This verse speaks of 'ships of Tarshish' and their precious cargo, showcasing the vast scale and international reach of Tyre's maritime trade that was built upon the very ships described here with their fine timbers.
gillEzekiel 27:5: "They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee."
They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir,.... The same with Sion and Hermon, which the Sidonians called Sirion, and the Amorites Shenir, Deuteronomy 3:9 here, it seems, grew the best of fir trees, of which the Tyrians made boards and planks for shipping; of these the two sides of the ship, as the word (r) here used in the dual number is thought to…
clarkeEzekiel 27:5: "They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee."
Fir trees of Senir - Senir is a mountain which the Sidonians called Sirion, and the Hebrews Hermon, Deuteronomy 3:9 . It was beyond Jordan, and extended from Libanus to the mountains of Gilead.
The verse highlights that even the foundational "boards" of Tyre's mighty ships, made from fir trees, were of foreign origin, sourced from Senir (Mount Hermon). This emphasizes that Tyre's vast wealth and naval power were built not just on their own ingenuity, but on extensive trade and reliance on resources from other lands.
Ezekiel's prophecy paints a vivid picture of Tyre's incredible wealth and luxury, personifying the city as a magnificent ship. These verses describe the luxurious materials used to construct this grand vessel, highlighting the exotic timbers like fir from Senir and cedar from Lebanon that formed its very structure and masts. This detailed account sets the stage for God's pronouncement of judgment upon Tyre, emphasizing how its material splendor will be utterly destroyed.
Ezekiel's prophecy paints a vivid picture of Tyre's incredible wealth and luxury, personifying the city as a magnificent ship. These verses describe the luxurious materials used to construct this grand vessel, highlighting the exotic timbers like fir from Senir and cedar from Lebanon that formed its very structure and masts. This detailed account sets the stage for God's pronouncement of judgment upon Tyre, emphasizing how its material splendor will be utterly destroyed.
"They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you." — The verse highlights that even the foundational "boards" of Tyre's mighty ships, made from fir trees, were of foreign origin, sourced from Senir (Mount Hermon). This emphasizes that Tyre's vast wealt…
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Last reviewed October 2026