Bible Strands
Ezekiel 27:22
The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Ezekiel addresses Judah’s exiles, cataloging Tyre’s commercial network at the moment the prophet lists its foreign trading partners before announcing its impending collapse.
The words — The Hebrew רֹכְלֵ֤י (ro.khe.Lei) literally means “traders,” and בְּ/רֹ֨אשׁ (be./Rosh) translates to “for” or “at the head of,” indicating the premium price paid for Tyre’s goods.
The thread — This commercial exchange echoes Genesis 10:7, which traces Sheba and Raamah to Cush’s lineage, and Isaiah 60:6, which similarly notes Sheba’s caravans bearing gold.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that economic privilege and global connections do not shield a community from divine judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
Cross-references
- Genesis 10:7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
- Isaiah 60:6 Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
- Genesis 43:11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
- 1 Kings 10:1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
- 1 Chronicles 1:9 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
- 2 Chronicles 9:1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind.
- Psalms 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
- Psalms 72:15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.
- Ezekiel 38:13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will ask, ‘Have you come to capture the plunder? Have you assembled your hordes to carry away loot, to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and goods, to seize great spoil?’