Hebrew word · H4627

מַעֲרָב

ma'aravekh

merchandise

From ʿarav II, "to stand surety, pledge, exchange": goods for barter, merchandise, trade goods. It is not the same word as the homonym maʿarav, "west" (place of sunset).

Appears 9 times in 8 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

merchandise, articles of exchange

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ezekiel 27:13

Range of meaning

From ʿarav II, "to stand surety, pledge, exchange": goods for barter, merchandise, trade goods. It is not the same word as the homonym maʿarav, "west" (place of sunset).

Against the English

"Merchandise", "wares" and "market" (KJV) are all approximations. The KJV's "in thy market" turns an object (the goods) into a place.

Used elsewhere in the period

It occurs only in Ezekiel 27 (verses 9, 13, 17, 19, 25, 27, 33, 34), alongside the equally rare ʿizzevonim, "wares" (verses 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 27, 33). Both look like technical words of commerce, which supports the view that the list draws on real trade language.

From the study of Ezekiel 27:34

Range of meaning

Goods given or received in exchange: merchandise, wares, trade goods. It probably comes from the root 'arav, "to pledge, to exchange" (BDB). In the Hebrew Bible it occurs only in Ezekiel 27.

Against the English

"Merchandise" (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT); some modern versions use "wares." The English is accurate, though it loses the idea of exchange and barter that runs through the chapter's trade list.

Used elsewhere in the period

It occurs about nine times in Ezekiel 27, alongside a related word for wares, 'izzavon (v. 33). The chapter is the most detailed trade list in the Bible, naming partners from Tarshish to Arabia and goods from silver to slaves.

From the study of Ezekiel 27:17

Range of meaning

'Barter goods' or 'merchandise exchanged'. It comes from the root 'arav, 'to pledge, to stand surety, to exchange'. In the Bible it occurs only in Ezekiel 27 (vv. 9, 13, 17, 19, 25, 27, 33, 34). It is distinct from 'izzavon, 'wares' (vv. 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 27, 33).

Against the English

'Merchandise' (BSB, ESV, WEB) and 'market' (KJV, which says 'traded in thy market'). NASB says 'paid for your merchandise'. The renderings differ on whether these goods are payment for what Tyre sold or Tyre's incoming stock. Both describe the same two-way exchange.

Used elsewhere in the period

Limited to Ezekiel 27. In v. 27 and v. 34, Tyre's ma'arav sinks with the ship 'into the heart of the seas'.

Where it appears

Ezekiel · 9

  1. Ezekiel 27:9 מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ׃ merchandise your

    The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights, repairing your leaks. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to barter for your merchandise.

  2. Ezekiel 27:13 מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ׃ merchandise your

    Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.

    Here: From a root meaning "to pledge, to exchange": goods traded in barter. The word occurs only in Ezekiel 27. The clause means these goods were what they put into Tyre's trade, the payment they brought in exchange for Tyre's wares.

  3. Ezekiel 27:17 מַעֲרָבֵֽךְ׃ merchandise your

    Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.

    Here: 'Your barter goods'. The word comes from a root meaning 'to exchange' or 'to pledge'. It probably names the goods that partners brought to Tyre in exchange, so the clause means roughly 'they supplied your trade goods'.

  4. Ezekiel 27:19 בְּמַעֲרָבֵ֖ךְ for merchandise your

    and casks of wine from Izal for your wares. Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were exchanged for your merchandise.

  5. Ezekiel 27:25 מַעֲרָבֵ֑ךְ merchandise your

    The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea.

  6. Ezekiel 27:27 מַעֲרָבֵ֕ךְ מַ֠עֲרָבֵךְ merchandise your

    Your wealth, wares, and merchandise, your sailors, captains, and shipwrights, your merchants and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall.

  7. Ezekiel 27:33 וּמַ֣עֲרָבַ֔יִךְ and merchandise<s> your

    When your wares went out to sea, you satisfied many nations. You enriched the kings of the earth with your abundant wealth and merchandise.

  8. Ezekiel 27:34 מַעֲרָבֵ֥ךְ merchandise your

    Now you are shattered by the seas in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and the people among you have gone down with you.

    Here: "Your goods of exchange." This word for trade goods occurs only in this chapter, where it repeats like a refrain (vv. 9, 13, 17, 19, 25, 27, 33, 34). It is the cargo that made Tyre rich.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.