מַעֲרָב
traffic; by implication, mercantile goods
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַעֲרָב (maʻărâb) primarily refers to 'traffic' or 'merchandise,' specifically the goods exchanged in trade and commerce. In its biblical usage, it denotes the bustling activity of trading and the valuable commodities involved, such as the luxury items listed in Ezekiel's lament over Tyre (Ezekiel 27:9, 27:13). The word can also imply the broader concept of a 'market' or trading place where such exchanges occur. All its occurrences are concentrated in Ezekiel 27, where it vividly describes the wealth and international trade networks of the Phoenician city-state of Tyre before its judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in Ezekiel 27, within the detailed allegory and lament over the city of Tyre. It is used repeatedly to catalog the extensive maritime trade and the diverse, high-value merchandise (e.g., silver, iron, ivory, ebony) that Tyre brokered with nations around the Mediterranean. The pattern of usage emphasizes Tyre's identity as a commercial hub and the totality of its economic collapse, as seen in verses like Ezekiel 27:27 and 27:33-34.
Etymology
Derived from the root עָרַב (ʿārab, H6148), which carries meanings related to 'pledging,' 'exchanging,' or 'mixing.' In the specific sense used for מַעֲרָב, the root developed the connotation of engaging in trade or barter, where goods are exchanged or pledged in commercial transactions. This connection highlights the word's inherent link to the act of trading rather than just the goods themselves.
Semantic Range
The exclusive use of מַעֲרָב in Ezekiel 27 serves a profound theological purpose. It underscores the theme of God's judgment on human pride and self-sufficiency built on material wealth and economic power. Tyre's 'traffic' (maʻărâb) represents the pinnacle of human achievement and global commerce, which is utterly devastated by God's decree. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this prophecy by highlighting the totality of the judgment—not just on a city, but on the entire system of arrogant, godless prosperity it symbolized.
In the ancient Near East, long-distance trade in luxury goods was a primary source of wealth and power for coastal cities like Tyre. מַעֲרָב encapsulates this complex system of international exchange, which involved bartering, treaties, and maritime networks. The modern concept of 'merchandise' is similar, but the biblical usage carries the weight of a city's entire economic identity and geopolitical influence, which is a more centralized and vital concept than in most modern economies.
מִסְחָר (miskār, H4627) — A very close synonym also meaning 'merchandise' or 'traffic,' used in parallel with מַעֲרָב in Ezekiel 27. רְכֻלָּה (rĕkullâ, H7404) — 'Trade' or 'merchandise,' often with a similar commercial sense but used in a broader range of contexts (e.g., Proverbs 31:24).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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