Original Word: מִכְלֻל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: miklul
Pronunciation: mak-LOOL
Phonetic Spelling: (mik-lool')
KJV: all sorts
NASB: choice garments
Word Origin: [from H3634 (כָּלַל - perfected)]

1. something perfect, i.e. a splendid garment

all sorts

From kalal; something perfect, i.e. A splendid garment -- all sorts.

see HEBREW kalal

Word Origin
from kalal
Definition
a thing made perfect, probably a gorgeous garment
NASB Translation
choice garments (1).

[מַכְלֻל] noun masculine a thing made perfect, i.e. (probably) gorgeous garment (or stuff), Ezekiel 27:24 ׳הֵמָּה רֹכְלַיִךְ בְּמַכְלֻלִים בִּגְלֹמֵי תְּכֵלֶת וְרִקְמָה וג.

Historical background

Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian exile, a period when Judah’s elite had been deported and Jerusalem lay in ruins. Tyre, by contrast, still dazzled the Mediterranean world with its seaborne commerce. Chapter 27 is a lament for that Phoenician powerhouse, describing its trade routes and luxury cargo in almost lyrical detail. In the lone occurrence of מִכְלֻל (Ezekiel 27:24), the prophet lists it among the exotic wares that caravans brought to Tyre. The setting is therefore eighth-to-sixth-century B.C. Phoenicia, when cedar from Lebanon and embroidered cloth from the Levant were coveted across empires.

Biblical usage

“They traded with you choice garments, cloaks of blue and embroidered work, and multicolored carpets bound with cords and made of cedar” (Ezekiel 27:24). The word translated “multicolored carpets” (מִכְלֻלִים) appears nowhere else. By placing it between embroidered garments and cedar-wood packaging, Ezekiel highlights an item that combined artistry, color, and craftsmanship. The wider passage catalogues thirty-four nations or regions that trafficked with Tyre. The prophetic intent is clear: to show the totality of human commerce—and to reveal how utterly it would collapse under divine judgment (Ezekiel 27:27).

Cultural and economic context

Such woven or quilted textiles were high-status goods. They served as wall hangings, bedspreads, saddle blankets, or floor coverings in palaces and temples. The fact that they were “bound with cords” suggests careful bundling for maritime transport, while “made of cedar” may indicate cedar-lined chests that preserved fragrance and deterred insects. Archaeology confirms that colored textiles, often dyed with Phoenician murex purple or indigo, reached Egypt, Mesopotamia, and even farther east. Thus the term stands for the apex of ancient Near-Eastern luxury.

Symbolic and theological significance

1. Human glory is transient. The exquisite מִכְלֻל embodied the splendor of international trade, yet Tyre’s fall proved that the most elaborate handiwork cannot avert judgment. “Your wealth, merchandise, and wares… will sink into the heart of the seas on the day of your downfall” (Ezekiel 27:27).
2. God rules over economies. Ezekiel’s inventory reads like a shipping manifest, but the prophet is not impressed; he is tracing the sovereignty of the Lord over every ledger and cargo hold.
3. Beauty can be misdirected. Textiles in Scripture often symbolize righteousness (Revelation 19:8) or priestly glory (Exodus 28:2). Tyre’s fabrics, however, illustrate worldly pride—beauty without covenant faithfulness.

Connections with other Scriptures

• Isaiah portrays Babylon decking herself “with ornaments of gold and precious stones” (Isaiah 47:9–10) before sudden ruin, paralleling Tyre’s fate.
• Jesus warns that “life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15), echoing Ezekiel’s critique of wealth.
• Paul reminds Timothy that “we brought nothing into the world… we cannot take anything out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). Tyre’s cargo lists foreshadow that enduring principle.

Practical lessons for ministry

1. Preaching against materialism. Ezekiel’s lament equips pastors to expose the illusion of security that wealth brings.
2. Encouraging craftsmanship for God’s glory. Exodus celebrates Bezalel’s Spirit-filled artistry; Ezekiel shows that skill used for self-exaltation perishes. Believers are called to create with kingdom purpose.
3. Mission to marketplace professionals. Tyre’s merchants represent today’s financiers and traders. Ezekiel 27 invites conversation about stewardship, ethics, and accountability before the Judge of all.
4. Comfort for the oppressed. Judah’s exiles saw powerful Tyre crumble—proof that no economic giant can indefinitely exploit weaker neighbors. “The Lord Almighty has purposed it, to defile the pride of all glory” (Isaiah 23:9).

Questions for reflection

• Where might modern believers be tempted to trust in “multicolored carpets” of contemporary affluence?
• How can artistic excellence be reclaimed for worship rather than for vanity?
• In what ways does the church testify, by word and deed, that the kingdoms of this world are passing away?

מִכְלֻל, though mentioned only once, thus serves as a vivid thread in Scripture’s tapestry: a reminder that every human masterpiece must ultimately bow to the Creator whose judgments are true and whose kingdom alone endures forever.

בְּמַכְלֻלִ֔ים במכללים ḇə·maḵ·lu·lîm ḇəmaḵlulîm vemachluLimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts