Original Word: אַרְוַד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Arvad
Pronunciation: ar-vad'
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-vad')
KJV: Arvad
NASB: Arvad
Word Origin: [probably from H7300 (רוּד - become restless)]

1. a refuge for the roving
2. Arvad, an island-city of Israel

Arvad

Probably from ruwd; a refuge for the roving; Arvad, an island-city of Palestine -- Arvad.

see HEBREW ruwd

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a city of Phoenicia
NASB Translation
Arvad (2).

אַרְוָד proper name, of a location city of Phenicia (Assyrian Aruada, etc. see COT Genesis 10:18 Dl^{Pa 281}; ᵐ5 Ἀραδιοι; modern Ruâd) on an island near main land, northward from Tripolis, mentioned with Sidon Ezekiel 27:8 compare 11.

Geographical Setting

Arvad was an island city off the northern Phoenician coast, today’s Arwad Island near Tartus, Syria, barely three kilometers from the mainland. Its strategic placement afforded a natural harbor, high limestone walls, and easy control of coastal shipping lanes that linked the Levant with Cyprus, the Aegean, and Egypt.

Historical Background

From at least the second millennium B.C., Arvad (classical Aradus) functioned as an independent city-state ruled by its own kings, at times aligning with larger powers such as Ugarit, Assyria, or Persia. Ancient records speak of its formidable fleet and its practice of hiring out warriors and sailors. The city minted its own coinage, a mark of autonomy and maritime wealth.

Biblical Context

Ezekiel invokes Arvad twice in his lament over Tyre (Ezekiel 27:8, 11). In the prophetic tableau the Lord presents Tyre as a majestic merchant ship. Sidon and Arvad are listed among those who “set your beauty in perfection” (Ezekiel 27:4).

• “The men of Arvad and your own men were on your walls all around; brave men were in your towers; they hung their shields on your walls; they perfected your beauty.” (Ezekiel 27:11)

Arvad’s soldiers serve as mercenary guardians of Tyre, illustrating the breadth of Tyre’s commercial empire and signaling the shared Phoenician heritage of the two cities. Their inclusion heightens the tragedy: even with the finest allies, Tyre will not withstand divine judgment.

Role in Ezekiel’s Oracle Against Tyre

1. Symbol of Maritime Strength. By naming Arvad—renowned for naval prowess—Ezekiel underscores Tyre’s seemingly impregnable defenses.
2. Evidence of Widespread Alliance. Tyre’s reach encompassed Sidon to the south and Arvad to the north, forming a Phoenician triad. This amplifies the scale of the downfall God pronounces.
3. Prototype of Worldly Security. Arvad’s presence on Tyre’s ramparts exemplifies a security founded on human might and commerce rather than on covenant allegiance to the Lord.

Connections to the Table of Nations

Though the occurrences of the city (Strong’s 719) are confined to Ezekiel 27, its people—the Arvadites—appear in Genesis 10:18 and 1 Chronicles 1:16 among the descendants of Canaan. This genealogical link places Arvad within the wider narrative of the dispersion of nations after the Flood and reminds readers that every nation’s history unfolds under God’s sovereign hand.

Archaeological and Extrabiblical Corroboration

• Assyrian records (e.g., Tiglath-Pileser III) mention Arvad’s tributary status and naval contributions.
• Greek historians (Herodotus, Thucydides) refer to Aradus as a maritime partner in Phoenician ventures.
• Excavations have uncovered fortification walls, water cisterns, and coinage bearing the figure of a Phoenician king and a galley—material testimony to a society centered on defense and seafaring.

Ministry and Theological Implications

1. Nations Rise and Fall Under God’s Decree. Arvad’s storied strength did not exempt it from participation in Tyre’s judgment.
2. The Peril of Trusting in Alliances. Tyre’s choice to lean on Arvad’s warriors rather than on righteousness foreshadows all who hope in man’s might (Psalm 146:3).
3. Gospel Reach to Every People. The inclusion of coastal Phoenicians in Scripture anticipates the spread of salvation “to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 11:19–20, where Phoenicia is among the first Gentile fields).

Key Lessons

• Naval skill and fortified walls cannot shield a people from divine justice.
• Human alliances, however reputable, become liabilities when they supplant reliance on the Lord.
• The prophetic word is historically anchored: the Lord names real cities to validate both His foreknowledge and His sovereignty over history.

Summary

Arvad stands in Scripture as a minor yet vivid portrait of Phoenician prowess enlisted in Tyre’s service, only to perish amid God’s judgment. The city’s storied navy, mercenary ethos, and durable walls serve as a cautionary backdrop against which the supremacy of God’s purposes is displayed.

אַרְוַ֣ד ארוד וְאַרְוַ֔ד וארוד ’ar·waḏ ’arwaḏ arVad vearVad wə’arwaḏ wə·’ar·waḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts