Bible Dictionary
Ebony
Ebony was a hard, heavy, durable black wood traded by Dedan and imported to Tyre. It was a valuable merchandise item, often polished or used with ivory.
Definition
Ebony is the hard, heavy, durable heartwood of trees of the Diospyros group, usually black and capable of taking a fine polish. The sapwood is white and is removed, leaving the valuable dark heartwood.
Biblical Usage
Ebony is mentioned as merchandise brought to Tyre by the men of Dedan, in association with ivory and other valuable goods.
Historical Background
The sources identify its principal ancient sources as southern India and Ceylon. Ebony was used by Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Phoenicians, often being polished or inlaid with ivory.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A black, hard wood, brought by the merchants from India to Tyre (Ezek. 27:15). It is the heart-wood, brought by Diospyros ebenus, which grows in Ceylon and Southern India.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(Ezekiel 27:15) one of the valuable commodities imported into Tyre by the men of Dedan; a hard, heavy and durable wood, which admits of a fine polish or gloss. The most usual color is black, but it also occurs red or green. The black is the heart of a tree called Diospyros ebenum . It was imported from India or Ceylon by Phoenician traders.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>eb'-o-ni (hobhnim (pl. only), vocalization uncertain; compare Arabic abnus):</p><p>Mentioned (Eze 27:15) along with ivory as merchandise of Tyre brought by the men of Dedan. This is the heavy, black, heart-wood of various species of Diospyros, natives of Southern India and Ceylon; the best kind is obtained from D. ebenum.</p><p>The sap-wood, being white and valueless, is cut away, but the trunks are sufficiently large to leave blocks of heart-wood 2 ft. in diameter and 10 or more ft. long. Ebony was used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, as well as the Phoenicians, for various purposes; it was frequently inlaid with ivory. In Europe it has been a favorite for cabinet-making down to recent times.</p><p>E. W. G. Masterman</p>