Cities & towns · Phoenicia
Tyre and Sidon
What was Tyre and Sidon?
Tyre and Sidon were Phoenicia’s proud merchant ports — judged by the prophets, yet visited with mercy by Jesus.
TodayTyre (Sour) and Sidon (Saida), Lebanon
RegionPhoenicia
ExportsCedar, purple dye, sea trade
NT sceneThe Syrophoenician woman
Tyre’s king Hiram sent cedars and craftsmen for David’s palace and Solomon’s temple; later, Sidonian Jezebel imported Baal into Israel.
Ezekiel’s great lament pictures Tyre as a splendid ship wrecked by pride; both cities fell under judgment oracles.
Yet in their district Jesus honored the bold faith of a Syrophoenician mother — “Woman, great is your faith!” — and crowds from Tyre and Sidon pressed in to hear him.
Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)
1 Kings 5:1 “Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.” Ezekiel 27:32 “As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament for you: ‘Who was ever like Tyre, silenced in the middle of the sea?” Matthew 15:28 ““O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”
Related places
Original BibleDawn profile. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy. Scripture quoted from the public-domain Berean Standard Bible.