Isaiah 23:1-7

1 The burden of Tyre. Ye ships of the sea, yell (out), for the house is destroyed, from whence comfort was wont to come; from the land of Chittim, and [it] was showed to them.

2 Be ye still, that dwell in the isle, the merchants of Sidon; [the] men passing [over] the sea filled thee in many waters; (Be ye still, ye who live on the island; the merchants of Sidon, those passing over the sea, have filled thee full;)

3 the seed of (the) Nile is [the] harvest, the flood is the corn thereof, and it is made the merchandise of heathen men. (the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the River, is its wheat, or its grain, and it is made the heathen's merchandise.)

4 Thou, Sidon, be ashamed, said the sea, the strength of the sea, and said, I travailed not of child, and I childed not, and I nourished not young men, and I brought not fully virgins to increasing. (O Sidon, be ashamed; for the sea, yea, the strength of the sea, hath said, I have not laboured with child, and I did not give birth, and I did not nourish young men, and I did not bring up virgins into womanhood.

5 When it shall be heard in Egypt, they shall make sorrow, when they hear of Tyre.

6 Pass ye the seas; yell ye, that dwell in the isle. (Go ye over to Tarshish; yell, ye who live on the island.)

7 Whether this city is not yours, that had glory from eld days in his eldness? the feet thereof shall lead it [a]far, to go in pilgrimage (its feet shall take it far away, to go on a journey).

Isaiah 23:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 23

This chapter gives an account both of the desolation and restoration of Tyre, an ancient city of Phoenicia. Its desolation is described as so complete, that a house was not left in it, Isa 23:1 and by the fewness and stillness of the inhabitants of it, with which it had been replenished, it having been a mart of nations, Isa 23:2,3 and by the shame and pain Zidon, a neighbouring city, was put into, on account of it, Isa 23:4,5 and by the removal of its inhabitants to other places, Isa 23:6,7,12 all which is attributed to the counsel, purpose, and commandment of God, to destroy it; whose view was to stain their pride, and bring them into contempt, Isa 23:8-11 the means and instruments made use of to this purpose were the Assyrians or Chaldeans, Isa 23:13 and its desolation is further aggravated by the loss of its trade; hence the merchants of other countries are called to mourning, Isa 23:1,14 the date and duration of this desolation were seventy years, Isa 23:15 after which it should be restored, and its merchandise and commerce with all the nations of the earth be revived again, Isa 23:15-18.