BOOK 23 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Isaiah 23

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Isaiah 23 Overview

Tyre, the wealthy maritime trading center, is told to mourn as its commercial network collapses; after a seventy-year period, trade returns, yet its gain is ultimately pictured as consecrated to the LORD.

IsaiahBook

23Chapter

18Verses

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Before you read Isaiah 23

Coming from

Jerusalem responds to danger with noisy celebration and frantic defenses instead of repentance; Isaiah condemns this refusal to look to the LORD, then contrasts self-serving Shebna with the installation of Eliakim.

In this chapter

Leads into

Isaiah broadens from particular nations to worldwide judgment: the earth is emptied, social distinctions cannot shield anyone, covenant-breaking brings desolation, yet a remnant praises and the LORD reigns gloriously in Zion.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The oracle closes Isaiah’s sequence against surrounding nations by focusing on a commercial rather than primarily military power. Tyre’s ships, merchants, and international reach symbolize economic prestige.

The interpretive center of Isaiah 23 is the chapter’s own movement: commercial power is no more permanent than military power. Read its poetry, signs, historical references, and later biblical connections from that center rather than treating isolated phrases as detached slogans.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Commercial power is no more permanent than military power

Tyre’s far-reaching trade network can be silenced.

God can humble the pride attached to wealth

The LORD purposes to stain the pride of all glory and bring honored people into contempt.

Restored prosperity remains accountable to God

The ending redirects Tyre’s merchandise toward holy use rather than self-exaltation.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Ezekiel 26–28

Ezekiel gives an extended judgment against Tyre and its proud commercial king.

Acts 21:3-6

Tyre later appears as a functioning Mediterranean city with Christian disciples.

Revelation 18

The lament of merchants over Babylon’s commercial collapse echoes prophetic laments over trading powers such as Tyre.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not assume wealth or trade is condemned simply for existing.

The target is proud, self-glorifying commercial power under divine judgment.

Do not make the seventy years a universal prophetic number.

It belongs to Tyre’s announced period of obscurity in this oracle.

Read Isaiah 23 watching for…

ships of Tarshish

the silence of the maritime center

the LORD’s purpose against proud glory

the seventy-year period

profit redirected toward holy use

Chapter outline2 sections

1-14Tyre’s merchants and seafarers mourn the fall of the trading city 15-18After seventy years Tyre returns to trade, and its gain is set apart to the LORD

The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.

As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.

Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.

He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.

Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.

Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

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Isaiah 23:2

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