Isaiah Institute Translation
Isaiah 23
- a1 Hebrew she.
- b13 Hebrew her.
King James Version
KJV
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Isaiah Institute Translation
IIT
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Masoretic Text
HEB
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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. | 1 | An oracle concerning Tyre:Sound your sirens, O merchant ships!For Tyrea is laid waste,stripped of warehouse and wharf.On their way from the land of Kittimshall they be informed of it. | מַשָּׂא צֹר הֵילִילוּ אֳנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ כִּי־שֻׁדַּד מִבַּיִת מִבּוֹא מֵאֶרֶץ כִּתִּים נִגְלָה־לָמוֹ ׃ |
Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. | 2 | Be dumbfounded, you inhabitants of the isles,who were amply replenishedby the traders of Sidon crossing the seas. | דֹּמּוּ יֹשְׁבֵי אִי סֹחֵר צִידוֹן עֹבֵר יָם מִלְאוּךְ ׃ |
And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. | 3 | The grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile,was her source of revenue upon the high seaswhen she became the merchant of nations. | וּבְמַיִם רַבִּים זֶרַע שִׁחֹר קְצִיר יְאוֹר תְּבוּאָתָהּ וַתְּהִי סְחַר גּוֹיִם ׃ |
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. | 4 | Be dismayed, O Sidon, because the Sea,the mighty haven of the Sea, has declared,I no longer labor and bear children!I no longer rear young men or raise virgins! | בּוֹשִׁי צִידוֹן כִּי־אָמַר יָם מָעוֹז הַיָּם לֵאמֹר לֹא־חַלְתִּי וְלֹא־יָלַדְתִּי וְלֹא גִדַּלְתִּי בַּחוּרִים רוֹמַמְתִּי בְתוּלוֹת ׃ |
As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre. | 5 | When the news of Tyre reaches Egypt,men will be in anguish at the report. | כַּאֲשֶׁר־שֵׁמַע לְמִצְרָיִם יָחִילוּ כְּשֵׁמַע צֹר ׃ |
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. | 6 | Move on to Tarshish lamenting,you inhabitants of the isles. | עִבְרוּ תַּרְשִׁישָׁה הֵילִילוּ יֹשְׁבֵי אִי ׃ |
Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. | 7 | Is this your festive city of ancient origin,whose feet led her to settle far-off lands? | הֲזֹאת לָכֶם עַלִּיזָה מִימֵי־קֶדֶם קַדְמָתָהּ יֹבִלוּהָ רַגְלֶיהָ מֵרָחוֹק לָגוּר ׃ |
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? | 8 | Who devised this stratagem against Tyre,the imperial city,whose traders were princes,whose merchants the world’s celebrities? | מִי יָעַץ זֹאת עַל־צֹר הַמַּעֲטִירָה אֲשֶׁר סֹחֲרֶיה שָׂרִים כִּנְעָנֶיהָ נִכְבַּדֵּי־אָרֶץ ׃ |
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. | 9 | Jehovah of Hosts devised it,to make all glorying in excellence a profanity,and the world’s celebrities an utter execration. | יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת יְעָצָהּ לְחַלֵּל גְּאוֹן כָּל־צְבִי לְהָקֵל כָּל־נִכְבַּדֵּי־אָרֶץ ׃ |
Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength. | 10 | Overflow your land like the Nile,O Daughter of Tarshish: the harbor is no more. | עִבְרִי אַרְצֵךְ כַּיְאֹר בַּת־תַּרְשִׁישׁ אֵין מֵזַח עוֹד ׃ |
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. | 11 | Jehovah will stretch out his hand over the Seaand distress kingdoms;he will give orders concerning the merchant citythat her ports of haven be destroyed. | יָדוֹ נָטָה עַל־הַיָּם הִרְגִּיז מַמְלָכוֹת יְהוָה צִוָּה אֶל־כְּנַעַן לַשְׁמִד מָעֻזְנֶיהָ ׃ |
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. | 12 | He will say, You will frolic no more,O ravished virgin, Daughter of Sidon.Get up and cross over to Kittim,though even there you will find no rest. | וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא־תוֹסִיפִי עוֹד לַעְלוֹז הַמְעֻשָּׁקָה בְּתוּלַת בַּת־צִידוֹן כִּתִּיים (כִּתִּים) קוּמִי עֲבֹרִי גַּם־שָׁם לֹא־יָנוּחַ לָךְ ׃ |
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. | 13 | So too with the land of the Chaldeans,the people who founded Tyreb for shipping.Was it not the Assyrians who set up observatories,exposed its fortifications, and caused her downfall? | הֵן אֶרֶץ כַּשְׂדִּים זֶה הָעָם לֹא הָיָה אַשּׁוּר יְסָדָהּ לְצִיִּים הֵקִימוּ בַחיּנָיו (בַחוּנָיו) עֹרְרוּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ שָׂמָהּ לְמַפֵּלָה ׃ |
Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste. | 14 | Sound your sirens, O merchant ships;your haven is desolate! | הֵילִילוּ אֳנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ כִּי שֻׁדַּד מָעֻזְּכֶן ׃ |
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. | 15 | In that day Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, the lifetime of a king. And at the end of seventy years, Tyre shall be as the harlot in the song: | וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וְנִשְׁכַּחַת צֹר שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה כִּימֵי מֶלֶךְ אֶחָד מִקֵּץ שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה יִהְיֶה לְצֹר כְּשִׁירַת הַזּוֹנָה ׃ |
Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. | 16 | Take a lyre and go about the town,O forgotten harlot.Play skillfully; sing song after song,that you may be remembered. | קְחִי כִנּוֹר סֹבִּי עִיר זוֹנָה נִשְׁכָּחָה הֵיטִיבִי נַגֵּן הַרְבִּי־שִׁיר לְמַעַן תִּזָּכֵרִי ׃ |
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. | 17 | For after seventy years, Jehovah will revisit Tyre. And she will return to her trade and hire herself out to all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. | וְהָיָה מִקֵּץ שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה יִפְקֹד יְהוָה אֶת־צֹר וְשָׁבָה לְאֶתְנַנָּה וְזָנְתָה אֶת־כָּל־מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה ׃ |
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. | 18 | Her merchandise and hire shall be consecrated to Jehovah; it shall not be hoarded or stored up. Her commerce shall provide for those who dwell in the presence of Jehovah, that they may eat their fill and be elegantly clothed. | וְהָיָה סַחְרָהּ וְאֶתְנַנָּהּ קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה לֹא יֵאָצֵר וְלֹא יֵחָסֵן כִּי לַיֹּשְׁבִים לִפְנֵי יְהוָה יִהְיֶה סַחְרָהּ לֶאֱכֹל לְשָׂבְעָה וְלִמְכַסֶּה עָתִיק ׃ |
וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אָחָז בֶּן־יוֹתָם בֶּן־עֻזִּיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה עָלָה רְצִין מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָם וּפֶקַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָהוּ מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל יְרוּשָׁלִַם לַמִּלְחָמָה עָלֶיהָ וְלֹא יָכֹל לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ ׃ | |
King James Version
KJV
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Isaiah Institute Translation
IIT
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And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. |
When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not overpower it. |
Apocalyptic Commentary |
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Two generations of kings from the time Isaiah receives his prophetic commission, an expansionist Assyria threatens to invade the kingdom of Aram (Syria), the ten-tribed Northern Kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah and to annex them into its empire. When King Ahaz of Judah refuses to join Aram and Israel in an alliance to resist Assyria, they invade the Southern Kingdom to overthrow Ahaz and put a puppet ruler on his throne who will join their coalition. Ahaz, moreover, becomes an important type in the Book of Isaiah of an end-time ruler who proves disloyal to Israel’s God. |
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Apocalyptic Commentary
Isaiah 23
Forming an intrinsic part of Babylon’s socio-economic structure, Tyre—like its sister city Sidon (vv 2, 12)—typifies Babylon’s shipping and mercantile establishment. Tyre’s merchants anciently founded trading colonies throughout the entire known world. Isaiah’s concept of a Greater Babylon—a composite entity that includes a worldwide shipping empire—informs John’s Babylon the Great and its fall, including the demise of Babylon’s seafaring enterprise (Revelation 18:11-24). The sirens of Tyre’s ships, which sounded joyfully at their departure, now wail at the prospect of having no ports of call.
Tyre’s and Sidon’s overnight destruction leaves people worldwide astonished and appalled. When Egypt’s grain, which enriched world traders, suddenly becomes unavailable, those who depend on it suffer its loss: “Up, and listen to my voice, O complacent women; you careless daughters, hear my words! In little more than a year you shall be in anguish, O carefree ones, for when the harvest is over, the produce shall fail to arrive” (Isaiah 32:9-10). Jehovah’s elect, on the other hand, prepare for that day: “Tell the righteous it shall be well with them; they shall eat the fruits of their own labors” (Isaiah 3:10).
As the mercantile arm of Isaiah’s Greater Babylon, Tyre is identified with the sea itself. Elsewhere portrayed as a power of chaos personified by the king of Assyria/Babylon, the Sea also characterizes the wicked in general (Isaiah 5:30; 11:15; 17:12; 51:10, 15; 57:20). Tyre’s ports of call in far-off lands (v 11), which once welcomed ocean freighters, perish together with she who gave them birth. The great seaports of the world—Tyre’s “children”—where sailors enjoyed leisure and amusements, are now unrecognizable and unapproachable. News of their decease causes worldwide lamentation.
While the world may question the wisdom of destroying an entire shipping industry, Israel’s God has another object in mind—to put down pride and commence a new civilization based on justice. Those who gained immense wealth by trading on the high seas, who lived like kings among the nations of the world, Jehovah humiliates for their godless conceit. Those who considered themselves above others, who took pride in their prestige and preeminence, he renders profane: “The haughty eyes of men shall be lowered and man’s pride abased; Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:11).
Once seaport facilities are destroyed, people must rely on the land. But there, too, they “find no rest” (Isaiah 5:30; 8:22; 57:20-21). Jehovah’s stretching his hand over the Sea betokens the king of Assyria/Babylon’s destruction of Tyre, or that aspect of Greater Babylon which Tyre represents. Secondarily, drawing on the type of Moses’ stretching his hand over the Sea (Exodus 14:15-31), it alludes to the power of Jehovah’s servant to ultimately put down the archtyrant—the Sea (Isaiah 11:15). Common harlot imagery identifies Tyre with Babylon, who rules as “Mistress of Kingdoms” (Isaiah 47:1-15).
It was the residents of Babylon—“the land of the Chaldeans”—who established the world’s seaports that Tyre symbolizes. As Jehovah’s Day of Judgment approaches, the Assyrians install surveillance devices to spy out Tyre’s strengths and weaknesses. When Assyria launches its destructive assault, Tyre—like all of Greater Babylon—experiences “downfall” or “ruin” (mappela) (Isaiah 47:11). With no place to dock, Tyre’s merchantmen flounder at sea, their calls for help going unheeded: “Jehovah of Hosts has a day in store . . . . against [all vessels at sea,] both merchant ships and pleasure craft” (Isaiah 2:12, 16).
Only after many years have elapsed during the millennial age does world trade make a comeback. This time, however, disbursements of products are based not on greed but on merit, such as providing for servants of Jehovah who dwell in his presence: “You shall be called the priests of Jehovah and referred to as the ministers of our God. You shall feed on the wealth of the nations and be gratified with their choicest provision” (Isaiah 61:6). Using the imagery of a former harlot whom people make the subject of derisive folksongs, Isaiah predicts Tyre’s return but also recalls her to mind as a warning.