Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.
4Be ashamed, O Sidon, the stronghold of the sea, for the sea has spoken: “I have not been in labor or given birth. I have not raised young men or brought up young women.”
13Look at the land of the Chaldeans— a people now of no account. The Assyrians destined it for the desert creatures; they set up their siege towers and stripped its palaces. They brought it to ruin.
15At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years—the span of a king’s life. But at the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:
17And at the end of seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre. Then she will return to hire as a prostitute and sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.
18Yet her profits and wages will be set apart to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothing.
Isaiah 23 is a prophecy against Tyre, one of the ancient world's greatest commercial powers and a symbol of human pride and self-sufficiency apart from God. The chapter announces Tyre's coming destruction and humiliation, followed by a period of obscurity, and ultimately a restoration to usefulness—though now serving the Lord's purposes rather than its own glory. This oracle demonstrates that no earthly power, no matter how wealthy or influential, can stand against God's sovereign judgment, and that true restoration comes only through submission to the Lord.
Isaiah opens with a cry of lamentation—a "burden" (Hebrew massa, meaning a weighty pronouncement of judgment) against Tyre. The ships of Tarshish, which represented Tyre's far-reaching maritime commerce, are called to wail because the city has been laid waste. Tyre's destruction is so complete that even distant trading partners are informed by way of Cyprus (Chittim). Verses 2–3 emphasize what Tyre will lose: its bustling markets, merchant activity, and commercial dominance. The city, which had been replenished by Phoenician merchants and enriched by trade in Egyptian grain (the "seed of Sihor"), will be silenced. Verse 4 personifies the sea itself as announcing Tyre's sterility—she will bear no children, nurture no young people, and raise no virgins. This poetic language conveys total desolation and the end of prosperity. The comparison to Egypt's downfall (verse 5) reminds Tyre's neighbors that what happened to mighty Egypt will now befall this proud trading center.
Here Isaiah addresses the inhabitants directly, telling them to flee to Tarshish and lament their lost glory. Verses 7–8 capture the irony: this ancient, joyous city—once so celebrated for its antiquity and merchant princes—will be scattered and despised. The rhetorical question "Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre?" is answered in verse 9 with stunning clarity: the Lord of hosts himself. God's purpose is explicitly stated—to "stain the pride of all glory" and bring the honorable of the earth into contempt. This is the heart of the judgment: divine opposition to human arrogance. Verses 10–11 show God's power at work: He stretches out His hand over the sea, shakes kingdoms, and gives commandment against the merchant city. Verse 12 seals Tyre's fate with divine prohibition—she will have no rest, no recovery, no refuge anywhere she flees.
Verse 13 offers a historical example: even the Chaldeans, though once founded by the Assyrians and built up with towers and palaces, were brought to ruin. No human construction is permanent. Verses 15–18 provide the most remarkable part of the prophecy: Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years (a complete generation), but will then be restored. However, this restoration comes with transformation. Like a forgotten harlot seeking attention (verses 15–16), Tyre will resume commerce, but now her merchandise and profits will serve the Lord's purposes (verses 17–18). Her gain will not be hoarded but distributed to feed and clothe those who dwell before the Lord. This prophecy ultimately points to the redemptive turning of all nations toward God.
Application for Today
Isaiah 23 warns us against the spiritual dangers of pride in wealth, power, and human achievement. Just as Tyre trusted in its commercial dominance, we may trust in careers, possessions, or status. God alone is sovereign, and He will humble every pride that exalts itself against Him. Yet the chapter also offers hope: restoration and usefulness come through submission to God's purposes. Our talents and resources, when yielded to the Lord, become instruments of blessing in His kingdom.
Study Notes — Isaiah 23
4 sectionsIsaiah 23 is a prophecy against Tyre, one of the ancient world's greatest commercial powers and a symbol of human pride and self-sufficiency apart from God. The chapter announces Tyre's coming destruction and humiliation, followed by a period of obscurity, and ultimately a restoration to usefulness—though now serving the Lord's purposes rather than its own glory. This oracle demonstrates that no earthly power, no matter how wealthy or influential, can stand against God's sovereign judgment, and that true restoration comes only through submission to the Lord.
Isaiah opens with a cry of lamentation—a "burden" (Hebrew massa, meaning a weighty pronouncement of judgment) against Tyre. The ships of Tarshish, which represented Tyre's far-reaching maritime commerce, are called to wail because the city has been laid waste. Tyre's destruction is so complete that even distant trading partners are informed by way of Cyprus (Chittim). Verses 2–3 emphasize what Tyre will lose: its bustling markets, merchant activity, and commercial dominance. The city, which had been replenished by Phoenician merchants and enriched by trade in Egyptian grain (the "seed of Sihor"), will be silenced. Verse 4 personifies the sea itself as announcing Tyre's sterility—she will bear no children, nurture no young people, and raise no virgins. This poetic language conveys total desolation and the end of prosperity. The comparison to Egypt's downfall (verse 5) reminds Tyre's neighbors that what happened to mighty Egypt will now befall this proud trading center.
Here Isaiah addresses the inhabitants directly, telling them to flee to Tarshish and lament their lost glory. Verses 7–8 capture the irony: this ancient, joyous city—once so celebrated for its antiquity and merchant princes—will be scattered and despised. The rhetorical question "Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre?" is answered in verse 9 with stunning clarity: the Lord of hosts himself. God's purpose is explicitly stated—to "stain the pride of all glory" and bring the honorable of the earth into contempt. This is the heart of the judgment: divine opposition to human arrogance. Verses 10–11 show God's power at work: He stretches out His hand over the sea, shakes kingdoms, and gives commandment against the merchant city. Verse 12 seals Tyre's fate with divine prohibition—she will have no rest, no recovery, no refuge anywhere she flees.
Verse 13 offers a historical example: even the Chaldeans, though once founded by the Assyrians and built up with towers and palaces, were brought to ruin. No human construction is permanent. Verses 15–18 provide the most remarkable part of the prophecy: Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years (a complete generation), but will then be restored. However, this restoration comes with transformation. Like a forgotten harlot seeking attention (verses 15–16), Tyre will resume commerce, but now her merchandise and profits will serve the Lord's purposes (verses 17–18). Her gain will not be hoarded but distributed to feed and clothe those who dwell before the Lord. This prophecy ultimately points to the redemptive turning of all nations toward God.
Isaiah 23 warns us against the spiritual dangers of pride in wealth, power, and human achievement. Just as Tyre trusted in its commercial dominance, we may trust in careers, possessions, or status. God alone is sovereign, and He will humble every pride that exalts itself against Him. Yet the chapter also offers hope: restoration and usefulness come through submission to God's purposes. Our talents and resources, when yielded to the Lord, become instruments of blessing in His kingdom.