The big picture
Isaiah 23 opens in verse 1 with “The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into…”, and closes in verse 18 with “And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD : it shall not be…” Repeated or prominent terms include Tyre, LORD, city, Tarshish, earth. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 18Isaiah 23:1-6
1–6: The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so…
Isaiah 23:1–6 opens with “The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house…” and reaches “Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 23 develops its own movement around Tyre, LORD, city, Tarshish, earth, with particular weight carried by howl, inhabitants, isle.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no…” By verse 3, the text has turned to “And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is…” It lands on “Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. Its subjects, actions, connecting terms, and consequences reveal how the thought develops before any interpretation is added.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as howl, inhabitants, isle, report, Tarshish, Tyre tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 23 develops its own movement around Tyre, LORD, city, Tarshish, earth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Tarshish, Tyre, Zidon, Chittim, Egypt, Howl. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 3: “And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: howl, inhabitants, isle, report, Tarshish, Tyre
Verse-by-verse path
- Isaiah 23:1
“The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from…” Naming Chittim and Howl keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 23:2
“Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.” Naming Zidon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 23:3
“And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.” Naming Sihor keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 23:4
“Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring…” Naming Zidon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 23:5
“As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 23:6
“Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.” Naming Pass and Tarshish keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 23:1-6
King James Version1The 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.
2Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.
3And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.
4Be 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.
5As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
6Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
Isaiah 23:7-12
7–12: Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own…
Isaiah 23:7–12 opens with “Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar…” and reaches “And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 23 develops its own movement around Tyre, LORD, city, Tarshish, earth, with particular weight carried by city, daughter, earth.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her…” By verse 9, the text has turned to “The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into…” It lands on “And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 2 questions, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as city, daughter, earth, honourable, LORD, afar tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 23 develops its own movement around Tyre, LORD, city, Tarshish, earth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Chittim, Pass, Tarshish, Thou, Tyre, Zidon. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 8: “Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: city, daughter, earth, honourable, LORD, afar
Verse-by-verse path
- Isaiah 23:7
“Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Isaiah 23:8
“Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Isaiah 23:9
“The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include contempt, earth, glory. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 23:10
“Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.” Naming Pass and Tarshish keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 23:11
“He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant…” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, commandment, destroy. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 23:12
“And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim…” Naming Chittim and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 23:7-12
King James Version7Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
8Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?
9The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
10Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
11He 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.
12And 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.
Isaiah 23:13-18
13–18: Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian…
Isaiah 23:13–18 opens with “Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them…” and reaches “And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD : it shall not be treasured nor…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 23 develops its own movement around Tyre, LORD, city, Tarshish, earth, with particular weight carried by LORD, seventy, Tyre.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them…” By verse 15, the text has turned to “And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according…” It lands on “And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD : it shall not be treasured…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as LORD, seventy, Tyre, years, dwell, forgotten tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 23 develops its own movement around Tyre, LORD, city, Tarshish, earth,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Tyre, Assyrian, Chaldeans, Howl, Take, Tarshish. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 15: “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…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: LORD, seventy, Tyre, years, dwell, forgotten
Verse-by-verse path
- Isaiah 23:13
“Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the…” Naming Assyrian and Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 23:14
“Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.” Naming Howl and Tarshish keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 23:15
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 23:16
“Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou…” Naming Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 23:17
“And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 23:18
“And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD : it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 23:13-18
King James Version13Behold 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.
14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
15And 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.
16Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
17And 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.
18And 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.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Identify the historical crisis, covenant failure, warning, and promised hope.
- Distinguish the prophet’s immediate audience from later biblical connections.
- Do not turn present-day headlines into confident fulfillment claims without textual evidence.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Isaiah 23?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Isaiah 23 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Isaiah 23 develops its own movement around Tyre, LORD, city, Tarshish, earth?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?