Isaiah 23:11

The Burden against Tyre · Isaiah 23:1–18
Read Isaiah 23

Translations

Modern
The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has made kingdoms tremble. He has given a command that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed.
Traditional
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.
Literal
He has stretched out His hand over the sea, He has shaken the kingdoms. Yhwh has commanded against Canaan to destroy her strongholds.
Latin
Manum suam extendit super mare; conturbavit regna. Dominus mandavit adversus Chanaan, ut contereret fortes ejus;

Original

Hebrew
English
The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has made kingdoms tremble. He has given a command that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed.

Notes

Phoenicia was the region north of Israel. Tyre and Sidon were its main cities.

Tyre was a wealthy seaport northwest of Israel. The connection between Judah and Tyre dates back to the time of David and Solomon (1 Kings 5:8–9).

Tyre was near large forests and the Mediterranean Sea. It was a major trade center in the ancient Near East. Its ships were famous, and its colonies gave it great prestige and wealth.

The city faced repeated attacks by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Macedonians, and Alexander the Great conquered it in 332 BC. Isaiah not only predicted Tyre's downfall but also warned those whose wealth and security lead to pride instead of reliance on God (see Isaiah 2:12–16; Matthew 11:21).

Events

Parallels

Ezekiel 26:1–21

Places

Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Cyprus Isaiah, Book of Nile River Phoenicia, Phoenicians Sidon (Place), Sidonian Tarshish (Place) Tyre

Topics

Cities: Designated as Merchant Cities: Different Kinds of Commercial Cities: Fortified Commerce: Denunciations Connected with Abuses of God: Power of Hand: Symbol of Power Tarshish: Also Called Tharshish: Commerce and Wealth of Tarshish: Also Called Tharshish: Prophecies Concerning