Keraia
Isaiah 23

Isaiah 23:4

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

Translations

Modern
Be 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.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the strength of the sea, saying: “I have not been pained and I have not brought forth children, and I have not nourished young men or brought up young women.”
Latin
Erubesce, Sidon; ait enim mare, fortitudo maris, dicens: Non parturivi, et non peperi, et non enutrivi juvenes, nec ad incrementum perduxi virgines.

Original

Hebrew
English
Be 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.”

Notes

Isaiah 23:4

  • Part of the great port city of Tyre was on an island. The island city was a sea fortress, but it fell in 332 BC.

  • I have not been in labor or given birth. I have not raised young men or brought up young women: This metaphor was a judgment on Tyre’s colonial ports around the Mediterranean Sea. In the ancient world, reaching old age without children was considered a terrible fate (see Isaiah 49:21; 54:1).

Isaiah 23:1–18

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

Sidon: Phoenician city; home of Jezebel

Glossary

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

Topics

Sidon: A City on the Northern Boundary of the Canaanites: Commerce of Tarshish: Also Called Tharshish: Commerce and Wealth of Tarshish: Also Called Tharshish: Prophecies Concerning